Ask A Question on the daf

Previous daf

1) [line 1] ALIBA D'REBBI ELIEZER KULEI ALMA LO PELIGEI - that is, the opinion that rules "Mesah Chehunah" rules like Rebbi Yehoshua, and most certainly *not* like Rebbi Eliezer, since Rebbi Eliezer retroactively invalidates the acts of Divine service of the Kohen/Ben Gerushah, which concurs with the opinion that rules "Batlah Chehunah"

2) [line 4] "[YASIMU KETORAH B'APECHA, V'CHALIL AL MIZBECHECHA.] BARECH HASH-M CHEILO, U'FO'AL YADAV TIRTZEH..." - "[They shall place incense in Your presence and cause sacrifices to be consumed on Your altar.] HaSh-m, bless his wealth, and favor the work of his hands..." (Devarim 33:10-11) - It is possible that Rebbi Yehoshua learns like Avuha di'Shmuel (Kidushin 66b, but see Pesachim 72b), who takes the word "Cheilo" as a hint to the (Chalalim).

3) [line 5] CHALALIN - profaned descendants of the Kohanim See Background to Makos 11:50.

4) [line 7] SHTEI TA'UYOS TA'AH YO'AV - Yo'av made two mistakes
5) [line 8] "... VA'YANOS YO'AV EL OHEL HASH-M VA'YACHAZEK B'KARNOS HA'MIZBE'ACH." - "[The news reached Yo'av [and worried him], because Yo'av had turned after Adoniyah, but he had not turned after Avshalom.] And Yo'av fled to the tent of HaSh-m and he grabbed hold of the horns of the Mizbe'ach (altar)." (Melachim I 2:28)

6) [line 11] MIZBACH BEIS OLAMIM / MIZBACH SHILOH (BAMAH GEDOLAH / BAMAH KETANAH / MIZBE'ACH)
(a) BAMAH - A Bamah is a raised area used for sacrifices. Before the Beis ha'Mikdash was built (when the Mishkan was not in use), there were times when it was permitted to offer sacrifices on public altars (Bamas Tzibur or Bamah Gedolah) and private altars (Bamas Yachid or Bamah Ketanah) (see Insights to Pesachim 91:2).
(b) BAMAH GEDOLAH - Only one public altar was in use at any particular time. At various times in our history, the Bamah Gedolah was in Gilgal (where the Mishkan stood before the land was completely conquered, until it was moved to Shiloh), Nov and Giv'on (after the Mishkan in Shiloh was destroyed, see Zevachim 112b). An individual could offer only voluntary sacrifices on a Bamah Gedolah. There is a difference of opinion among the Tana'im as to whether all communal sacrifices could be offered on a Bamah Gedolah or only the communal sacrifices that have a fixed time (Zevachim 117a).
(c) BAMAH KETANAH - Any person, even if he was not a Kohen, could build a Bamah Ketanah anywhere in Eretz Yisrael and offer upon it his personal sacrifices. Only voluntary sacrifices could be offered on a Bamah Ketanah.
(d) MIZBE'ACH - The Mishkan was built in Shiloh, a city in the portion of Efrayim, after the 14 years of conquest and apportionment of Eretz Yisrael. A Mizbe'ach (altar) was built to replace the Bamos, and as long as the Mishkan stood in Shiloh, sacrificing on the Bamos was prohibited. The Tana'im argue as to whether this Mizbe'ach was a stone structure or whether it was the hollow wooden Mizbe'ach overlaid with copper that was constructed for the Mishkan in the desert, filled with stones (Zevachim 61b). The Mishkan stood in Shiloh for 369 years (Seder Olam Raba 11).
(e) The Beis Olamim is the Beis ha'Mikdash. It was called by this name, the "Eternal Dwelling," because once it was chosen, it became the permanent dwelling place of the Shechinah. Once again the Bamos were prohibited, but this time permanently. The Mizbach ha'Chitzon (Outer Mizbe'ach) or Mizbach ha'Olah (Mizbe'ach of the Korban Olah) of the Beis ha'Mikdash consisted of three concrete and stone platforms poured one on top of the other. (For a description of the Mizbe'ach ha'Chitzon, see Background to Sukah 45:15.)
(f) Our Gemara relates that Yo'av ran to "Ohel HaSh-m" and grabbed on to the horns of the Mizbe'ach. A distinction is then made between the Mizbe'ach of Shiloh and that of the Beis ha'Mikdash, which indicates that Yo'av ran to Shiloh and not to the Beis ha'Mikdash (which had not yet been built). RASHI explains that instead of Shiloh, the intention of the Gemara is to distinguish between the Mizbe'ach of the Beis ha'Mikdash and the Mizbe'ach that David ha'Melech built in Ir David (the present-day Shilo'ach section of Yerushalayim), in front of the tent that David constructed to house the Aron ha'Kodesh (Shmuel II 6:17).

7) [line 13] SARO SHEL ROMI - the Guardian Angel of Rome (Esav), also known as Samael

8) [line 14] "MI ZEH BA ME'EDOM, CHAMUTZ BEGADIM MI'BATZRAH..." - "Who is this coming from Edom, from Batzrah with soiled garments..." (Yeshayah 63:1)

9a) [line 14] BETZER - one of the cities of refuge (Devarim 4:43, see below, entry #10)
b) [line 15] BATZRAH - (a) a city of Moav (RASHI to Yeshayah 63:1); (b) a fortified city, from the same root as the word "Mivtzar"(METZUDAS TZIYON)

10) [line 16] AREI MIKLAT (AREI LEVIYIM / AREI MIKLAT)
(a) AREI LEVIYIM - When the land of Yisrael was divided among the tribes of Yisrael, all tribes received a portion of land except for the tribe of Levi (Bamidbar 26:62, Yehoshua 14:4). The Leviyim were settled in the six Arei Miklat (cities of refuge) and in forty-two other cities that were designated as "Arei Leviyim" (Yehoshua 21:3-39).
(b) Part of the grant of land that the Leviyim received was the 2000-Amah Techum (the city limits). The first one thousand Amos from the wall of the city is called the Migrash of the city. It is left unplanted and is known as the "Noy ha'Ir" (the beauty of the city). The remaining one thousand Amos is designated for fields and vineyards (Sotah 27b).
(c) AREI MIKLAT - A person who murders intentionally after having been previously warned is liable to the death penalty. A person who murders unintentionally is exempt from the death penalty, but is punished with Galus (banishment, exile).
(d) When it is proven that a person killed unintentionally, he is banished to one of the six Arei Miklat or one of the forty-two cities of the Leviyim. He must stay there and not leave the city or its Techum for any reason whatsoever until the death of the Kohen Gadol who served at the time that he was sentenced to banishment.
(e) If the unintentional murderer leaves his city of refuge, the Go'el ha'Dam (the closest relative of the murdered person) is permitted to avenge the death of his relative and kill the murderer.

11) [line 16] LO NITNU LI'KEVURAH - they are not designated for burial, i.e. cemeteries or burial caves may not be constructed in them

12) [line 17] "... U'MIGRESHEIHEM YIHEYU LI'VEHEMTAM VELI'RECHUSHAM ULE'CHOL CHAYASAM." - "... and their outer grounds shall be for their animals and their possessions and for all of their livelihood." (Bamidbar 35:3)

13) [line 18] "... [ASHER NAS] SHAMAH" - "[to which he fled] there" (Bamidbar 35:25) - The Tosefta (Makos 2:2) learns the three Halachos of our Mishnah from three verses in which the word "Shamah" appears: "Lanus Shamah" (ibid. 35:11); "Asher Nas Shamah" (ibid. 35:25); "Asher Yanus Shamah" (ibid. 35:26).

14a) [line 20] LIKLOT - in which to find refuge (such that he is not able to be killed by the Go'el ha'Dam)
b) [line 20] LADUR - in which to live

15a) [line 21] SADEH - a field, further than 1000 Amos from a city of the Leviyim (see above, entry #10:b)
b) [line 21] MIGRASH - an open space within the first 1000 Amos from a city of the Leviyim (see above, entry #10:b)
c) [line 21] IR - a city of the Leviyim (see above, entry #10:a)
16) [line 22] MECHILOS - underground tunnels

17) [line 26] ROTZE'ACH SHE'YATZA CHUTZ LI'TECHUM - the [unintentional] murderer who went out of the city limits [of the city to which he fled]. (According to RABEINU CHANANEL (and the implication of the following Gemara), this Halachah applies even before the Rotze'ach has been tried for the murder, and can be understood according to the Mishnah -- Daf 9b)

18a) [line 35] B'MEZID NEHERAG - [if the unintentional murderer] intentionally [leaves the city to which he fled], he is killed [by the Go'el ha'Dam, who is not punished for murdering him]
b) [line 35] B'SHOGEG GOLEH - [if the unintentional murderer] unintentionally [leaves the city to which he fled], he is sent [back] to Galus [and may not be killed by the Go'el ha'Dam, who would be punished for murdering him]

19) [line 36] DIBRAH TORAH KI'LESHON BENEI ADAM - the Torah [in this instance] speaks in the manner of man
(a) Every word in the Torah is holy and contains worlds of insights and nuances. However, certain sages of the Mishnah felt that there were some phrases recorded in the Torah that paralleled people's speech, and should not be used for homiletics or insights.
(b) The opinion that rules Dibrah Torah ki'Leshon Benei Adam would only learn one Halachah from the verse, and only if the unintentional murderer intentionally leaves the city to which he fled may he be killed by the Go'el ha'Dam. If he leaves unintentionally, he is sent back to Galus.

20) [line 42] EIN HA'BEN NA'ASEH SHALI'ACH L'AVIV - a son may not be appointed as an emissary for Beis Din to hit his father or to curse his father (see Insights to Sanhedrin 85:2)

21) [line 43] MESIS
(a) A man or woman who leads a fellow Jew astray by trying to influence him or her to commit idolatry, is put to death by stoning (Devarim 13:7-12). It makes no difference if anyone actually committed idolatry or not.
(b) Certain Halachos of Mesis are more stringent than any other capital offence of the Torah. A Mesis does not need a warning to be found guilty; however, he must perform the Hasasah in front of two witnesses in order to be put to death. Even if the witnesses stood in a concealed place, it is possible for the Mesis to be guilty of Hasasah, whereas in all other capital punishment cases this testimony would be invalid (RAMBAM Hilchos Avodah Zarah 5:1-5). In addition, the Gemara (Sanhedrin 53a) teaches, Beis Din is not enjoined to find reasons to acquit the Mesis, as Beis Din is enjoined to do in the case of every other capital offender.
(c) Our Gemara teaches that if one's father is a Mesis, his son may be appointed as an emissary for Beis Din to kill his father.

22) [line 43]"LO SACHMOL V'LO SECHASEH ALAV." - "Do not have compassion on him and do not cover for him." (Devarim 13:9)

23) [line 45] NOFO - its branches

24) [line 48] MA'ASER (MA'ASER SHENI:ACHILASO / PIDYONO / KELITAH)
(a) After a crop that is grown in Eretz Yisrael is harvested and brought to the owner's house or yard, he must separate Terumah Gedolah from the crop and give it to a Kohen. Although the Torah does not specify the amount to be given, the Rabanan set the requirement at one fiftieth of the total crop. After Terumah is removed from the produce, one tenth of the produce that remains must be designated "Ma'aser Rishon," and given to a Levi. The Levi, in turn, must separate one tenth of his Ma'aser Rishon as Terumas Ma'aser, to be given to a Kohen, as it states in Bamidbar 18:26.
(b) The produce may not be eaten until both Terumos have been separated from it. Until the Terumos have been separated, the produce is called Tevel. The punishment for eating Tevel is Misah b'Yedei Shamayim (Sanhedrin 83a).
(c) A second tithe is given every year after Ma'aser Rishon has been separated. The tithe that is separated in the third and sixth years of the 7-year Shemitah cycle is called Ma'aser Ani and is given to the poor.
(d) The tithe that is separated during the first, second, fourth and fifth years is called Ma'aser Sheni. The Torah requires that Ma'aser Sheni be brought and eaten by its owner in Yerushalayim. Anyone who eats Ma'aser Sheni produce outside of the walls of Yerushalayim (without Pidyon, redemption -- see (e) below) receives Malkos (RAMBAM Hilchos Ma'aser Sheni 2:5). Once the Ma'aser Sheni produce enters the walls of Yerushalayim, it may not be redeemed. It is considered "Niklat," "captured" by the walls.
(e) Alternatively, Ma'aser Sheni produce may be redeemed (Pidyon), in which case the money used to redeem it is brought to Yerushalayim. If the owner himself redeems the produce, he must add an additional *fifth* (of the ensuing total, or a *quarter* of the original value). The food that is bought with this money in Yerushalayim becomes Kodesh like Ma'aser Sheni and must be eaten b'Taharah. Ma'aser Sheni that was redeemed by anyone besides the owner is exempt from the additional fifth.

25) [line 48] MA'ASER B'CHOMAH TALAH RACHMANA - Ma'aser Sheni depends upon the walls of Yerushalayim

26) [line 49] B'IKARO LO MISDAR LEI - a person is not able to live on the trunk of a tree (as opposed to a tree house in its branches)

27) [line 4] PARIK - redeem
28) [line 6] PEDIYAH - redemption
29) [line 12] HA GAVAI KAI! - but he is inside [of a city of refuge, where he should be protected from death]!

30a) [line 14] CHITZIM - arrows
b) [line 14] TZEROROS - pebbles, stones

31) [line 15] BI'MEHEVEI IKARO DARGA L'NOFO - if its trunk (which is inside) serves as a step to its branches (which are outside, and it is impossible to kill him without climbing up from the trunk)

32) [line 21] "V'SAMTI LECHA MAKOM" - "[And if a man does not lie in wait, but HaSh-m has caused it (the accidental murder) to come into his hand;] then I will appoint you a place [where he shall flee.]" (Shemos 21:13)

33) [line 22] (MI'MEKOMCHA) BI'MEKOMCHA (MACHANEH LEVIYAH)
There are three main Machanos (designated holy areas) within the city of Yerushalayim, corresponding to their respective areas in the Midbar (desert):
(a) The entire area within the walls of Yerushalayim, excluding Har ha'Bayis, is Machaneh Yisrael. This area corresponded to the area of encampment of the twelve tribes in the Midbar. Machaneh Yisrael is off-limits to Metzora'im (see Background to Bava Metzia 86:29. For a full discussion of the process by which a Metzora becomes Tahor, see Background to Kidushin 35:24). Metzora'im are also forbidden to enter any walled city in Eretz Yisrael.
(b) The area between the Azarah and the wall encompassing Har ha'Bayis, including the Ezras Nashim courtyard (TY #10), is Machaneh Leviyah. This corresponded to the area around the Mishkan, where the Leviyim encamped. In the desert, this area served as a city of refuge, as our Gemara teaches. Not only Metzora'im are prohibited to enter this area, but also Zavin and Zavos (see Background to Bava Kama 24:2, 5), Nidos (see above, entry #3a) and Yoldos (see Background to Kidushin 13:16).
(c) The entire area within the Azarah, i.e. the Ezras Yisrael (TY #22) and the Ezras Kohanim (TY #25, that contained the Beis ha'Mikdash, the Mizbe'ach (TY #47), and various Lishkos or chambers) -- but not the Ezras Nashim -- is Machaneh Shechinah (excluding the area under the gate to the Azarah known as Sha'ar Nikanor -- TY #18). This corresponded to the area of the Mishkan [within the Kela'im, curtains]. This area is even prohibited to a person who is Tamei Mes and Tamei Sheretz.

34) [line 24] MI'KAN AMRU - from this they said [that a Levi who lives in a city of refuge (or city of the Leviyim) goes to Galus to another city of refuge (or city of the Leviyim)]

35) [line 25] MI'PELACH LI'PELACH - from one city to another city
36) [line 25] IM GALAH L'FILCHO - and if he is banished from one neighborhood to another neighborhood (in the same city)

37) [line 26] PILCHO KOLTO - his city (i.e. the other neighborhood) provides refuge for him (that is, since the "city of refuge" of the desert was the camp of the Leviyim, and a Levi who killed at that time moved from one place in the Machaneh Leviyah to another, a Levi who lives in a city of refuge or a city of the Leviyim may move within his city as a fulfillment of the requirement to go to Galus -- RASHI to Zevachim 117a)

38) [line 29] V'RATZU ANSHEI HA'IR L'CHABDO - and the people of the city of refuge wanted to honor him (which is a contradiction to the entire concept of Galus, in which the Rotze'ach is meant to learn humility and self-effacement -- RITVA)

Next daf