Zevachim 16a

זבחים ט״ז ע״א

Learn Zevachim 16a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

How we know that a זר, and an אונן, ruin the עבודה: logical proofs and sources from פסוקים

Overview

The גמרא wants to prove that a זר who does the sacrificial service ruins it (חילל). It first tries a קל וחומר from a בעל מום. When that is knocked down, it builds a הצד השוה from a בעל מום and a טמא, and then from a בעל מום and an אונן. Each time it answers attacks along the way, including one about serving on a במה, which רב סמא pushes back on. רב משרשיא offers a different proof, a קל וחומר from a כהן who served sitting. The גמרא defends it, and also shows from 'לפני ה׳' that a sitting כהן is fit on a במה. Then the גמרא turns to the אונן and brings two פסוקים as sources: one from the כהן גדול who does not leave the מקדש, and רבי אלעזר's from אהרן's answer 'הן הקריבו'. It explains why each side does not use the other's פסוק. The amud ends as the school of רבי ישמעאל begins a קל וחומר from a בעל מום, which continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (31)

1. ProofFinishing the logical argument from a blemished priest
2. RejectionThe blemished priest has a special strictness
3. ResolutionThe impure priest shows the strictness doesn't matter
4. RejectionThe impure priest has his own strictness
5. ResolutionThe blemished priest shows that strictness doesn't matter
6. ConclusionCombining both cases: what they share applies to a non-priest
7. QuestionHow do we know a non-priest is forbidden to serve?
8. ResponseThe source is 'a non-priest shall not come near you'
9. RejectionBlemished and impure priests were also banned from a private altar
10. ResolutionUse a mourner instead of an impure priest
11. RejectionA mourner is forbidden to eat second tithe
12. ResolutionA blemished priest proves it
13. ConclusionThe argument goes back around: a non-priest ruins the service
14. ChallengeChallenging the common element: neither was allowed at a במה
15. Rejectionרב סמא: who says the אונן was forbidden at a במה?
16. Statementרב משרשיא: a קל וחומר from a כהן who served sitting
17. ChallengeA sitting person cannot testify
18. ResolutionLearn from a sitting תלמיד חכם
19. ChallengeThe category of sitting is still disqualified
20. ResolutionA general category cannot refute
21. ResolutionEven so, learn from יושב plus one of the others
22. QuestionWhere do we know a sitting כהן is fit on a private altar?
23. ResponseStanding is required only before ה׳, not on a private altar
24. QuestionWhere do we know an אונן disqualifies the service?
25. ResponseLearning from the כהן גדול who does not leave the מקדש
26. Statementרבי אלעזר learns it from אהרן's answer to משה
27. QuestionWhy didn't רבי אלעזר use the first פסוק?
28. ResponseThe first source is only an inference
29. QuestionWhy doesn't the other view learn from 'הֵן הִקְרִיבוּ'?
30. ResponseThe other view holds the קרבן was burned because of טומאה
31. StatementThe school of רבי ישמעאל starts a קל וחומר from a בעל מום