Zevachim 23a

זבחים כ״ג ע״א

Learn Zevachim 23a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Can owners or a כהן who are טמא have offerings brought and accepted? The גמרא tests זקני דרום using the פסח laws and the ציץ.

Overview

This amud keeps testing the view of זקני דרום, that someone who is טמא מת may still have his offerings brought. First the גמרא says the requirement 'איש לפי אכלו' (being able to eat the פסח) is only the ideal way (למצוה). A ברייתא seems to link eaters to the registered (מנויין), but זקני דרום do not accept that linkage. The גמרא then challenges them with a קל וחומר from טומאת שרץ to טומאת מת. Next it brings a משנה: the ציץ helps for impure blood but not for טומאת הגוף, which seems to mean owners who are טמא מת cannot send offerings. The answer is that the משנה is about a כהן who is טמא שרץ. That reading survives a challenge from רבי חייא about טומאת התהום (he only excludes זיבה) and a challenge from רמי בר חמא's question (he disagrees with זקני דרום). The amud ends by opening a new proof from the פסוק about the ציץ, and that proof continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (12)

1. ResolutionThe eating requirement is only an ideal
2. ChallengeA ברייתא shows registration is required even after the fact
3. Resolutionזקני דרום do not use the comparison
4. ChallengeA קל וחומר from שרץ to מת
5. ChallengeThe ציץ does not help for bodily impurity
6. ChallengeWhich impurity does the משנה mean? It must be מת, which contradicts זקני דרום
7. ResolutionThe משנה is about a כהן who is טמא from a שרץ
8. ChallengeThe סיפא about טומאת התהום cannot be about a שרץ
9. Resolutionרבי חייא only excludes זיבה
10. Challengeרמי בר חמא's question should already be answered
11. Resolutionרמי בר חמא disagrees with this reading
12. ProofA new proof from the verse about the frontplate