Zevachim 24b

זבחים כ״ד ע״ב

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Topic

Which services need the right hand: reading 'finger' in a פסוק, and the rule of אצבע and כהונה

Overview

The גמרא explains that רבי שמעון and the רבנן disagree about whether the word 'finger' in a פסוק describes only the words after it or the words on both sides. אביי shows that רבי אלעזר ברבי שמעון takes a third approach: 'finger' describes only the words right before it. Next, רבה בר בר חנה quotes רבי יוחנן: where the תורה says אצבע and כהונה, the right hand is required. After a first guess that both words are needed fails because of קמיצה, רבא explains that either word is enough. That rule is then limited to acts that hold back כפרה, like the מצורע. The גמרא shows that רבי שמעון holds that אצבע works alone but כהונה needs אצבע, and a ברייתא confirms that he allows קבלה and זריקה with the left hand. Finally, רבא's יד–יד link for קמיצה is shown to be needed, because one source covers taking the קומץ and the other covers placing it in a כלי שרת.

Opening lines

The steps (20)

1. ResponseThe root of the dispute: reading a verse forward and backward
2. Statementאביי: a third opinion that differs from both sides
3. QuestionWhere is 'finger' written only about placing the blood?
4. ResponseThe verse about the bull, and רבי אלעזר's reading rule
5. Statement'Finger' and 'priesthood' always mean the right hand
6. StatementFirst guess: the right hand is needed only when both words appear
7. Challengeקמיצה proves one word is enough
8. Resolutionרבא: either word is enough
9. Challengeאביי: carrying limbs to the ramp says כהונה but uses the left hand
10. ResolutionThe rule applies only to acts that hold back atonement
11. ChallengeCollecting the blood seems to break the rule
12. Resolutionרבי שמעון needs both words
13. ChallengeA ברייתא shows רבי שמעון treats אצבע alone as enough
14. Resolutionאצבע works alone, כהונה does not
15. ChallengeThen why does the פסוק mention a כהן by collecting the blood?
16. ResolutionThe word כהן teaches that he must be in his priestly state
17. Challengeזריקה only has כהונה, yet רבי שמעון does not argue that the left hand is פסול
18. Resolutionאביי: רבי שמעון does argue about זריקה in a ברייתא
19. ChallengeWhy does רבא need a word-link for קמיצה if רבה בר בר חנה's rule already covers it?
20. ResolutionOne source for taking the handful, one for sanctifying it