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Zevachim 64a

זבחים ס״ד ע״א

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Topic

The jobs done at the southwest corner of the מזבח below and above the חוט הסיקרא, and רבי יוחנן's explanations about the עולת העוף and the נסכים.

Overview

The amud opens by finishing a ברייתא from the previous daf. In that version, a חטאת העוף is valid even if its blood was only sprinkled and not squeezed out, as long as some blood went below the red line. The גמרא then gives a source for each of the three jobs done at the southwest corner below the line: the חטאת העוף, the הגשה of מנחות, and pouring the שירי הדם. Next it turns to the jobs done above the line. It asks why an עולת העוף normally belongs at the southeast corner, and רבי יוחנן answers that this corner is closest to the בית הדשן. רבי יוחנן then praises the strength of the כהנים, who could throw the light מוראה ונוצה more than thirty אמות. The גמרא checks this number against a משנה in תמיד and explains that the space where the כהן stands is not counted. Finally, רבי יוחנן explains that the כהנים doing the נסכים and the עולת העוף go straight to their corner so the smoke will not harm them. The גמרא challenges this from a משנה where the כהן גדול circles the מזבח and is then given wine to pour. רבי יוחנן's answer begins at the end of the amud and continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

שֶׁאִם הִיזָּה וְלֹא מִיצָּה – כְּשֵׁירָה;

because if he sprinkled but did not squeeze out, it is valid;

וּבִלְבַד שֶׁיִּתֵּן

provided that he places

מִחוּט הַסִּיקְרָא וּלְמַטָּה

from the red line and below

מִדַּם הַנֶּפֶשׁ.

of the blood of the soul.

The steps (15)

  1. StatementFinishing the ברייתא: sprinkling alone is enough
  2. ProofSource for the bird sin offering at the southwest corner
  3. ProofSource for bringing meal offerings near the altar
  4. ProofSource for pouring out the leftover blood
  5. StatementQuoting the משנה: what is done above the line
  6. QuestionWhy the bird burnt offering belongs in the east
  7. Responseרבי יוחנן: it is closest to the ash place
  8. StatementThe great strength of the priests
  9. ProofWhere the ashes pile was located
  10. ChallengeThe distance is really more than thirty-one
  11. ResolutionThe space of the people is not counted
  12. QuestionWhy the libations and bird offering are exceptions
  13. ResponseThe smoke could ruin them
  14. ChallengeA משנה shows the כהן walking around the מזבח before the wine
  15. Resolutionרבי יוחנן begins his answer