Zevachim 45a

זבחים מ״ה ע״א

Learn Zevachim 45a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Offerings of גוים (קדשי גוים): which קרבן laws apply to them and the sources that exclude them

Overview

The amud opens at the end of an argument. רבא asks why anyone would give a practical ruling (הלכה) on a קרבן law that only applies in the days of משיח. אביי answers that we learn all of קדשים for the reward of learning (דרוש וקבל שכר), and רבא clarifies that he only objected to calling it a practical ruling. Then a new משנה teaches that offerings of גוים carry no liability for פיגול, נותר, or eating while טמא. On slaughtering them outside the עזרה, רבי שמעון exempts and רבי יוסי holds the person liable. A ברייתא adds more rules: no benefit is allowed, but there is no מעילה; there is no תמורה; and a גוי cannot bring נסכים alone, though his animal offerings still need נסכים. רבי יוסי would be strict in all these cases. The גמרא then finds a פסוק-based source for each rule, often a word 'בני ישראל' that leaves out גוים. Along the way it deals with a problem about chaining two היקשים, and it explains why gifts to בדק הבית, which have only קדושת דמים, still carry מעילה. The amud ends as a new ברייתא about impure blood sprinkled on the מזבח begins.

Opening lines

The steps (25)

1. ChallengeWhy give a practical ruling for the days of משיח?
2. Rejectionאביי: then all of זבחים would be pointless, but we learn for reward
3. ResolutionThe questioner clarifies: learning is fine, a 'ruling' is not needed
4. ResolutionAnother version of the same answer
5. StatementThe משנה: offerings of גוים
6. Statementברייתא: no benefit allowed, but no מעילה
7. Statementברייתא continues: no תמורה, no separate נסכים, but their offerings need נסכים
8. Statementרבי יוסי would be strict in all these cases
9. StatementThe rule applies to altar offerings, not to Temple-maintenance gifts
10. StatementThe ban on benefit is only rabbinic
11. StatementWhy there is no מעילה: a link to תרומה
12. QuestionWhy no liability for פיגול, נותר or טמא?
13. Responseפיגול is learned from נותר
14. Responseנותר is learned from טומאה, which excludes גוים
15. QuestionWhy can't a gentile make a substitute?
16. ResponseA chain of two juxtapositions leads to 'children of Israel'
17. ChallengeCan a juxtaposition teach through another juxtaposition?
18. ResolutionGrain tithe is non-sacred, so the limit doesn't apply
19. ChallengeBut what about the view that follows the case being taught?
20. ResolutionA new reason: an obligation with no fixed time is only for Jews
21. ProofSource that a גוי cannot bring libations on their own
22. ResponseA gentile's burnt offering still needs libations
23. Questionרבי יוסי's limit, and what his reason is
24. Responseמעילה is learned from תרומה, so only body-holy items are exempt
25. StatementA new ברייתא: impure blood sprinkled by mistake is accepted