Zevachim 2a

זבחים ב׳ ע״א

Learn Zevachim 2a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Zevachim 2a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

זבחים שנזבחו שלא לשמן: offerings slaughtered with the wrong intent, and why they stay holy

Overview

The first משנה of מסכת זבחים deals with a קרבן slaughtered שלא לשמה, meaning the person slaughtering had a different kind of קרבן in mind. The תנא קמא rules that most קרבנות stay כשר, but the owner has not fulfilled his obligation. The exceptions are the פסח and the חטאת, which become פסול. רבי אליעזר adds the אשם, since it also comes for a sin. יוסי בן חוני says any קרבן slaughtered in the name of a פסח or a חטאת is פסול. שמעון אחי עזריה says it depends on whether the intended קרבן is holier or less holy, and the משנה gives examples. The גמרא then asks why the משנה says 'אלא שלא עלו' and answers that the קרבן stays holy, so the rest of its עבודה may not be done for the wrong purpose, matching a ruling of רבא. The גמרא supports this first with a סברא and then begins a proof from a פסוק, which continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (11)

1. StatementOfferings slaughtered for the wrong purpose are valid, except פסח and חטאת
2. Statementרבי אליעזר adds the אשם to the exceptions
3. Proofרבי אליעזר's reason: חטאת and אשם both come for a sin
4. Statementיוסי בן חוני: offerings slaughtered as a פסח or חטאת are invalid
5. Statementשמעון אחי עזריה: higher holiness is valid, lower is invalid
6. StatementExamples of the holier-versus-less-holy rule
7. ChallengeWhy does the משנה say 'but' instead of 'and'?
8. ResolutionIt only fails for the owner but stays holy
9. ProofThis matches רבא's ruling about an עולה
10. ProofTwo supports offered, starting with common sense
11. ProofThe second support: a פסוק about keeping promises