Zevachim 68b

זבחים ס״ח ע״ב

Learn Zevachim 68b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Zevachim 68b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Which invalid bird offerings count as נבלה after מליקה, and the dispute between רב and רבי יוחנן over a זר's מליקה

Overview

The משנה finishes its list of bird offerings that still count as נבלה after מליקה, so they make a person impure when swallowed. Its rule is this: a bird that became invalid during the holy service is not נבלה, but a bird that was unfit before the service is. In the גמרא, רב rules that pinching with the left hand or at night does not make the bird נבלה, but pinching by a זר or with a knife does. The גמרא asks why a זר is different, since a זר may do שחיטה. It answers that שחיטה is not a true עבודה. This answer is defended twice. First, the פרה אדומה needs a כהן, just as checking נגעים does, without its שחיטה being an עבודה. Second, we do not learn בית המקדש rules from a במה. רבי יוחנן then disagrees with רב: a זר's מליקה does not make the bird נבלה, though a knife does. The גמרא challenges רב from the word ״כל״ in the משנה and answers that the משנה states a rule and then explains it. A second ״כל״ challenge from the משנה's summary rule is answered on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (19)

1. StatementBirds that were never fit still make impure
2. StatementThe משנה's general rule
3. Statementרב sorts four flawed pinchings
4. ChallengeWhy is a non-kohen different?
5. ResolutionSlaughtering is not a real Temple service
6. ChallengeChallenge from the red heifer slaughtered by a non-priest
7. ResolutionThe red heifer is a different kind of holy item
8. ChallengeShouldn't altar offerings need a priest even more?
9. ResolutionNeeding a priest does not make it a service, like checking נגעים
10. ChallengeWhy not learn from a private altar?
11. ResolutionWe do not learn from a private altar
12. ChallengeA ברייתא seems to learn from a private altar
13. ResolutionThe real source is the פסוק ״זאת תורת העולה״
14. Statementרבי יוחנן: a זר's מליקה does not make the bird impure, but a knife does
15. ChallengeThe משנה's word ״כל״ fits רבי יוחנן but not רב
16. ResolutionFor רב, ״כל״ includes left hand and night
17. ChallengeLeft hand and night are already stated openly
18. ResolutionThe משנה gives a general rule and then explains it
19. ChallengeA second challenge to רב from the משנה's summary rule