Zevachim 38a

זבחים ל״ח ע״א

Learn Zevachim 38a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Combining the reading and spelling of a פסוק, and the source for בית הלל that one placement of blood is enough for a חטאת, defended through the three times וְכִפֶּר

Overview

The גמרא finishes explaining how the mentions of סכת teach three walls for a סוכה, with a הלכה למשה מסיני reducing the third wall to a טפח. It then asks why we don't combine the reading and the spelling of שבעים, which would make a mother of a girl טמאה for forty-two days. The answer is that the word כנדתה shows the פסוק counts in weeks. Next, a ברייתא gives a source for בית הלל that one placement of blood works even for a חטאת. Logic could compare the animal חטאת to the bird חטאת or to the inner חטאות, and the two comparisons tie. So the three times וְכִפֶּר, which are extra because וְנִסְלַח already teaches atonement, teach that three, two, or even one placement is enough. The גמרא tests other readings of those words, such as blood put below or split above and below. רבא answers that the three words match the corners, and the גמרא adds that blood is never split half above and half below. It defends that rule against the יום כיפור sprinklings, which were done like whip strokes. The amud ends with a new challenge from the seven sprinklings on טׇהֳרוֹ of the מזבח, which continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (21)

1. ResolutionHow the סוכה verses add up to three walls, with the third only a טפח
2. ChallengeIf both reading and spelling count, a mother of a girl should be impure forty-two days
3. ResolutionThe word 'as in her menstruation' shows the verse means weeks
4. ProofA tanna's source for בית הלל from the three times 'and he shall atone' appears
5. ProofA logical argument from the bird sin offering
6. ChallengeAn opposite logical argument from the inner sin offerings
7. RejectionWeighing the two comparisons ends in a tie
8. ConclusionThree times 'and he shall atone' teach that one placement is enough
9. ChallengeEach 'and he shall atone' is needed for its own case
10. ResolutionAtonement and forgiveness are the same, so וְכִפֶּר is extra
11. ChallengeMaybe the extra words allow blood placed low on the altar
12. ResolutionThat would cancel the four corners
13. RejectionIf the Torah says so, let the corners be canceled
14. ResolutionThree extra words point to the corners
15. ChallengeMaybe the extra words allow mixing above and below
16. ResolutionBlood is never split half above and half below
17. ChallengeBut on יום כיפור there was one up and seven down
18. ResolutionIt was like someone whipping
19. QuestionWhat does 'like a whipper' mean?
20. Responseרב יהודה shows the whipping motion
21. ChallengeAnother challenge: seven sprinklings on 'טׇהֳרוֹ' of the מזבח