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Zevachim 53a

זבחים נ״ג ע״א

Learn Zevachim 53a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Placing חטאת blood on the corners of the מזבח, the red line dividing the מזבח, and which side of the יסוד gets the leftover blood

Overview

The משנה describes how the כהן goes around the four corners of the מזבח with the blood of an outer חטאת, pours the leftover blood on the southern יסוד, and says male כהנים eat the meat in the courtyard until midnight. The גמרא asks how exactly the blood is put on a corner. רבי יוחנן and רבי אלעזר disagree: one allows a cubit on either side, and the other requires the blood right at the corner's point. The גמרא says this argument only exists according to רבי. It answers a challenge from a ברייתא by explaining that the point is the ideal way, and a cubit to either side still works. It then quotes the ברייתא where רבי allows anywhere above the red line, while רבי אלעזר ברבי שמעון requires an animal חטאת to go on the corner itself. רבי אבהו finds רבי's source in a פסוק in יחזקאל, which the גמרא reads as giving the corners a 'domain' of four אמות. Next comes the source for the red line: the רשת reaching halfway up the מזבח. Finally, the גמרא discusses which side of the יסוד gets the leftover blood, bringing a ברייתא and the views of רבי ישמעאל (west) and רבי שמעון בן יוחאי (south), with רבי אסי explaining the southern view.

Opening lines

עָלָה בַּכֶּבֶשׁ וּפָנָה לַסּוֹבֵב,

He went up the ramp and turned to the surrounding ledge,

וּבָא לוֹ לְקֶרֶן דְּרוֹמִית מִזְרָחִית,

and came to the southeast corner,

מִזְרָחִית צְפוֹנִית,

then the northeast,

צְפוֹנִית מַעֲרָבִית, מַעֲרָבִית דְּרוֹמִית.

then the northwest, then the southwest.

The steps (26)

  1. StatementThe route around the altar's four corners
  2. StatementLeftover blood and the eating of the meat
  3. QuestionHow exactly is the blood put on the corner?
  4. ResponseA cubit on each side, or right at the point
  5. StatementThe argument is only according to רבי
  6. StatementWhat counts as 'opposite the corner'
  7. ChallengeA ברייתא describes the blood going right at the point
  8. ResolutionThe point of the corner is only the ideal way
  9. QuestionWhat do רבי and רבי אלעזר ברבי שמעון hold?
  10. Responseרבי: upper bloods go anywhere above the red line
  11. Responseרבי אלעזר ברבי שמעון: an animal חטאת goes on the corner itself
  12. Statementרבי אבהו brings רבי's source from יחזקאל
  13. ChallengeWas the מזבח only four אמות?
  14. Resolutionרב אדא בר אהבה: the corners' area is four
  15. ChallengeThe corners do not add up to four
  16. ResolutionThe corners' area of influence is four אמות
  17. StatementA red line divided the altar in half
  18. QuestionWhere does the red line come from?
  19. ResponseThe net reaching halfway up is the divider
  20. StatementLeftover blood goes on the southern base
  21. QuestionMaybe it means the western base instead?
  22. ResponseHe pours on the side closest to him
  23. StatementA dispute: all on the west, or all on the south
  24. QuestionThe western view is clear, so what is the reason for the southern view?
  25. Responseרבי אסי: this תנא holds the whole מזבח stands in the north
  26. ResponseAnother version: the whole entrance stands in the south