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Zevachim 39a

זבחים ל״ט ע״א

Learn Zevachim 39a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

שירים, כיבוס and מחשבה according to רבי נחמיה; reading 'from the corner' and 'from the base'; why every placement of the inner offerings is essential

Overview

The גמרא brings a ברייתא with three laws for blood poured on the יסוד: it requires כיבוס, מחשבה works on it, and offering it outside makes one liable. Drain blood gets the opposite three laws. Since only רבי נחמיה holds that offering שירים outside makes one liable, the ברייתא is his, and so he requires כיבוס for שירים. The גמרא challenges this, because another ברייתא says מחשבה does not work on שירים. It first suggests the ברייתא means the blood of the last three placements of a חטאת, but rejects that, since those placements are treated like שירים. It then settles on the שירים of the inner offerings, and explains through רבי נחמיה's view why the ברייתא contrasted them with drain blood. Next, רבינא defends רב פפא by reading the משנה's 'from the corner' literally and 'from the base' as blood fit for the base, and he rejects רב תחליפא בר גזא's challenge. Finally, the גמרא turns to the משנה about blood placed on the inner מזבח. A ברייתא learns from ויקרא 4:20 that every placement is essential, and it begins to read the word 'לפר' as pointing to the פר יום הכפורים, which continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

וְהָתַנְיָא: דָּמִים הַטְּעוּנִין יְסוֹד

And so it is taught: blood that requires the base of the altar

– טְעוּנִין כִּיבּוּס,

requires laundering,

וּמַחְשָׁבָה מוֹעֶלֶת בָּהֶן,

and improper intent is effective with it,

וְהַמַּעֲלֶה מֵהֶן בַּחוּץ חַיָּיב;

and one who offers it up outside is liable;

The steps (20)

  1. ProofA ברייתא: blood for the altar's base versus blood for the drain
  2. ProofThe ברייתא follows רבי נחמיה, so he requires laundering
  3. ChallengeDoes improper intent really work on the leftover blood?
  4. ResolutionThe ברייתא is about the last three placements of a חטאת
  5. ChallengeThat blood goes to the corner, not to the base
  6. ResolutionRead it as blood that will later need the base
  7. Challengeמחשבה does not work on the three placements either
  8. ResolutionThe ברייתא is about the leftover blood of inner offerings
  9. ChallengeThen the ברייתא should have contrasted inner and outer blood
  10. ResolutionThe ברייתא follows רבי נחמיה
  11. Resolutionרבינא's reading: 'from the corner' literally, 'from the base' means fit for the base
  12. Challengeרב תחליפא בר גזא: maybe both mean 'fit for'
  13. Rejectionרבינא: then 'from the base' would be pointless
  14. ConclusionConclusion: the corner is literal, the base means fit for the base
  15. StatementQuoting the משנה about blood placed on the inner מזבח
  16. QuestionWhat does 'ועשה כאשר עשה' come to teach?
  17. ResponseThe repeated verse makes every placement essential
  18. QuestionWhat about the four placements on the inner altar?
  19. ResponseThe words 'so shall he do' cover the four placements
  20. Statement'With the bull' refers to the פר יום הכפורים