Zevachim 74b

זבחים ע״ד ע״ב

Learn Zevachim 74b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Mixtures: assuming the lost item was the forbidden one, fixing barrels of תרומה, how a טריפה gets mixed in, and סמיכה in mixed-up קרבנות

Overview

The גמרא first explains that a ברייתא's 'three' items means two permitted items plus the doubtful one that fell in, so a simple majority is enough. It then offers a second source for שמואל's strict view: he follows רבי אליעזר. ריש לקיש rules that if a barrel of תרומה is mixed with a hundred barrels and one barrel falls into ים המלח, the rest are permitted, because we assume the forbidden one fell. The גמרא explains why both this ruling and רב נחמן's ruling about rings of עבודה זרה are needed. רבה and רב יוסף then argue whether ריש לקיש's rule also works for a fig. רבי אלעזר, as reworded by רב נחמן, and רבי אושעיא teach how an opened barrel in a mixture of תרומה can be fixed, while closed barrels stay forbidden. Next, the גמרא asks how a טריפה can be mixed in with קרבנות without being recognized. רבי ינאי's school, ריש לקיש and רבי ירמיה each give a different case, and the גמרא explains why each rejects the others' answers. Finally, the גמרא asks how mixed-up קרבנות can be offered when each one needs סמיכה. רב יוסף limits the משנה to women's קרבנות, and the גמרא begins to question that answer.

Opening lines

The steps (24)

1. ChallengeWhy three? Two is already a majority
2. ResolutionThree means two plus the one that fell in
3. ResolutionAnother answer: שמואל follows רבי אליעזר
4. Statementריש לקיש: if one barrel is lost, assume it was the תרומה
5. StatementWhy we need both רב נחמן and ריש לקיש
6. ConclusionWhy we also need רב נחמן's ruling
7. Statementרבה limits ריש לקיש to a barrel, not a fig
8. Statementרב יוסף says even a fig counts
9. Statementרבי אלעזר: open one barrel, take out the amount, and drink
10. Challengeרב נחמן objects: this sounds like opening a barrel on purpose
11. ResolutionReworded: only if a barrel already got opened
12. StatementOnly the opened barrels can be fixed; the closed ones stay forbidden
13. ChallengeHow can a טריפה be mixed in without being recognized?
14. ResolutionA thorn-pierced animal mixed with a wolf-clawed one
15. Resolutionריש לקיש: it was mixed with an animal that fell
16. ChallengeWhy not just check the fallen animal?
17. ResolutionStanding or even walking does not clear a fallen animal
18. ResolutionA third answer: mixed with the offspring of a טריפה
19. RejectionWhy the others reject רבי ינאי's answer
20. RejectionWhy the others reject ריש לקיש's answer
21. RejectionWhy the others reject רבי ירמיה's answer
22. ChallengeHow can mixed-up animals work if each one needs סמיכה?
23. Resolutionרב יוסף: the משנה is about women's קרבנות
24. ChallengeSo for men's קרבנות the משנה's solution wouldn't work?