Zevachim 56a

זבחים נ״ו ע״א

Learn Zevachim 56a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

The holy area of the עזרה and its chambers, the 'opposite the entrance' rule, and blood becoming פסול at sunset

Overview

The amud opens with the size of the עזרה: 187 by 135 אמות. רב נחמן teaches that inside this area כהנים eat קדשי קדשים and slaughter קדשים קלים, and anyone who enters it while טמא is liable. The גמרא asks what the exact numbers leave out. It is not the windows or the thickness of the wall, so it must be the לשכות, the chambers built outside but opening into the courtyard. A ברייתא shows that by Torah law קדשי קדשים may be eaten in those chambers, so רבא explains that eating is a special case. For slaughter and for entering while טמא, the chambers are not holy, and the גמרא corrects another ברייתא to read 'אין חייבין'. רבינא then shows that only slaughter, not eating, must be opposite the entrance, and the פסוק about the מילואים was a one-time rule. Finally רב יצחק בר אבודימי teaches that blood becomes פסול at sunset. The challenge to his source continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (20)

1. StatementThe size of the courtyard area
2. StatementA ברייתא gives the courtyard's size
3. Statementרב נחמן: what happens inside that area
4. QuestionWhat do the exact numbers leave out?
5. RejectionNot the windows and the wall's thickness
6. ResponseRather, the numbers leave out the chambers
7. ChallengeBut chambers opening into the holy area are holy
8. ResolutionTheir holiness is only rabbinic
9. ChallengeA ברייתא shows the chambers are holy by Torah law for eating
10. Resolutionרבא: eating is a special case
11. ChallengeA ברייתא says entering while impure brings liability
12. ResolutionFix the ברייתא to say 'not liable'
13. ChallengeMaybe slaughter is forbidden there for a different reason
14. ResolutionThe case must be one where the chamber faces the entrance
15. ChallengeDoes eating also need to be opposite the entrance?
16. Resolutionרבינא removes 'eating' from the ברייתא
17. ChallengeA פסוק seems to require eating at the entrance
18. ResolutionOfferings for a one-time event are different
19. StatementBlood becomes disqualified at sunset
20. ChallengeThe verse is needed for something else