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Shevuot 16a

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Babylonian Talmud · folio map

Shevuot 16a

Shevuot 16a. The full printed text of this folio side — 17 numbered segments, about 479 words — with the classic commentaries printed on the page.

Original text

Segment 1

עַל פִּי נָבִיא נֶאֱכֶלֶת וְעַל פִּי נָבִיא נִשְׂרֶפֶת.

Based on a ruling of a prophet the loaves of one thanks-offering were eaten, and based on a ruling of a prophet the loaves of the other thanks-offering were burned. The prophets Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi, who lived at the time of Ezra and Nehemiah’s reconsecration of Jerusalem, instructed the people concerning how the ceremony should be conducted, without providing reasons for the procedures.

Segment 2

כֹּל שֶׁלֹּא נַעֲשֵׂית בְּכׇל אֵלּוּ כּוּ׳. אִיתְּמַר, רַב הוּנָא אָמַר: ״בְּכׇל אֵלּוּ״ תְּנַן, רַב נַחְמָן אָמַר: ״בְּאַחַת מִכׇּל אֵלּוּ״ תְּנַן.

§ The mishna teaches: And with regard to any addition to the Temple that was not made with all these ceremonial procedures, one who enters there while ritually impure is not liable. It was stated that amora’im disagreed about the text of the mishna. Rav Huna says: We learned in the mishna: With all these, which means that all of these procedures are indispensable, and if even one is missing, the consecration does not take effect. Rav Naḥman says: We learned in the mishna: With one of all these; i.e., any one of these procedures suffices for the consecration to take effect.

Segment 3

רַב הוּנָא אָמַר ״בְּכׇל אֵלּוּ״ תְּנַן – קָסָבַר קְדוּשָּׁה רִאשׁוֹנָה קִידְּשָׁה לִשְׁעָתָהּ וְקִידְּשָׁה לֶעָתִיד לָבֹא, וְעֶזְרָא זֵכֶר בְּעָלְמָא הוּא דַּעֲבַד.

The Gemara further clarifies this disagreement. Rav Huna says: We learned in the mishna: With all these. The Gemara explains: He maintains that the initial consecration of the Temple in the days of David and Solomon sanctified it for its time and sanctified it forever. Therefore, the site of the Temple retained its original sanctity even during the days of the Second Temple. And Ezra, who reconsecrated the area, did so merely as a commemoration of the initial consecration. Accordingly, even though there was no king or Urim VeTummim , the entire area was fully consecrated. By contrast, in order to consecrate an area that had not been part of the initial consecration, all of these procedures are necessary and none can be omitted.

Segment 4

רַב נַחְמָן אָמַר ״בְּאַחַת מִכׇּל אֵלּוּ״ תְּנַן – קָסָבַר: קְדוּשָּׁה רִאשׁוֹנָה קִידְּשָׁה לִשְׁעָתָהּ וְלֹא קִידְּשָׁה לֶעָתִיד לָבֹא, וְעֶזְרָא קַדּוֹשֵׁי קַדֵּישׁ אַף עַל גַּב דְּלָא הֲווֹ אוּרִים וְתוּמִּים.

Rav Naḥman says: We learned in the mishna: With one of all these. The Gemara explains: He maintains that the initial consecration of the Temple sanctified it for its time only, and did not sanctify it forever. And Ezra consecrated the Temple and its courtyards, even though there was no king or Urim VeTummim . Consequently, it follows that there is no need for all of these procedures in order for the consecration to take effect.

Segment 5

אֵיתִיבֵיהּ רָבָא לְרַב נַחְמָן: ״כֹּל שֶׁלֹּא נַעֲשֵׂית בְּכׇל אֵלּוּ״! תָּנֵי: ״בְּאַחַת מִכׇּל אֵלּוּ״.

Rava raised an objection to Rav Naḥman: The mishna explicitly states: Any addition that was not made with all these procedures. Rav Naḥman said to him: Emend the mishna and teach it as stating: With one of all these procedures.

Segment 6

תָּא שְׁמַע, אַבָּא שָׁאוּל אוֹמֵר: שְׁנֵי בִּיצְעִין הָיוּ בְּהַר הַמִּשְׁחָה, תַּחְתּוֹנָה וְעֶלְיוֹנָה. תַּחְתּוֹנָה – נִתְקַדְּשָׁה בְּכׇל אֵלּוּ; עֶלְיוֹנָה – לֹא נִתְקַדְּשָׁה בְּכׇל אֵלּוּ, אֶלָּא בְּעוֹלֵי גוֹלָה; שֶׁלֹּא בְּמֶלֶךְ וְשֶׁלֹּא בְּאוּרִים וְתוּמִּים.

The Gemara cites a proof against the opinion of Rav Naḥman: Come and hear a baraita : Abba Shaul says: There were two ponds [ bitzin ] on the Mount of Olives [ Har HaMishḥa ], a lower pond and an upper pond. The lower pond was consecrated during the time of the First Temple with all the procedures mentioned in the mishna, and it has the sanctity of Jerusalem for all purposes. By contrast, the upper pond was not consecrated with all these procedures, but rather it was consecrated by those who returned from the exile in Babylonia, without a king and without the Urim VeTummim .

Segment 7

תַּחְתּוֹנָה שֶׁהָיְתָה קְדוּשָּׁתָהּ גְּמוּרָה – עַמֵּי הָאָרֶץ נִכְנָסִין לְשָׁם, וְאוֹכְלִין שָׁם קָדָשִׁים קַלִּים אֲבָל לֹא מַעֲשֵׂר שֵׁנִי; וַחֲבֵרִים אוֹכְלִים שָׁם קָדָשִׁים קַלִּים וּמַעֲשֵׂר שֵׁנִי.

The baraita continues: With regard to the lower pond, whose consecration was complete, amei ha’aretz , uneducated people who were not scrupulous in their observance of the mitzvot relating to tithes and to ritual purity, would enter into there and would partake of offerings of lesser sanctity that may be eaten in all of Jerusalem there, but they would not partake of second tithe there because they conducted themselves stringently concerning this matter. And ḥaverim , who were meticulous in their observance of those mitzvot, would partake of both offerings of lesser sanctity and second tithe there.

Segment 8

עֶלְיוֹנָה שֶׁלֹּא הָיְתָה קְדוּשָּׁתָהּ גְּמוּרָה – עַמֵּי הָאָרֶץ הָיוּ נִכְנָסִין שָׁם, וְאוֹכְלִין שָׁם קָדָשִׁים קַלִּים אֲבָל לֹא מַעֲשֵׂר שֵׁנִי; וַחֲבֵרִים אֵין אוֹכְלִין שָׁם לֹא קָדָשִׁים קַלִּים וְלֹא מַעֲשֵׂר שֵׁנִי. וּמִפְּנֵי מָה לֹא קִידְּשׁוּהָ? שֶׁאֵין מוֹסִיפִין עַל הָעִיר וְעַל הָעֲזָרוֹת אֶלָּא בְּמֶלֶךְ וְנָבִיא וְאוּרִים וְתוּמִּים, וּבְסַנְהֶדְרִין שֶׁל שִׁבְעִים וְאֶחָד, וּבִשְׁתֵּי תּוֹדוֹת וּבְשִׁיר.

The baraita continues: As for the upper pond, whose consecration was incomplete, amei ha’aretz would enter into there and partake of offerings of lesser sanctity there, but they would not partake of second tithe there. And ḥaverim would partake of neither offerings of lesser sanctity nor second tithe there. And for what reason did they not consecrate the upper pond? It was because additions can be made to the city of Jerusalem or to the Temple courtyards only by a special body comprising the king, a prophet, the Urim VeTummim , and the Sanhedrin of seventy-one, and with two thanks-offerings and with a special song.

Segment 9

וְלָמָּה קִידְּשׁוּהָ? לָמָּה קִידְּשׁוּהָ?! הָא אָמְרַתְּ לֹא קִידְּשׁוּהָ! אֶלָּא לָמָה הִכְנִיסוּהָ? מִפְּנֵי שֶׁתּוֹרְפָּהּ שֶׁל יְרוּשָׁלַיִם הָיְתָה, וְנוֹחָה הִיא לִיכָּבֵשׁ מִשָּׁם.

The Gemara asks: But why did they consecrate the upper pond if they could not do so properly? This Gemara responds: Why did they consecrate it? Didn’t you say that they did not consecrate it? Rather, the question should be asked as follows: Given that they could not consecrate the upper pond, why did they bring it within the walls of the city? The Gemara answers: Because it was a weak point [ turpa ] of Jerusalem and it would have been easy to conquer the city from there, it became necessary to include it within the wall. This baraita seems to present explicit proof against the opinion of Rav Naḥman, who holds that there is no need for all of the procedures listed in the mishna in order for the consecration to be complete.

Segment 10

תַּנָּאֵי הִיא; דְּתַנְיָא, אָמַר רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר: שָׁמַעְתִּי כְּשֶׁהָיוּ בּוֹנִין בַּהֵיכָל, עָשׂוּ קְלָעִים לַהֵיכָל וּקְלָעִים לָעֲזָרוֹת. אֶלָּא שֶׁבַּהֵיכָל בּוֹנִין מִבַּחוּץ, וּבָעֲזָרוֹת בּוֹנִין מִבִּפְנִים.

The Gemara rejects this proof: This is a dispute between tanna’im as to whether the initial consecration of Jerusalem and the Temple sanctified them only for their time or forever. Abba Shaul maintains that the initial consecration lapsed, and therefore the reconsecration required all of the procedures mentioned in the mishna. Where is this dispute taught? As it is taught in a mishna ( Eduyyot 8:6): Rabbi Eliezer says: I heard that when they were building the Sanctuary in the Second Temple, they fashioned temporary curtains for the Sanctuary and temporary curtains for the courtyards to serve as partitions until the construction of the stone walls was completed. The difference was only that in the Sanctuary, the workers built the walls outside the curtains, without entering, and in the courtyards, the workers built the walls within the curtains.

Segment 11

אָמַר רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ: שָׁמַעְתִּי שֶׁמַּקְרִיבִין אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאֵין בַּיִת, אוֹכְלִין קׇדְשֵׁי קָדָשִׁים אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאֵין קְלָעִים, קָדָשִׁים קַלִּים וּמַעֲשֵׂר שֵׁנִי אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאֵין חוֹמָה; מִפְּנֵי שֶׁקְּדוּשָּׁה רִאשׁוֹנָה קִידְּשָׁה לִשְׁעָתָהּ וְקִידְּשָׁה לֶעָתִיד לָבֹא. לָאו מִכְּלָל דְּרַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר סָבַר: לֹא קִידְּשָׁה לֶעָתִיד לָבֹא?

The mishna continues: Rabbi Yehoshua says: I heard that one sacrifices offerings on the altar even if there is no Temple, and one partakes of offerings of the most sacred order in the Temple courtyard even if there are no curtains, and one partakes of offerings of lesser sanctity and second-tithe produce in Jerusalem even if there is no wall surrounding the city. This is due to the fact that the initial consecration sanctified the Temple and Jerusalem for their time and also sanctified them forever. The Gemara concludes: From the fact that Rabbi Yehoshua based his opinion on the principle that the initial consecration sanctified the Temple and Jerusalem forever, can one not learn by inference that Rabbi Eliezer maintains that it did not sanctify them forever? Apparently, this issue is the subject of a dispute between tanna’im .

Segment 12

אֲמַר לֵיהּ רָבִינָא לְרַב אָשֵׁי: מִמַּאי? דִּלְמָא דְּכוּלֵּי עָלְמָא קְדוּשָּׁה רִאשׁוֹנָה קִידְּשָׁה לִשְׁעָתָהּ וְקִידְּשָׁה לֶעָתִיד לָבֹא, וּמָר מַאי דִּשְׁמִיעַ לֵיהּ קָאָמַר, וּמָר מַאי דִּשְׁמִיעַ לֵיהּ קָאָמַר. וְכִי תֵּימָא: קְלָעִים לְרַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר לְמָה לִי? לִצְנִיעוּתָא בְּעָלְמָא.

Ravina said to Rav Ashi: From where do you draw this inference? Perhaps everyone maintains that the initial consecration sanctified the Temple and Jerusalem for their time and also sanctified them forever. And one Sage, Rabbi Eliezer, stated that tradition, which he heard from his teachers, and one Sage, Rabbi Yehoshua, stated that tradition, which he heard from his teachers, and there is no dispute between them. And if you would say: Why do I need curtains at all according to Rabbi Eliezer? The original sanctity remained when Jerusalem was not surrounded by walls, and similarly, the presence or absence of curtains is irrelevant to the sanctity of the Temple area. The Gemara answers: The curtains were established merely for seclusion, as it would have been unbecoming for the activity in this most sacred venue to be visible to all.

Segment 13

אֶלָּא הָנֵי תַּנָּאֵי – דְּתַנְיָא, אָמַר רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל בְּרַבִּי יוֹסֵי: לָמָּה מָנוּ חֲכָמִים אֶת אֵלּוּ? שֶׁכְּשֶׁעָלוּ בְּנֵי הַגּוֹלָה, מָצְאוּ אֵלּוּ וְקִידְּשׁוּם. אֲבָל רִאשׁוֹנוֹת בָּטְלוּ מִשֶּׁבָּטְלָה הָאָרֶץ. אַלְמָא קָסָבַר: קְדוּשָּׁה רִאשׁוֹנָה קִידְּשָׁה לִשְׁעָתָהּ וְלֹא קִידְּשָׁה לֶעָתִיד לָבֹא.

Rather, this matter is subject to a dispute between these tanna’im , as it is taught in a baraita with regard to the walled cities listed in the mishna in tractate Arakhin (32a): Rabbi Yishmael, son of Rabbi Yosei, said: Why did the Sages enumerate specifically these nine cities as cities that were walled since the days of Joshua, son of Nun? In fact, there were many more. The reason is that when the exiles ascended to Eretz Yisrael from Babylonia in the time of Ezra, they found these cities and consecrated them as walled cities; but the sanctity of the first walled cities, enumerated in the book of Joshua, was nullified when settlement in Eretz Yisrael was negated and the Jewish people were exiled. The Gemara comments: Apparently, Rabbi Yishmael, son of Rabbi Yosei, maintains: The initial consecration sanctified the Temple and Jerusalem for their time only and did not sanctify them forever.

Segment 14

ורְמִינְהִי, אָמַר רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל בְּרַבִּי יוֹסֵי: וְכִי אֵלּוּ בִּלְבַד הָיוּ?! וַהֲלֹא כְּבָר נֶאֱמַר: ״שִׁשִּׁים עִיר כׇּל חֶבֶל אַרְגֹּב מַמְלֶכֶת עוֹג בַּבָּשָׁן, כׇּל אֵלֶּה עָרִים בְּצֻרוֹת חוֹמָה גְבֹהָה״! אֶלָּא לָמָּה מָנוּ חֲכָמִים אֶת אֵלּוּ – שֶׁכְּשֶׁעָלוּ בְּנֵי הַגּוֹלָה מָצְאוּ אֵלּוּ וְקִידְּשׁוּם.

And the Gemara raises a contradiction from a different baraita : Rabbi Yishmael, son of Rabbi Yosei, says: Were these cities that are enumerated in tractate Arakhin the only walled cities? But isn’t it already stated: “Sixty cities, all the region of Argob, the kingdom of Og, king of Bashan, all these were cities fortified with high walls, gates and bars” (Deuteronomy 3:4–5), indicating that there were many walled cities in the time of Joshua? Rather, why then did the Sages enumerate specifically these cities? It is due to the fact that when the exiles ascended from Babylonia they found these and consecrated them as walled cities.

Segment 15

קִידְּשׁוּם הַשְׁתָּא?! הָא אָמְרִינַן לְקַמַּן דְּלָא צְרִיכָא לְקַדּוֹשֵׁי! אֶלָּא מָצְאוּ אֵלּוּ וּמְנָאוּם.

The Gemara asks: They consecrated them? If their sanctity remained, it should not have been necessary to consecrate them. Now, don’t we say later in the same baraita that it is not necessary to consecrate them? The Gemara clarifies: Rather, this is what the baraita means to say: When the exiles ascended from Babylonia they found these and enumerated them.

Segment 16

וְלֹא אֵלּוּ בִּלְבַד, אֶלָּא כׇּל שֶׁתַּעֲלֶה בְּיָדְךָ מָסוֹרֶת מֵאֲבוֹתֶיךָ שֶׁמּוּקֶּפֶת חוֹמָה מִימוֹת יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בִּן נוּן – כׇּל מִצְוֹת אֵלּוּ נוֹהֲגוֹת בָּהּ, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁקְּדוּשָּׁה רִאשׁוֹנָה קִידְּשָׁה לִשְׁעָתָהּ וְקִידְּשָׁה לֶעָתִיד לָבֹא. קַשְׁיָא דְּרַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל בַּר יוֹסֵי אַדְּרַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל בַּר יוֹסֵי!

The baraita continues: And not only these, but in any city with regard to which you receive a tradition from your ancestors that it was surrounded by a wall from the days of Joshua, son of Nun, all these mitzvot with regard to walled cities are observed in it, due to the fact that the initial consecration sanctified the Temple and Jerusalem for their time and sanctified them forever. The Gemara comments: This is difficult, as there is a contradiction between one statement of Rabbi Yishmael bar Yosei and another statement of Rabbi Yishmael bar Yosei.

Segment 17

אִיבָּעֵית אֵימָא: תְּרֵי תַּנָּאֵי אַלִּיבָּא דְּרַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל בַּר יוֹסֵי; אִיבָּעֵית אֵימָא: חֲדָא מִינַּיְיהוּ רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בַּר יוֹסֵי אַמְרַהּ. דְּתַנְיָא, רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בַּר יוֹסֵי אוֹמֵר: ״אֲשֶׁר לוֹא חֹמָה״ – אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאֵין לוֹ עַכְשָׁיו וְהָיָה לוֹ קוֹדֶם לָכֵן.

The Gemara answers: If you wish, say that there are two tanna’im who disagree with regard to the opinion of Rabbi Yishmael bar Yosei. Each transmitted Rabbi Yishmael’s opinion in a different manner. And if you wish, say instead that one of the traditions is mistaken, as one of the baraitot was stated by Rabbi Elazar bar Yosei, and not his brother, Rabbi Yishmael. As it is taught in a baraita : Rabbi Elazar bar Yosei says that the verse with regard to walled cities states: “Which has [ lo ] a wall” (Leviticus 25:30). The word lo is written with an alef , meaning no, and accordingly the verse would be stating to the contrary, that the city does not have a wall, but its vocalization is in the sense of its homonym, lo with a vav , meaning that it has a wall. This indicates that even if it does not presently have a wall but it had a wall previously, it retains its status as a walled city. It is Rabbi Elazar bar Yosei who maintains that the first consecration sanctified the Temple and Jerusalem forever.

Shevuot 16a

Shevuot 16a

Rashi

Tosafot

Rabbeinu Chananel

Rashba

Ritva

Meiri

Maharsha (Chidushei Halachot)

Gilyon HaShas

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