(Permission is granted to print and redistribute this material
as long as this header and the footer at the end are included.)


POINT BY POINT SUMMARY

Prepared by Rabbi P. Feldman
of Kollel Iyun Hadaf, Yerushalayim
Rosh Kollel: Rabbi Mordecai Kornfeld


Ask A Question on the daf

Previous daf

Sanhedrin 47

1) THE REASON FOR EULOGIES

(a) Answer #5 (Beraisa): "Nivzeh b'Einav Nim'as" - this is Chizkiyah, who dragged his father's bones on a bed of ropes.
1. If (eulogies or other honor shown to the dead) is really to honor the living, he would not have done so (to disgrace the living)!
(b) Rejection: He did so in order that the disgrace would atone for his father.
1. Question: If it is to honor the living, he should not have delayed the honor of Yisrael (the eulogy) for the sake of his father!
2. Answer: Yisrael pardoned their honor to him.
(c) Answer #6: Rebbi instructed 'Do not eulogize me in cities'.
1. If it is to honor the living, what difference does it make to him?
(d) Rejection: he wanted Yisrael to get more honor through himself.
(e) Answer #7 (Mishnah): If he left him for his honor, to bring a coffin or shrouds, he does not transgress.
1. Suggestion: it means, for the deceased's honor.
(f) Rejection: No, it means for the honor of the living.
1. Question: Do we leave the deceased overnight in order to honor the living?!
2. Answer: Yes! The prohibition "Lo Salin" resembles leaving a person hanging, which is a disgrace - here, it is not a disgrace.
(g) Answer #8 (Beraisa): If he left him for his honor, for eulogizers to gather in cities, to bring women to wail over him, to bring a coffin or shrouds, he does not transgress, for these are purely to honor the deceased.
(h) Rejection: It means, whatever is purely to honor the living, this is not a disgrace to the deceased.
(i) Answer #9 (Beraisa - R. Noson): It is a good sign for the deceased if he is punished in this world, e.g. if he was not eulogized, was not buried, was dragged around by an animal, or it was raining on him.
1. It is an atonement if he was not eulogized, therefore, it must be that the eulogy is to honor the deceased.
2) BURIAL OF SOMEONE EXECUTED
(a) (Mishnah): Someone executed is not buried with his family.
(b) Question: What is the reason?
(c) Answer: We do not bury a Rasha next to a Tzadik.
1. (R. Acha bar Chanina): We do not bury a Rasha next to a Tzadik - "Va'Yashilchu Es ha'Ish b'Kever Elisha va'Yiga ha'Ish b'Atzmos Elisha va'Ychi va'Yakam Al Raglav (a Rasha was buried in Elisha's grave; the man revived and walked out)".
2. Question (Rav Papa): You assume that he was revived because a Rasha may not be buried near a Tzadik;
i. Perhaps this is wrong, he was revived to fulfill the blessing (that Eliyahu agreed to) "Vi'Hi Na Pi Shnayim b'Ruchacha Alai".
3. Answer (Rav Acha): If so, he should have lived longer;
i. (Beraisa): He stood on his legs, but he did not even reach his house.
4. Question: If so, when did Elisha revive another person, to fulfill the blessing?
5. Answer (R. Yochanan): He cured Na'aman's Tzara'as;
i. A Metzorah is considered as dead - "Al Na Sehi ka'Mes".
(d) Similarly, we do not bury a severe Rasha near a less severe Rasha.
(e) Question: Beis Din should have four cemeteries, one for each death penalty!
(f) Answer: A tradition from Moshe from Sinai teaches that Beis Din has two cemeteries.
3) IS DEATH AN ATONEMENT?
(a) (Ula citing R. Yochanan): If Reuven (unintentionally) ate Chelev, was Makdish a Korban, became a Mumar (who cannot bring a Korban) and repented, since the animal was once Nidcheh (unable to be offered), it can never be offered.
(b) (R. Yirmeyah citing R. Yochanan): If Reuven ate Chelev, was Makdish a Korban, went crazy and regained sanity, since the animal was once Nidcheh, it can never be offered.
(c) He must teach both cases.
1. If he only taught the first case, one might have thought that there it can never be offered, because he actively was Docheh the Korban - but if he went crazy, this happens by itself, he is like one who goes to sleep (the Korban is not Nidcheh);
2. If he only taught the second case, one might have thought that there it can never be offered, because he cannot restore his sanity, but a Mumar can always repent (so his Korban is not permanently Nidcheh).
(d) Support (Rav Yosef - Mishnah): If there were Kodshei Mizbe'ach in an Ir ha'Nidachas, we do not burn them with the rest of the city, we precipitate their death;
1. If there were Kodshei Bedek ha'Bayis, we redeem them.
2. Question: Why do we kill Kodshei Mizbe'ach - once the owners die, that is an atonement for them, the Korbanos should be offered!
3. Answer #1: This is because once a Korban was Nidcheh ("Zevach Resha'im" may not be offered), it is permanently Nidcheh.
(e) Objection (and Answer #2 - Abaye): No, death is not an atonement for one who died without Teshuvah.
1. (Rav Shemaya): One might have thought, a Kohen becomes Tamei to bury a relative who separated from the ways of the Tzibur (e.g. a Mumar) - "B'Amav", only if he acted like your people.
(f) Objection (against Abaye - Rava): There is a difference between one who died without Teshuvah and one who was executed without Teshuvah - since the latter did not die naturally, his death atones for him!
(g) Support (Rava, for himself) Question: "...Nivlas *Avadecha*...Besar *Chasidecha*" - what do these refer to?
1. Answer: "Chasidecha" are the true Tzadikim; "Avadecha (Your servants)" are those who were worthy to die, since they were killed, they are called 'Your servants'.
(h) Rejection (Abaye): Death at the hands of the king is different than execution by Beis Din;
47b---------------------------------------47b

1. Those killed by the king were not killed according to law, therefore it atones for them;
2. Those killed by Beis Din were killed according to law, therefore it does not atone for them (without Teshuvah).
(i) Support (Abaye, for himself - Mishnah): Someone executed is not buried with his family.
1. If Misas Beis Din is an atonement, he should be buried with his family right away!
(j) Rejection (Rava): Death and the burial together bring atonement.
(k) Question (Rav Ada bar Ahavah - Mishnah): The relatives do not mourn, they conduct Aninus, for this is not apparent to others.
1. If death and the burial bring atonement, they should mourn!
(l) Answer #1: Decomposition of the flesh is also needed for atonement.
1. Support (Mishnah): After the flesh has decomposed, his bones are buried with his family.
(m) Answer #2 (Rav Ashi): Really, death and the burial bring atonement by themselves;
1. Mourning should begin from Stimas ha'Golel (Rashi - sealing of the coffin; R. Tam - placing a stone to mark off the grave), atonement is only after suffering pain of burial;
2. Since they were Nidchim (disqualified) from beginning mourning at the proper time, they are permanently Nidchim.
(n) Question: If so, why do we wait until the flesh decomposes before burying the bones with his family?
(o) Answer: It is not feasible to collect the bones while the flesh is rotting.
4) IT IS FORBIDDEN TO BENEFIT FROM A HUMAN CORPSE
(a) People would take dirt from Rav's grave to cure a fever on the first day.
(b) Shmuel: It is permitted - the ground does not become forbidden.
1. "Va'Yashlach Es Afarah (of the Asheirah) Al Kever Benei ha'Am" - this equates a grave to idolatry:
2. Idolatry attached to the ground is not forbidden - "Eloheihem Al he'Harim" - their gods on the mountains, the mountains are not their gods;
i. Likewise, attached dirt of a grave is permitted.
(c) Question (Beraisa): If one dug a grave for his father (or anyone else, after his death) and buried him elsewhere, no one else may be buried in the first grave.
(d) Answer: The case is, he made a tomb above ground (since it was originally detached, it becomes forbidden).
(e) Question (Beraisa): It is permitted to benefit from a new grave;
1. If a Nefel (stillborn baby) was put inside, it is forbidden to benefit from it;
(f) Answer: Here also, the tomb is above ground.
(g) Question (Beraisa): There are three types of graves - a found grave, a known grave, a grave that harms the public.
1. If one finds a grave on his property that he did not authorize, he may move it; after he does so, its place is Tahor and one may benefit from it;
2. A known grave (the owner of the property authorized it) - he may not move it; if he did so, its place is Tamei and forbidden to benefit from it;
3. A grave that harms the public - he may move it; after he does so, its place is Tamei and one may benefit from it.
(h) Answer: Here also, the tomb is above ground.
(i) Question: Why is it permitted to move a found grave - perhaps it was a Mes Mitzvah, which acquires (the right to remain in) its place!
(j) Answer: A Mes Mitzvah becomes known (if we did not hear about it, we are not concerned for it).
(k) (Abaye): If one wove a garment for a Mes, it is forbidden to benefit from it;
(l) (Rava): It is permitted to benefit from it.
1. Abaye forbids, because designation takes effect;
2. Rava permits, because designation has no effect.
(m) Question: What is Abaye's reason?
(n) Answer: He learns a Gezerah Shavah "Sham-Sham" from Eglah Arufah - just as the calf is forbidden through designation (being taken to the Nachal), also designation for a Mes.
(o) Rava learns the Gezerah Shavah "Sham-Sham" from idolatry - just as idolatry is not forbidden through designation (until it is Ne'evad), also designation for a Mes.
(p) Question: Why doesn't Rava learn from Eglah Arufah?
(q) Answer: It is better to learn Meshamshim (things used for a Mes) from Meshamshim (of idolatry), and not from Eglah Arufah, which is itself forbidden.
(r) Question: Why doesn't Abaye learn from idolatry?
(s) Answer: We learn something proper (making shrouds for a Mes) from something proper (Eglah Arufah), not from idolatry, which is forbidden (such designation is less meaningful, perhaps he will not serve it).
Next daf

Index


For further information on
subscriptions, archives and sponsorships,
contact Kollel Iyun Hadaf,
daf@shemayisrael.co.il