We will build a map of the sugya: from the Mishnah’s general principle to its exceptions and the Gemara’s explanation. We will trace the transition from lists and a dispute to the principle of measure for measure and its biblical support.
Here is the complete Gemara text of this daf, word for word, divided into the stages of the sugya: Mishnah, question, kushya, terutz, raya and conclusion. Read each stage in the source first, then the explanation.
מַתְנִי׳ כׇּל יִשְׂרָאֵל יֵשׁ לָהֶם חֵלֶק לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְעַמֵּךְ כֻּלָּם צַדִּיקִים לְעוֹלָם יִירְשׁוּ אָרֶץ נֵצֶר מַטָּעַי מַעֲשֵׂה יָדַי לְהִתְפָּאֵר״. וְאֵלּוּ שֶׁאֵין לָהֶם חֵלֶק לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא: הָאוֹמֵר אֵין תְּחִיַּית הַמֵּתִים מִן הַתּוֹרָה, וְאֵין תּוֹרָה מִן הַשָּׁמַיִם, וְאֶפִּיקוֹרוֹס.
The Mishnah lays the foundation: all Israel have a share in the World to Come, and it cites a verse in support. It then lists exceptions: one who says resurrection is not derived from the Torah, one who says the Torah is not from Heaven, and an epikoros. This establishes a framework of a general principle alongside exceptions.
רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא אוֹמֵר: אַף הַקּוֹרֵא בַּסְּפָרִים הַחִיצוֹנִים, וְהַלּוֹחֵשׁ עַל הַמַּכָּה וְאוֹמֵר ״כׇּל הַמַּחֲלָה אֲשֶׁר שַׂמְתִּי בְמִצְרַיִם לֹא אָשִׂים עָלֶיךָ כִּי אֲנִי ה׳ רֹפְאֶךָ״. אַבָּא שָׁאוּל אוֹמֵר: אַף הַהוֹגֶה אֶת הַשֵּׁם בְּאוֹתִיּוֹתָיו.
Rabbi Akiva adds to the list one who reads external books and one who whispers over a wound while reciting the quoted verse. Abba Shaul adds one who pronounces the divine Name by its letters. The word “af,” meaning “also,” signals that each opinion adds a case to the Mishnah’s list.
שְׁלֹשָׁה מְלָכִים וְאַרְבָּעָה הֶדְיוֹטוֹת אֵין לָהֶן חֵלֶק לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא. שְׁלֹשָׁה מְלָכִים: יָרׇבְעָם, אַחְאָב, וּמְנַשֶּׁה. רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר: מְנַשֶּׁה יֵשׁ לוֹ חֵלֶק לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״וַיִּתְפַּלֵּל אֵלָיו וַיִּשְׁמַע תְּחִנָּתוֹ וַיְשִׁיבֵהוּ יְרוּשָׁלִַים לְמַלְכוּתוֹ״. אָמְרוּ לוֹ: לְמַלְכוּתוֹ הֱשִׁיבוֹ וְלֹא לְחַיֵּי הָעוֹלָם הַבָּא הֱשִׁיבוֹ. אַרְבָּעָה הֶדְיוֹטוֹת: בִּלְעָם, וְדוֹאֵג, וַאֲחִיתוֹפֶל, וְגֵחֲזִי.
The Mishnah moves from categories to named figures: the kings Jeroboam, Ahab, and Manasseh, and the non-kings Balaam, Doeg, Ahithophel, and Gehazi. Rabbi Yehuda disputes Manasseh’s inclusion, citing the verse describing the acceptance of his prayer and his restoration to kingship. The Sages respond that the verse establishes restoration to kingship alone, not to life in the World to Come. The dispute centers on what can be inferred from the restoration described in the verse.
גְּמָ׳ וְכׇל כָּךְ לָמָּה? תָּנָא: הוּא כָּפַר בִּתְחִיַּית הַמֵּתִים, לְפִיכָךְ לֹא יִהְיֶה לוֹ חֵלֶק בִּתְחִיַּית הַמֵּתִים, שֶׁכׇּל מִדּוֹתָיו שֶׁל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מִדָּה כְּנֶגֶד מִדָּה.
The Gemara asks, “Why so severe?”: why does denying resurrection carry this consequence? A tannaitic teaching answers: he denied resurrection, so he will have no share in it. The explanatory principle is that all of the Holy One’s dealings are measure for measure.
דְּאָמַר רַבִּי שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר נַחְמָנִי אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹנָתָן: מִנַּיִין שֶׁכׇּל מִדּוֹתָיו שֶׁל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מִדָּה כְּנֶגֶד מִדָּה? שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלִישָׁע שִׁמְעוּ דְּבַר ה׳ [וְגוֹ׳] כָּעֵת מָחָר סְאָה סֹלֶת בְּשֶׁקֶל וְסָאתַיִם שְׂעֹרִים בְּשֶׁקֶל בְּשַׁעַר שֹׁמְרוֹן״. וּכְתִיב: ״וַיַּעַן הַשָּׁלִישׁ אֲשֶׁר הַמֶּלֶךְ נִשְׁעָן עַל יָדוֹ אֶת אִישׁ הָאֱלֹהִים וַיֹּאמַר הִנֵּה ה׳ עוֹשֶׂה אֲרֻבּוֹת בַּשָּׁמַיִם הֲיִהְיֶה הַדָּבָר הַזֶּה וַיֹּאמֶר הִנְּךָ רֹאֶה בְּעֵינֶיךָ וּמִשָּׁם לֹא תֹאכֵל״.
Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥmani, in the name of Rabbi Yonatan, brings a source for measure for measure. Elisha announces that food will be inexpensive at the gate of Samaria the next day, and the officer doubts that this can happen. Elisha replies that he will see it with his own eyes but will not eat from it. The correspondence between doubting the bounty and being denied enjoyment of it supports the principle.
Build a three-part diagram for segments 4–5: question, answer, and proof. For each part, copy a phrase from the text and explain in one sentence how it advances the discussion.
The Mishnah opens with a general principle about Israel’s share in the World to Come, then lists exceptions and specific figures, including a dispute about Manasseh. The Gemara explains the exclusion of one who denies resurrection through measure for measure. Elisha’s words to the officer provide biblical support: he will see the bounty whose possibility he denied, but will not enjoy it.
Test yourself before marking the lesson complete.
How is the opening of the Mishnah structured?
