## Megillah Daf 21a

###### Megillah 21a:1
[Megillah 21a:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Megillah/r/21a:1)

מָה מִשְׁפָּט בַּיּוֹם — אַף כָּאן בַּיּוֹם.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Just as judgment** may be done only **by day, so too here,** the *sota* is given the bitter waters to drink only **by day.**


###### Megillah 21a:2
[Megillah 21a:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Megillah/r/21a:2)

וְלַעֲרִיפַת הָעֶגְלָה, אָמְרִי דְּבֵי רַבִּי יַנַּאי: כַּפָּרָה כְּתִיב בָּהּ, כְּקָדָשִׁים. וּלְטׇהֳרַת מְצוֹרָע, דִּכְתִיב: ״זֹאת תִּהְיֶה תּוֹרַת הַמְּצוֹרָע בְּיוֹם טׇהֳרָתוֹ״.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**And** daytime is the time **for breaking the neck of the heifer,** as the Sages of **the school of Rabbi Yannai said: Atonement is written with regard to** the heifer, teaching that it is treated **like sacred** offerings, and it has already been established that all actions relating to offerings must be performed during the day. **And for purifying the leper,** it is derived **as it is written: “This shall be the law of the leper on the day of his cleansing”** (Leviticus 14:2).


###### Megillah 21a:3
[Megillah 21a:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Megillah/r/21a:3)

כׇּל הַלַּיְלָה כָּשֵׁר לִקְצִירַת הָעוֹמֶר וְכוּ׳, דְּאָמַר מָר: קְצִירָה וּסְפִירָה — בַּלַּיְלָה, וַהֲבָאָה — בַּיּוֹם. וּלְהֶקְטֵר חֲלָבִים וְאֵבָרִים, דִּכְתִיב: ״כׇּל הַלַּיְלָה עַד הַבּוֹקֶר״.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
It was taught in the mishna: **“The entire night is a valid** time for **reaping the *omer*,” as the Master said** in tractate *Menaḥot*: The **reaping** of the *omer* **and the counting** of the *omer* must be performed **at night, whereas bringing** the *omer* offering to the Temple must be done **during the day. And for burning the fats and limbs** of the offerings, it is derived **as it is written** with regard to them: “Which shall be burning upon the altar **all night until the morning”** (Leviticus 6:2).


###### Megillah 21a:4
[Megillah 21a:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Megillah/r/21a:4)

זֶה הַכְּלָל: דָּבָר שֶׁמִּצְוָתוֹ בְּיוֹם — כָּשֵׁר כׇּל הַיּוֹם. זֶה הַכְּלָל לְאֵתוֹיֵי מַאי? לְאֵתוֹיֵי סִידּוּר בָּזִיכִין וְסִלּוּק בָּזִיכִין,

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
§ The mishna states: **This is the principle: Something that it is a mitzva** to perform **during the day is valid** if **performed** any time during **the entire day.** The Gemara asks: As the mishna has seemingly mentioned all daytime mitzvot explicitly, the words: **This is the principle, are to add what?** The Gemara answers: This principle comes **to include the arranging of the vessels** of frankincense alongside the shewbread in the Temple, **and the removal of** those **vessels** at the end of the week, as the verse does not specify the time when these procedures should be performed.


###### Megillah 21a:5
[Megillah 21a:5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Megillah/r/21a:5)

וּכְרַבִּי יוֹסֵי. דְּתַנְיָא, רַבִּי יוֹסֵי אוֹמֵר: סִילֵּק אֶת הַיְּשָׁנָה שַׁחֲרִית, וְסִידֵּר אֶת הַחֲדָשָׁה עַרְבִית — אֵין בְּכָךְ כְּלוּם.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**And** this mishna would consequently be **in accordance with** the opinion of **Rabbi Yosei, as it is taught** in a *baraita* that **Rabbi Yosei said: If one removed the old** shewbread and frankincense **in the morning and arranged the new** ones **toward the evening,** i.e., at the end of the day, **there is nothing** wrong **with this,** as it suffices if the changeover is made any time over the course of the same day. The Sages, however, maintain that the new ones must be set in place immediately after the old ones have been removed.


###### Megillah 21a:6
[Megillah 21a:6](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Megillah/r/21a:6)

וּמָה אֲנִי מְקַיֵּים (״לִפְנֵי ה׳ תָּמִיד״) — שֶׁלֹּא יְהֵא שׁוּלְחָן בְּלֹא לֶחֶם.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**And,** according to Rabbi Yosei, **how do I uphold** that which is written with regard to the shewbread: “He shall set it in order **before the Lord continually”** (Leviticus 24:8), implying that the bread must be on the table at all times? It means only **that the table should not be** an entire day **without the bread,** but if there is bread on the table for even a part of the day, it is considered as being there “continually.”


###### Megillah 21a:7
[Megillah 21a:7](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Megillah/r/21a:7)

דָּבָר שֶׁמִּצְוָתוֹ בַּלַּיְלָה — כָּשֵׁר כׇּל הַלַּיְלָה. לְאֵתוֹיֵי מַאי?

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
§ The mishna concludes: **Something that it is a mitzva** to perform **at night may be performed the entire night.** The Gemara asks: **What** does this principle come **to add** that has not already been mentioned explicitly?


###### Megillah 21a:8
[Megillah 21a:8](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Megillah/r/21a:8)

לְאֵתוֹיֵי אֲכִילַת פְּסָחִים, וּדְלָא כְּרַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בֶּן עֲזַרְיָה. דְּתַנְיָא: ״וְאָכְלוּ אֶת הַבָּשָׂר בַּלַּיְלָה הַזֶּה״, אָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בֶּן עֲזַרְיָה: נֶאֱמַר כָּאן ״בַּלַּיְלָה הַזֶּה״ וְנֶאֱמַר לְהַלָּן ״וְעָבַרְתִּי בְאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם בַּלַּיְלָה הַזֶּה״, מַה לְהַלָּן עַד חֲצוֹת, אַף כָּאן עַד חֲצוֹת.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara answers: It comes **to include the eating of the Paschal offering,** and consequently this mishna is **not in accordance with** the opinion of **Rabbi Elazar ben Azarya, as it is taught** in a *baraita* that it is written: **“And they shall eat the meat on that night”** (Exodus 12:8). **Rabbi Elazar ben Azarya said: It is stated here: “On that night,” and it is stated further on: “And I will pass through the land of Egypt on that night”** (Exodus 12:12). **Just as there,** when God passed through the land of Egypt, it was **until midnight, so too here,** the Paschal offering may be eaten only **until midnight.** The mishna, which asserts that the Paschal offering may be eaten all night, is not in accordance with Rabbi Elazar ben Azarya.


###### Megillah 21a:9
[Megillah 21a:9](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Megillah/r/21a:9)

**הֲדַרַן עֲלָךְ הַקּוֹרֵא לְמַפְרֵעַ**


###### Megillah 21a:10
[Megillah 21a:10](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Megillah/r/21a:10)

**הַקּוֹרֵא** אֶת הַמְּגִילָּה — **עוֹמֵד** וְיוֹשֵׁב. קְרָאָהּ אֶחָד, קְרָאוּהָ שְׁנַיִם — יָצְאוּ. מָקוֹם שֶׁנָּהֲגוּ לְבָרֵךְ — יְבָרֵךְ, וְשֶׁלֹּא לְבָרֵךְ — לֹא יְבָרֵךְ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**MISHNA:** **One who reads the Megilla** may position himself as he wishes, either **standing or sitting.** Whether **one** person **reads** the Megilla or **two** people **read it** together, **they have fulfilled** their obligation. In **a place where** the people **are accustomed to recite a blessing** over the reading, **one should recite a blessing. And** in a place where it is customary **not to recite a blessing, one should not recite a blessing.**


###### Megillah 21a:11
[Megillah 21a:11](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Megillah/r/21a:11)

בְּשֵׁנִי, וַחֲמִישִׁי, בַּשַּׁבָּת בַּמִּנְחָה — קוֹרִין שְׁלֹשָׁה. אֵין פּוֹחֲתִין מֵהֶן, וְאֵין מוֹסִיפִין עֲלֵיהֶן, וְאֵין מַפְטִירִין בַּנָּבִיא. הַפּוֹתֵחַ וְהַחוֹתֵם בַּתּוֹרָה — מְבָרֵךְ לְפָנֶיהָ וּלְאַחֲרֶיהָ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The mishna records several laws governing public Torah readings. **On Mondays and Thursdays** during the morning service **and on Shabbat during the afternoon service, three** people **read** from the Torah; **one may neither decrease** the number of readers **nor add to them. And one does not conclude with** a reading from the **Prophets** [*haftara*] on these occasions. Both **the one who begins** the reading **and the one who concludes the** reading from **the Torah recite a blessing;** one recites **before** the beginning of the reading **and** one recites **after its** conclusion, but the middle reader does not recite a blessing.


###### Megillah 21a:12
[Megillah 21a:12](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Megillah/r/21a:12)

בְּרָאשֵׁי חֳדָשִׁים וּבְחוּלּוֹ שֶׁל מוֹעֵד — קוֹרִין אַרְבָּעָה. אֵין פּוֹחֲתִין מֵהֶן, וְאֵין מוֹסִיפִין עֲלֵיהֶן, וְאֵין מַפְטִירִין בַּנָּבִיא. הַפּוֹתֵחַ וְהַחוֹתֵם בַּתּוֹרָה — מְבָרֵךְ לְפָנֶיהָ וּלְאַחֲרֶיהָ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**On** the days of the **New Moon and on the intermediate days of a Festival, four** people **read** from the Torah; **one may neither decrease** the number of readers **nor add to them. And one does not conclude with** a reading from the **Prophets.** Both **the one who begins** the reading **and the one who concludes** the reading from **the Torah recite a blessing.** The first reader recites a blessing **before** the beginning of the reading, **and** the last reader recites a blessing **after its** conclusion, but the middle readers do not recite a blessing.


###### Megillah 21a:13
[Megillah 21a:13](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Megillah/r/21a:13)

זֶה הַכְּלָל: כֹּל שֶׁיֵּשׁ בּוֹ מוּסָף וְאֵינוֹ יוֹם טוֹב — קוֹרִין אַרְבָּעָה, בְּיוֹם טוֹב — חֲמִשָּׁה, בְּיוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים — שִׁשָּׁה, בְּשַׁבָּת — שִׁבְעָה. אֵין פּוֹחֲתִין מֵהֶן, אֲבָל מוֹסִיפִין עֲלֵיהֶן, וּמַפְטִירִין בַּנָּבִיא. הַפּוֹתֵחַ וְהַחוֹתֵם בַּתּוֹרָה — מְבָרֵךְ לְפָנֶיהָ וּלְאַחֲרֶיהָ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The mishna formulates a general principle with regard to the number of people who read from the Torah on different occasions. **This is the principle: Any** day **on which there is an additional offering** sacrificed in the Temple **and that is not a Festival,** i.e., the New Moon and the intermediate days of a Festival, **four** people **read** from the Torah; **on a Festival, five** people read; **on Yom Kippur, six** people read; and **on Shabbat, seven** people read. **One may not decrease** the number of readers, **but one may add to them. And** on these days **one concludes with** a reading from the **Prophets.** Both **the one who begins** the reading **and the one who concludes the** reading from **the Torah recite a blessing;** one recites **before** the beginning of the reading **and** one recites **after its** conclusion, but the middle readers do not recite a blessing.


###### Megillah 21a:14
[Megillah 21a:14](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Megillah/r/21a:14)

**גְּמָ׳** תָּנָא: מַה שֶּׁאֵין כֵּן בַּתּוֹרָה. מְנָהָנֵי מִילֵּי? אָמַר רַבִּי אֲבָהוּ, דְּאָמַר קְרָא: ״וְאַתָּה פֹּה עֲמֹד עִמָּדִי״, וְאָמַר רַבִּי אֲבָהוּ: אִלְמָלֵא מִקְרָא כָּתוּב, אִי אֶפְשָׁר לְאוֹמְרוֹ. כִּבְיָכוֹל אַף הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בַּעֲמִידָה.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**GEMARA:** We learned in the mishna that one may read the Megilla while sitting. **It was taught** in a *baraita*: This **is not the case with regard to** reading **the Torah,** as one must stand when reading the Torah. The Gemara asks: **From where are these matters** derived? **Rabbi Abbahu said:** It is **as the verse states: “But as for you, stand here with Me,** and I will speak to you all the commandments and the statutes” (Deuteronomy 5:28), which indicates that the Torah must be received while standing. **And Rabbi Abbahu said: Were the verse not written** in this manner, **it would be impossible to utter it,** in deference to God. The phrase “with Me” indicates that, **as it were, even the Holy One, Blessed be He, was standing** at the giving of the Torah.


###### Megillah 21a:15
[Megillah 21a:15](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Megillah/r/21a:15)

וְאָמַר רַבִּי אֲבָהוּ: מִנַּיִן לָרַב שֶׁלֹּא יֵשֵׁב עַל גַּבֵּי מִטָּה וְיִשְׁנֶה לְתַלְמִידוֹ עַל גַּבֵּי קַרְקַע, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְאַתָּה פֹּה עֲמֹד עִמָּדִי״.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**And Rabbi Abbahu** also **said: From where** is it derived **that the teacher should not sit on a couch and teach his disciple** while he is sitting **on the ground?** It is **as it is stated: “But as for you, stand here with Me,”** which indicates that the teacher and his disciples should be in the same position.


###### Megillah 21a:16
[Megillah 21a:16](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Megillah/r/21a:16)

תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: מִימוֹת מֹשֶׁה וְעַד רַבָּן גַּמְלִיאֵל לֹא הָיוּ לְמֵדִין תּוֹרָה אֶלָּא מְעוּמָּד. מִשֶּׁמֵּת רַבָּן גַּמְלִיאֵל, יָרַד חוֹלִי לָעוֹלָם וְהָיוּ לְמֵדִין תּוֹרָה מְיוּשָּׁב. וְהַיְינוּ דִּתְנַן: מִשֶּׁמֵּת רַבָּן גַּמְלִיאֵל בָּטַל כְּבוֹד תּוֹרָה.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
With regard to Torah study while standing, **the Sages taught: From the days of Moses until** the time of **Rabban Gamliel, they would study Torah only while standing,** as learning from one’s teacher is comparable to receiving the Torah at Sinai, during which the Jewish people stood. **When Rabban Gamliel died, weakness descended to the world, and they would study Torah while sitting. And this is as we learned** in a mishna (*Sota* 49a): **When Rabban Gamliel died, honor** for **the Torah ceased,** as standing while learning is an expression of honor for the Torah.


###### Megillah 21a:17
[Megillah 21a:17](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Megillah/r/21a:17)

כָּתוּב אֶחָד אוֹמֵר: ״וָאֵשֵׁב בָּהָר״, וְכָתוּב אֶחָד אוֹמֵר: ״וְאָנֹכִי עָמַדְתִּי בָּהָר״! אָמַר רַב: עוֹמֵד וְלוֹמֵד, יוֹשֵׁב וְשׁוֹנֶה. רַבִּי חֲנִינָא אָמַר: לֹא עוֹמֵד וְלֹא יוֹשֵׁב אֶלָּא שׁוֹחֶה. רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן אָמַר: אֵין ״יְשִׁיבָה״ אֶלָּא לְשׁוֹן עַכָּבָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַתֵּשְׁבוּ בְקָדֵשׁ יָמִים רַבִּים״. רָבָא אָמַר: רַכּוֹת מְעוּמָּד, וְקָשׁוֹת מְיוּשָּׁב.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara points out an apparent contradiction with regard to this very issue. **One verse says: “And I sat [*va’eshev*] on the mount”** (Deuteronomy 9:9), **and another verse says: “And I stood on the mount”** (Deuteronomy 10:10). The Gemara cites several possible resolutions. **Rav said:** Moses would **stand and learn** the Torah from God, and then **sit and review** what he had learned. **Rabbi Ḥanina said:** Moses was **not standing or sitting, but rather bowing. Rabbi Yoḥanan said:** The term ***yeshiva* is nothing more than an expression of remaining** in one place, **as it is stated: “And you dwelled [*vateshvu*] in Kadesh for many days”** (Deuteronomy 1:46). **Rava said:** Moses studied **easy** material while **standing and difficult** material while **sitting.**


###### Megillah 21a:18
[Megillah 21a:18](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Megillah/r/21a:18)

קְרָאָהּ אֶחָד, קְרָאוּהָ שְׁנַיִם יָצְאוּ וְכוּ׳.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
We learned in the mishna: If **one** person **reads** the Megilla or **two** people **read it** together, **they have fulfilled** their obligation.