Ask A Question on the daf

Previous daf

1) [line 2] SHETAREI HEDYOTOS - business documents
2) [line 3] MIDLI - it is raised (above where he can reach)
3) [line 8] SHTEI KOMOS - the height of two people
4) [line 8] MARDE'OS - handles of the plow (a long pole)
5) [line 10] U'MITATEI - and it is low down (i.e., *even* if it is low down, where he can reach it)

6) [line 12] GUDA B'SHTARA LO MICHLAF - [writing that is] on a wall is never confused with a document

7) [line 14] D'CHAYIK A'TAVLA V'A'PINKAS - it is engraved on a writing tablet or a board

9) [line 21] D'CHESIV MICHTAV - that it is written with ink (and we are afraid he will erase it)

10) [line 31] MAR'EH - a mirror
11) [line 38] L'HASHIR BAH - to cut off with it
12) [line 38] NIMIN HA'MEDULDALIN - the uneven hairs that are hanging down lower than the rest

13) [line 40] DIYOKNA'OS - images of people from stories
14) [line 43] AL TIFNU EL MI'DA'ATCHEM - do not turn aside to that which you contrive in your minds (RASHI); alternatively, do not push out G-d from your minds (ARUCH)

*15*) [line 46] HA'MAKPIDIN ZEH AL ZEH - that are stingy and careful not to let each other take too much. (In the case of the lots as well, the people are stingy with each other which is why they cast lots.)

*16*) [last line] MISHUM MIDAH MISHUM MISHKAL - they transgress the Rabbinic prohibition against taking merchandise on Shabbos or Yom Tov by its count, if it is an item that is counted, and against weighing, if it is an item that is weighed.

*17*) [last line] MISHUM LOVIN U'FOR'IN - they transgress the Rabbinic enactment not to borrow using the word "Halva'ah," (TOSFOS) and not to pay back on Shabbos what one borrows during the week (CHIDUSHEI HA'RAN)

*19*) [line 1] AF MISHUM RIBIS - they pay with interest, according to Hilel (since they pay back the present value of the food they borrowed, if it rose in price)

*20*) [line 1] BANAV U'VNEI BEISO NAMI - it should also be prohibited to cast lots among the family (since it is required that all the lots be equal, and if so they are being stingy with each other).

21) [line 12] KUVYA - dice-playing, gambling

22) [line 20] "VA'YOMER ..." - "And HaSh-m said, 'Who will entice Achav, that he may go out and fall [in battle] at Ramos Gil'ad?' ..." (Melachim I 22:20)

In the previous chapter of Melachim (I 21), the story is told of Achav, the wicked king of the ten tribes of Yisrael, who had an uncontrollable desire for the vineyard of Navos ha'Yizre'eli, his relative. Izevel, the wife of the king, devised a sinister plot in which Navos was executed and Achav inherited the vineyard. HaSh-m held Achav responsible for the murder, sending word through Eliyahu the prophet that "in the place where the dogs licked the blood of Navos shall the dogs lick your blood." (ibid. 21:19). Divine retribution was to be meted out upon Achav for this and his many other sins.
In Chapter 22, all of the King's advisors and (false) prophets advocated a war with Aram, predicting Achav's victory. Concurrently, Michayhu, a true prophet, saw a vision in which the spirit of Navos offered to entice Achav into the battle that would lead to his doom. This spirit was responsible for all of the false prophecies of victory. Nevertheless, Achav took the advice of the false prophets and he alone was slain in the battle. Although he was later buried, much of his blood was indeed lapped up by dogs in the same place where Navos was executed.

23) [line 28] "SAVATA KALON ..." - "You are filled with shame instead of glory; drink also, and stagger; the cup of HaSh-m's right hand shall be turned to you, and shameful disgrace shall be on your glory." (Chabakuk 2:16) - The prophet describes Nevuchadnetzar, who practiced sodomy with the kings that he took captive. On the day that he tried to take advantage of Tzidkiyahu, king of Yehudah, he suffered great shame when HaSh-m caused his male organ to extend three hundred Amos, thwarting his evil intentions, as described in the Gemara below.

*24*) [line 30] "SHESEI GAM ATAH, V'HE'AREL", ZEH TZIDKIYAH - (The Gemara at present is suggesting that the verse expresses displeasure with Tzidkiyah's conduct, since Nevuchadnezer was punished due to Tzidkiyah (at the party, as the Gemara will relate shortly)

*25*) [line 37] TZADIK ATAH ... - (this is the Drasha of the Chazal on the verse that was quoted)

26) [line 38] PURA - lot
27) [line 39] "EICH NAFALTA MI'SHAMAYIM ..." - "How have you fallen from heaven, O bright star of the morning? How have you been cut down to the ground, you, who ruled over the nations?" (Yeshayahu 14:12) - The phrase "who ruled over the nations" is interpreted by the Gemara to mean "who cast lots over [the kings of] the nations," assigning each a day for sodomy.

28) [line 48] HA'MESIBAH - the [participants at the] banquet
29) [line 51] LICHALOS KEMOSAM HU BA - to get sick and die like them
30) [line 52] "MI'MI NA'AMTA ..." - "Whom do you surpass in beauty? Go down and be laid with the uncircumcised." (Yechezkel 32:19) - The word for beauty can also be translated as pleasure. The Bas Kol rhetorically asked Nevuchadnetzar if he thought that his afterlife would be any more pleasurable than the other wicked people who go to Gehinom.

31) [last line] "EICH SHAVAS NOGES ..." - "How has the oppressor ceased! the golden city ceased!" (Yeshayahu 14:4) - Bavel was the city that was adorned with the gold of all the nations of the world that it plundered. Rav breaks up the word "Madhevah" homiletically into "Madod v'Havei" - "count out your gold and bring it [here]!" Ika d'Amrei break the word into "Me'od Me'od Havi b'Lo Midah" - "Bring lots and lots, infinite amounts!"

Next daf