Zevachim 60a

זבחים ס׳ ע״א

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Topic

The size of משה's מזבח according to רבי יהודה and רבי יוסי, רבא on whether the holy courtyard floor counts for blood, and רבי אלעזר's rule that offerings may not be eaten while the מזבח is damaged.

Overview

First, רבי יוסי finishes explaining his view. The courtyard curtains were fifteen אמות high, and the 'five אמות' counts only from the top of the מזבח up. The 'three אמות' of the מזבח counts only from the סובב up, so the whole מזבח was ten אמות tall. Next, the גמרא defends רבי יהודה. He uses the גזירה שוה for the width, and in his view the כהן may be seen over the curtains as long as the עבודה in his hands stays hidden. Then each side explains a word in the פסוק about שלמה that seems to fit the other side: 'sanctified' and 'too small.' The root of the argument is that רבי יהודה compares outside to outside, while רבי יוסי compares a כלי to a כלי. רבא then says רבי יהודה agrees that blood needs the real מזבח, but the גמרא pushes off his proof from the ברייתא about the cup of mixed blood. Last, רבי אלעזר rules that when the מזבח is damaged, שירי מנחה and all קדשי קדשים may not be eaten. אביי begins to show the same rule for קדשים קלים from a teaching of רבי יוסי, which continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (22)

1. StatementThe curtains' 'five cubits' count from the top of the altar
2. StatementThe altar's 'three cubits' count from the ledge
3. Resolutionרבי יהודה uses the verbal analogy for width
4. ChallengeWouldn't the priest be seen over the curtains?
5. ResolutionThe priest is seen, but not the service in his hands
6. ChallengeThe word 'sanctified' fits רבי יהודה, so what does רבי יוסי do with it?
7. ResolutionFor רבי יוסי, 'sanctified' means made holy to hold a מזבח
8. ChallengeThe word 'too small' fits רבי יוסי, so what does רבי יהודה do with it?
9. ResolutionFor רבי יהודה, 'too small' refers to שלמה's stone מזבח
10. QuestionWhat is the root of their argument?
11. ResponseOutside from outside versus a vessel from a vessel
12. Statementרבא: רבי יהודה agrees about blood
13. ProofThe ברייתא about the cup of mixed blood
14. ProofWhy the ברייתא proves רבא's point
15. RejectionMaybe the blood has to be poured by a person
16. RejectionThen just pour it back on the floor
17. RejectionMaybe it is just the best way to do the מצוה
18. StatementA damaged altar stops the eating of the leftover meal offering
19. QuestionWhat about the other most-holy offerings?
20. ResponseThe words 'most holy' bring in all most-holy offerings
21. QuestionWhat about offerings of lesser holiness?
22. Responseאביי learns it from a teaching of רבי יוסי