Zevachim 37b

זבחים ל״ז ע״ב

Learn Zevachim 37b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Sources for the blemished בכור and for the rule that the תמורה of בכור, מעשר and פסח is not offered, and how בית שמאי and בית הלל count 'קרנות' to set the minimum placements of blood for a חטאת.

Overview

The amud opens by finishing a derivation: a verse teaches that a בכור with a מום is given to the כהן, a law found nowhere else in the תורה. רבי ישמעאל reads that verse differently and learns the same law from 'לך יהיה' at its end. The גמרא then notes that for רבי יוסי הגלילי, the word 'הם' teaches that the תמורה of בכור, מעשר and פסח is not offered, as משניות in תמורה and פסחים show. It asks where רבי ישמעאל learns this. For מעשר he uses a גזירה שוה from בכור, and for פסח he uses explicit פסוקים. Next, the גמרא explains how some תנאים know that one placement of blood brings כפרה: they follow בית הלל and learn it from a חטאת. רב הונא then shows how בית שמאי and בית הלל count the word 'קרנות' differently, giving two required placements or one. A second explanation, that both the reading and the spelling count, is challenged from תפילין, where רבי עקיבא's reading answers it. It is then challenged from סוכה, and that challenge continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (20)

1. StatementA blemished firstborn is given to the כהן
2. QuestionHow does רבי ישמעאל learn this law?
3. ResponseHe learns it from 'לך יהיה' at the end of the verse
4. QuestionAccording to רבי יוסי הגלילי, 'הם' excludes the substitutes
5. ProofA משנה shows the substitutes of בכור and מעשר are not offered
6. Proofרבי יהושע's ruling about the substitute of a פסח
7. QuestionHow does רבי ישמעאל know the rule for מעשר and פסח?
8. ResponseTithe is learned from firstborn through the word 'passing'
9. ResponseThe פסח rule is written openly in the תורה
10. QuestionWhere do the other תנאים get the one-placement rule?
11. ResponseThey follow בית הלל and learn everything from a sin offering
12. QuestionWhat is the source for בית שמאי's two placements?
13. ResponseThree times 'corners' makes six, and two are required
14. Responseבית הלל read by spelling and get four, with one required
15. ChallengeWhy not say all four are only the ideal way?
16. ResolutionWe never find כפרה with no blood at all
17. ResponseSecond reason for בית הלל: reading and spelling both count
18. ChallengeChallenge from תפילין: five compartments?
19. ResolutionAnswer: the four compartments come from רבי עקיבא's reading
20. ChallengeChallenge from סוכה: five walls?