Gemara Clarity

Zevachim 16b

זבחים ט״ז ע״ב

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

Open Zevachim 16b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

How we know an אונן's עבודה is invalid (via הצד השוה and רב משרשיא's קל וחומר), and רבא's limit of the rule to a קרבן יחיד, challenged by רבא בר אהילאי

Overview

The גמרא wants to prove that an אונן who does the עבודה makes it invalid. A קל וחומר from a בעל מום is pushed back, and so is a proof from a זר. Together they form a הצד השוה: anyone forbidden to serve ruins the עבודה if he serves. The גמרא then asks where an אונן is forbidden to serve, and finds the ban in 'הן הקריבו'. The הצד השוה is attacked, because an אונן's ban has an exception for a כהן גדול. A טמא is added to answer that attack, and the three-way proof stands. רב משרשיא offers another proof by קל וחומר from a כהן who serves sitting. It survives the objection that a sitting person is unfit to testify. Next, רבא limits the משנה: an אונן disqualifies only a קרבן יחיד, and he learns this by קל וחומר from טומאה. רבא בר אהילאי shows three times that this kind of קל וחומר can be flipped to reach false results, and a סימן sums up his three arguments.

Opening lines

בַּעַל מוּם, שֶׁאוֹכֵל –

A blemished kohen, who does eat [sacrificial meat]:

אִם עָבַד חִילֵּל;

if he served, he desecrated [the service];

אוֹנֵן, שֶׁאֵין אוֹכֵל –

a mourner, who does not eat [sacrificial meat]:

אֵינוֹ דִּין שֶׁאִם עָבַד חִילֵּל?!

is it not logical that if he served, he desecrated?!

The steps (28)

  1. ProofA קל וחומר from a blemished כהן
  2. RejectionThe blemished כהן has a special strictness
  3. ResolutionA non-כהן proves the point
  4. RejectionA non-כהן can never be fixed
  5. ResolutionThe blemished כהן answers back, and the argument circles
  6. ConclusionThe common feature proves that a mourner ruins the service
  7. QuestionWhere is an אונן warned not to serve?
  8. RejectionNot from 'he shall not leave the מקדש'
  9. ResponseThe source is 'הן הקריבו'
  10. ChallengeAttack on the הצד השוה: no exceptions
  11. ResolutionA טמא proves it
  12. RejectionBut a טמא spreads טומאה
  13. Resolutionבעל מום and זר prove it
  14. ConclusionThe three-way הצד השוה stands
  15. ChallengeTheir bans are never lifted for a High Priest
  16. ResolutionThe category of impurity is permitted in some cases
  17. StatementA new proof from a priest who serves sitting down
  18. ChallengeA sitting person is unfit to testify
  19. ResolutionLearn from a sitting Torah scholar
  20. ChallengeThe category of sitting is still unfit for testimony
  21. ResolutionA category cannot refute a proof
  22. ResolutionEven so, combine sitting with one of the other cases
  23. Statementרבא: The mourner disqualifies only an individual's offering
  24. Proofרבא spells out the comparison to impurity
  25. Challengeרבא בר אהילאי flips the reasoning against the mourning כהן גדול
  26. ChallengeThe reverse reasoning would also permit an impure High Priest
  27. ChallengeThe method would also forbid impurity on a communal offering
  28. ConclusionA memory aid for the three rejections