Zevachim 38b

זבחים ל״ח ע״ב

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

Open Zevachim 38b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Blood above and below the red line, the placements that permit and make פיגול, and the status of a חטאת's last three placements.

Overview

The amud opens by testing the claim that no essential blood is ever placed half above and half below the red line on the same מזבח. The גמרא tries to read טהרו as 'the middle' of the מזבח, but רבא בר שילא says it means the uncovered top. The שירים don't break the rule, because they are not essential, and the inner offerings use two different altars. Next, a ברייתא of רבי אליעזר בן יעקב teaches that the minimum placements that permit an offering are also the ones that make it פיגול: two for a חטאת according to בית שמאי, and one according to בית הלל. רבא explains why this case isn't listed among בית שמאי's leniencies: the question was first asked about permitting the meat, where בית שמאי are the strict side. רבי יוחנן and רב פפא then teach that the last three placements of a חטאת are partly like the first placement and partly like the שירים. רב פפא tries to prove the laundering rule from a משנה, the גמרא challenges his inference, and it ties the משנה to רבי נחמיה. When asked whether רבי נחמיה also requires laundering, the גמרא answers 'yes', and the proof comes on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (19)

1. ChallengeDoes 'on its טהרו' mean the middle of the altar?
2. Rejectionרבא בר שילא: טהרו means the uncovered top
3. ChallengeWhat about the leftover blood?
4. ResolutionLeftover blood does not hold up the כפרה
5. ChallengeWhat about the leftover blood of the inner offerings?
6. ResolutionThe claim is about one altar only
7. StatementFor בית שמאי, the minimum placements both permit and make פיגול
8. Statementבית הלל: One Placement Is Enough for Every Offering
9. ChallengeWhy Isn't This Listed Among בית שמאי's Leniencies?
10. ResolutionThe Question Was About Permitting the Meat
11. Statementרבי יוחנן: Three Laws About the Remaining Placements of a חטאת
12. StatementThe last three placements are partly like the beginning and partly like the end
13. StatementThe rules where the last three placements are like the first
14. StatementThe rules where the last three placements are like the leftover blood
15. ProofProof that laundering applies to the last three placements
16. ChallengeBy the same logic, the leftover blood would need laundering
17. ResolutionThe משנה follows רבי נחמיה
18. ChallengeMaybe רבי נחמיה only meant offering outside, not laundering
19. ResolutionYes, רבי נחמיה also requires laundering