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Zevachim 119b

זבחים קי״ט ע״ב

Learn Zevachim 119b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

How the rules of private altars (במות) changed over time: the meaning of "rest" and "inheritance," when there is כרת for offering outside, and which services belong only at the big public altar.

Overview

The גמרא finishes discussing whether "rest" and "inheritance" in the פסוק mean שילה, ירושלים, or one of each. It also discusses how this affects whether private altars (במות) were allowed in the time of שילה, using מנוח's offering on a rock. Next, רב כהנא says the משנה's rule of no כרת covers only slaughtering outside, not offering up outside. רבה rejects his reading of the פסוק, and a ברייתא of רבי שמעון with four rules refutes him completely. The גמרא then gives a פסוק for each service the משנה says is done only at the big public altar and not on a private במה. Along the way, רב ששת teaches that bird offerings follow the same rule as a מנחה. Finally, two opposite versions of רמי בר חמא ask whether a small-במה offering brought on the big altar needs the dividing line for blood. A ברייתא about חזה ושוק is reread to fit, and the second version is shown to disagree with רבי אלעזר. The amud ends as רבי זירא begins a new question, which continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

שִׁילֹה ״נַחֲלָה״ זוֹ יְרוּשָׁלַיִם,

is Shiloh, and "inheritance" is Jerusalem,

אִי נָמֵי אִיפְּכָא –

or also the reverse —

הַיְינוּ דִּכְתִיב:

that is why it is written:

״אֶל הַמְּנוּחָה וְאֶל הַנַּחֲלָה״.

"To the rest and to the inheritance."

The steps (30)

  1. ProofThe split view fits the double wording of the verse
  2. ChallengeChallenge to the views that both words mean one place
  3. ConclusionThe difficulty stands unanswered
  4. StatementWhy שילה can be called both rest and inheritance
  5. QuestionFor ירושלים, inheritance fits, but what rest?
  6. ResponseThe rest of the ארון
  7. ProofPrivate altars during the שילה period: support from מנוח
  8. ChallengeHow does the Shiloh view explain מנוח's offering?
  9. Resolutionמנוח's offering was a one-time special ruling
  10. StatementAnother version: רבי ישמעאל's school agrees both words mean ירושלים
  11. Statementרב כהנא: the משנה's exemption from כרת covers only slaughter
  12. ProofThe פסוק behind רב כהנא's rule
  13. Rejectionרבה rejects the reading of the verse
  14. ChallengeA ברייתא of רבי שמעון: the first two rules
  15. ChallengeThe ברייתא continues: the last two rules
  16. Conclusionרב כהנא is refuted
  17. ProofSources for leaning hands and slaughtering in the north
  18. ProofSources for putting blood all around, waving, and bringing to the altar
  19. StatementBird offerings follow the same rule as a מנחה on a במה
  20. ProofOnly animal offerings on a במה, not meal offerings or birds
  21. ProofSources for needing a כהן, priestly clothing, and service vessels
  22. ProofSources for ריח ניחוח, the dividing line for blood, and washing hands
  23. StatementFirst version: where the animal is offered decides
  24. Challengeרבה challenges from a ברייתא about חזה ושוק
  25. ResolutionReread the ברייתא as talking about the place
  26. StatementSecond version: what the animal was set aside for decides
  27. ProofThe same ברייתא seems to support the second version
  28. RejectionThe proof is pushed off: read the ברייתא as being about the place
  29. StatementThe second version disagrees with רבי אלעזר
  30. Questionרבי זירא begins a question about a private-בָּמָה עולה