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Zevachim 52a

זבחים נ״ב ע״א

Learn Zevachim 52a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Zevachim 52a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

The יסוד of the outer מזבח: גג יסוד, and whether the leftover blood (שירים) and squeezing a bird חטאת's blood are essential

Overview

This amud finishes a ברייתא about the words "אל יסוד מזבח העולה". The inner altar has no יסוד, and the extra word "מזבח" teaches that blood goes on the top surface of the יסוד (גג יסוד). רבי ישמעאל and רבי עקיבא each argue that a קל וחומר from שירי חטאת already teaches גג יסוד, so the פסוק instead teaches that the altar of the עולה must have a יסוד. The גמרא asks what separates their two wordings. רב אדא בר אהבה says they argue whether the leftover blood (שירים) is essential. רב פפא says everyone agrees שירים are not essential, and they argue about squeezing out the blood of a bird חטאת. A ברייתא about the bulls of יום הכיפורים and the כהן משיח supports רב פפא: even רבי ישמעאל holds that skipping the יסוד does not disqualify, and the פסוק's wording makes the pouring a שירי מצוה. Finally the גמרא challenges רב פפא from a teaching of רבי ישמעאל's school about squeezing a bird's blood, and that discussion continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

דְּבָרַאי לְגַוַּאי

that what is sprinkled outside goes inside,

וּדְגַוַּאי לְבָרַאי;

just as what is sprinkled inside goes outside;

הָא אֵין לוֹ יְסוֹד

but there is no base

לִפְנִימִי עַצְמוֹ!

for the inner altar itself!

The steps (18)

  1. RejectionThe inner altar has no base, so the verse must mean the outer altar
  2. StatementAnother reading: the burnt offering's blood must go where there is a base
  3. ChallengeThe verse says "altar of the burnt offering," not just "burnt offering"
  4. ResolutionThe extra word teaches: on top of the base, not on its side
  5. Challengeרבי ישמעאל: why need a verse? A קל וחומר teaches it
  6. Challengeרבי עקיבא's version of the logical argument
  7. ResolutionThe verse teaches that the altar of an עולה must have a base
  8. QuestionWhat is the difference between the two versions?
  9. Responseרב אדא: whether leftover blood is essential
  10. Responseרב פפא: squeezing the blood of a bird חטאת
  11. ProofA ברייתא supporting רב פפא begins
  12. Statementרבי ישמעאל's קל וחומר for the יסוד
  13. Statementרבי עקיבא's different קל וחומר
  14. StatementThe יסוד does not hold back the offering
  15. StatementProving the פר כהן משיח needs יסוד
  16. StatementCould skipping the leftover blood disqualify the offering?
  17. ConclusionLeftover blood does not disqualify
  18. ChallengeDoes רבי ישמעאל really hold squeezing a bird's blood is essential?