Zevachim 2b

זבחים ב׳ ע״ב

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

Open Zevachim 2b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Why an offering slaughtered with no stated intent (סתמא) is valid but a גט written סתמא is not, and the sources for each rule

Overview

The גמרא finishes reading the פסוק about vows. A נדר that was not offered properly becomes a נדבה, and you may not change the intent of a נדבה, so the remaining steps must still be done properly. Then רבינא tells רב פפא about a contradiction רבא raised. From our משנה it seems that an offering slaughtered with no stated intent (סתמא) counts as לשמן, but a גט written סתמא is פסול. רבא answers that an offering already stands for its own purpose, while a wife does not stand ready for divorce. The גמרא then looks for the source that סתמא is valid for offerings. Proofs from the wording of our משנה and from both clauses of the משנה about פסח and שלמים are each pushed off. The working proof comes from רבי יוסי: בית דין told people not to state their intent, and the court would never set up a practice that ruins a קרבן. Finally, the גמרא looks for the source that a סתמא גט is פסול. The case of scribes in the market is rejected using רב פפא, and a new proof from the next part of that משנה continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (23)

1. ChallengeThe verse calls it a gift, but it is a vow
2. ResolutionA vow offering done wrongly becomes a gift offering
3. ConclusionYou may not deviate with a gift offering either
4. Statementרבינא tells רב פפא about רבא's teaching
5. QuestionWhich teachings were they?
6. ResponseFirst source: no stated intent counts as proper intent
7. ChallengeThe contradiction from a bill of divorce
8. ResolutionOfferings stand for their purpose, a wife does not stand for divorce
9. QuestionWhere do we learn that offerings with no intent are valid?
10. ProofFirst try: the wording of our משנה
11. RejectionThe same wording appears for a גט
12. ProofSecond try: פסח and then no intent is valid
13. RejectionThe first case had a correct starting intent
14. ProofA new proof from the second half of the משנה
15. RejectionThe final intent may show what he meant at the start
16. RejectionThe wording may just match the first clause
17. ProofA new proof from the six intentions of slaughtering
18. StatementWhat the court's stipulation was
19. ConclusionThe court would never set up a practice that ruins the offering
20. QuestionWhere do we learn that a גט written without intent is invalid?
21. ProofFirst attempt: the man who overheard scribes in the market
22. RejectionRejected: those scribes were only practicing
23. ProofTurning to the next part of that משנה