Zevachim 48a

זבחים מ״ח ע״א

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Topic

Sources for slaughtering קרבנות in the north (צפון), and a side discussion of אשם תלוי for a doubt of מעילה and the two-שקלים price of every אשם.

Overview

Our משנה about where קרבנות are slaughtered opens with the פר and שעיר of יום הכיפורים. The גמרא asks why it does not start with the עולה, where the Torah writes 'north' outright. It answers that the חטאת is dear because its rule comes from a דרשה, and the יום הכיפורים offerings are dearest because their blood enters the קודש הקדשים. The גמרא then finds the פסוק for the עולה and uses the 'ו' of ״וְאִם מִן הַצֹּאן״ to extend it from sheep to cattle. This leads to the argument between רבי עקיבא and the חכמים about an אשם תלוי for a doubt of מעילה. רב פפא shows that both sides learn from the 'ו'. The real difference is what each side learns from it and from the גזירה שוה of 'מצות'. Along the way, the גמרא gives sources that every אשם must be worth two silver שקלים. Finally, it returns to the משנה and shows that a חטאת's שחיטה and קבלה must be in the צפון, with the כהן himself standing there, and that this is essential (לעכב).

Opening lines

The steps (34)

1. ChallengeWhy not list the burnt offering first?
2. ResolutionThe sin offering is dear because it comes from a derivation
3. ChallengeThen list the outer sin offerings first
4. ResolutionTheir blood enters the Holy of Holies
5. QuestionWhere is north written for the burnt offering?
6. ResponseThe verse: slaughter it on the north side of the altar
7. QuestionThe verse covers sheep, but what about cattle?
8. ResponseThe extra ו links the sheep section to the cattle section
9. ChallengeWhat about the view that we don't learn upper from lower?
10. ProofA ברייתא that seems to show the argument
11. Rejectionרב פפא: everyone learns this way; the חכמים have another reason
12. RejectionWhat the גזירה שוה of 'מצות' teaches the חכמים
13. ResponseHow רבי עקיבא uses the same גזירה שוה
14. ResponseThe חכמים: a גזירה שוה cannot be taken halfway
15. ChallengeDoesn't רבי עקיבא also agree a גזירה שוה can't be halfway?
16. ResolutionYes, but רבי עקיבא learns from the 'ו' of 'וְאִם נֶפֶשׁ'
17. ChallengeThe חכמים also have the 'ו' of ״וְאִם נֶפֶשׁ״
18. ResolutionSuggestion: they argue over whether היקש or גזירה שוה is stronger
19. RejectionEveryone agrees היקש is stronger; the חכמים read it the other way
20. ResolutionWhy the two-שקלים rule needs a source
21. QuestionWhere does רבי עקיבא learn the two-שקלים rule?
22. Response״זֹאת תּוֹרַת הָאָשָׁם״: one law for all אשמות
23. QuestionWhat about someone who does not learn from the word 'law'?
24. ResponseHe learns it from 'according to your valuation'
25. ChallengeThe guilt offering of an espoused maidservant lacks that word
26. ResolutionIt is learned from 'with the ram'
27. QuestionSource that a sin offering is slaughtered in the north
28. ResponseSlaughtered in the place of the burnt offering
29. QuestionWhat is the source that receiving the blood must be in the north?
30. ResponseThe verse about taking the blood
31. QuestionMust the receiving כהן himself stand in the north?
32. ResponseReading "he shall take" as "he takes himself"
33. QuestionIs the north only ideal, or required?
34. ResponseA second verse shows the north is essential