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Zevachim 118a

זבחים קי״ח ע״א

Learn Zevachim 118a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Offerings on public and private altars in the times of the מדבר, גלגל and שילה, and the rules of the משכן in שילה.

Overview

The גמרא first defends רבי יהודה, who allows an individual to bring חובות on a בָּמָה גְּדוֹלָה. It explains that the word אִישׁ teaches that any person, even a זָר who is not a בכור, may serve on a private במה. Next, רב פפא shows that the תנא קמא and the חכמים differ over whether נסכים were brought in the מדבר. רבי שמעון learns from the פסח in גלגל that only fixed-time חובות were brought there, while the חכמים use that פסוק to teach that an ערל may receive הזאה. רב אדא בר אהבה explains a ברייתא about fixed-time offerings as referring to an individual's obligatory עולה, since in his view no מנחה is brought on any במה. The גמרא then turns to שילה, which had stone walls below and curtains above. It also asks how we know that lighter offerings could be eaten anywhere that overlooks שילה. רבי אושעיא and רבי ינאי give one source, and רבי אבדימי בר חסא begins a second one, which continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

וְרַבִּי יְהוּדָה אָמַר לָךְ:

And Rabbi Yehuda would say to you:

כִּי כְּתִיב – ״הַיָּשָׁר

When "whatever is fitting" is written,

בְּעֵינָיו״ הוּא דִּכְתִיב;

it is written about "in his own eyes";

אֲבָל בְּבָמָה גְּדוֹלָה –

but on a great public altar,

The steps (27)

  1. Resolutionרבי יהודה limits the verse to private altars
  2. ChallengeDoesn't the word 'man' still limit an individual?
  3. Resolution'Man' teaches that a non-priest may serve
  4. ChallengeThe non-priest rule is already known from another verse
  5. Resolution'Man' teaches that firstborn status is not needed
  6. ChallengeThe Sages seem to repeat the first opinion
  7. ResolutionThey disagree about libations in the wilderness
  8. QuestionWhat is רבי שמעון's source?
  9. ResponseThe verse about the Passover in גלגל
  10. ChallengeIsn't that obvious?
  11. ResolutionOnly offerings like the Passover were brought
  12. QuestionHow does the other opinion read the verse?
  13. ResponseThe Sages use the verse for רבי יוחנן's teaching
  14. StatementA teaching on the difference between public and private altars
  15. ChallengeAn individual has no fixed-time obligatory offerings
  16. QuestionShould the words be removed?
  17. ResolutionExplain it as an individual's obligatory burnt offering
  18. ChallengeWhy not use the obligatory meal offering?
  19. ResolutionNo meal offering on an outside altar
  20. QuestionAsking for the source of the שילה rule
  21. ResponseVerses calling שילה both a house and a tent
  22. ResolutionStone walls below, curtains above
  23. QuestionAsking for the source about eating offerings in שילה
  24. ResponseYou may not offer anywhere you see, but you may eat there
  25. ChallengeMaybe the verse allows slaughtering, not eating
  26. ResolutionSlaughtering must also be in the chosen place
  27. ResolutionA second source begins