Zevachim 91b

זבחים צ״א ע״ב

Learn Zevachim 91b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Zevachim 91b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Donated oil and donated wine: how much of each is burned on the מזבח, and whether sprinkling wine on the fire counts as putting it out.

Overview

שמואל rules that according to רבי טרפון, donated oil is treated like a מנחה: a קומץ is burned and the rest is eaten. He learns this from the words "קרבן מנחה". רבי זירא and אביי read two clauses of a teaching of רבי שמעון in opposite ways. The גמרא shows how each of them can explain the clause that seems to go against him. רב פפא then links שמואל to a dispute between תנאים over whether donated oil is one לוג or three. The רבנן compare oil to a מנחה in every way. רבי learns from מנחה only that oil can be donated, and treats it like נסכים in every other way, so all of it is burned. Next, שמואל rules that donated wine is sprinkled on the altar fires, and the גמרא defends this against the ban on putting out the altar fire. In the end it says שמואל follows רבי שמעון, who allows an action when the forbidden result is not intended. The amud closes by asking whether שמואל really holds like רבי שמעון, and that question continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (35)

1. Statementשמואל: Donated oil is handled like a meal offering
2. QuestionWhat is the source for שמואל's ruling?
3. ResponseThe פסוק "קרבן מנחה" compares oil to a מנחה
4. Proofרבי זירא finds support in רבי שמעון's first clause
5. Challengeאביי: The last clause implies donated oil is all burned
6. ChallengeEach reading has a problem with one clause
7. Resolutionרבי זירא can fit both clauses
8. ChallengeBut אביי still has a problem
9. ResolutionThe first clause was worded to match the last clause
10. ChallengeWould a תנא word the first clause because of the last?
11. ResolutionYes, in ארץ ישראל they say a first clause can follow the last
12. ChallengeA ברייתא about donated wine and oil
13. RejectionWine and oil need not follow the same rule
14. Statementרב פפא: this matches a dispute about the amount of oil
15. QuestionWhat is the root of their dispute?
16. ResponseLearning from one case: in every way, or in one way only
17. ResponseThe רבנן compare donated oil to a מנחה in every way
18. Responseרבי: donate oil like a מנחה, but treat it like נסכים
19. Challengeרב פפא: everyone accepts 'learn fully from it'
20. Resolutionרב פפא: רבי learns it from 'אזרח'
21. ChallengeA ברייתא shows רבי learns it from 'קרבן'
22. Conclusionרב פפא accepts the ברייתא
23. Statementשמואל: donated wine is sprinkled on the fires
24. QuestionWhy is the wine put on the fire?
25. ResponseThe פסוק calls wine an אשה, a fire offering
26. ChallengeBut the wine puts out the fire!
27. ResolutionPartly putting out a fire is not called putting it out
28. ChallengeTaking one coal off the altar and putting it out makes you liable
29. ResolutionThat ruling is about the only coal left
30. ResolutionPutting out fire for a מצוה is different
31. ChallengeEven for the מצוה of removing ashes, one may not put out coals
32. ResolutionThere the כהן can just wait
33. Challengeברייתות say wine goes into the basins, not on the fire
34. ResolutionThis depends on רבי יהודה and רבי שמעון
35. ChallengeDoes שמואל really hold like רבי שמעון?