## Sanhedrin Daf 26b

###### Sanhedrin 26b:1
[Sanhedrin 26b:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sanhedrin/r/26b:1)

אֲמַרוּ לֵיהּ: מַשְׁירְיָיתָךְ הֵיכָא? אֲמַר: הֲדַרוּ בִּי. אֲמַרוּ לֵיהּ: אִם כֵּן, אַחוֹכֵי קָא מַחְיְיכַתְּ בַּן! נְקָבוּהוּ בַּעֲקָבָיו וּתְלָאוּהוּ בְּזַנְבֵי סוּסֵיהֶם, וְהָיוּ מְגָרְרִין אוֹתוֹ עַל הַקּוֹצִים וְעַל הַבַּרְקָנִין.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Assyrians **said to him: Where is your camp?** Shebna **said: They backed out on me. They said to him: If so, you are mocking us;** you led us to believe that behind you stands a large camp of supporters. **They punched holes in his heels and hung him by the tails of their horses, and dragged him on the thorns and on the bristles.**


###### Sanhedrin 26b:2
[Sanhedrin 26b:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sanhedrin/r/26b:2)

אָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר: שֶׁבְנָא בַּעַל הֲנָאָה הָיָה. כְּתִיב הָכָא: ״לֶךְ בֹּא אֶל הַסֹּכֵן הַזֶּה״, וּכְתִיב הָתָם: ״וַתְּהִי לוֹ סֹכֶנֶת״.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Rabbi Elazar says: Shebna was a hedonist. It is written here: “Go, get yourself to this steward [*hasokhen*],** to Shebna, who is over the house” (Isaiah 22:15), **and it is written there** with regard to Abishag the Shunammite: **“And let her be a companion [*sokhenet*] to him;** and let her lie in your bosom, that my lord the king may get heat” (I Kings 1:2).


###### Sanhedrin 26b:3
[Sanhedrin 26b:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sanhedrin/r/26b:3)

וְאוֹמֵר: ״כִּי הַשָּׁתוֹת יֵהָרֵסוּן צַדִּיק מַה פָּעָל״. רַב יְהוּדָה וְרַב עֵינָא, חַד אָמַר: אִילּוּ חִזְקִיָּה וְסִיעָתוֹ נֶהֱרָסִים, צַדִּיק מַה פָּעָל? וְחַד אָמַר: אִילּוּ בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ יַהָרֵס, צַדִּיק מַה פָּעָל? וְעוּלָּא אָמַר: אִילּוּ מַחְשְׁבוֹתָיו שֶׁל אוֹתוֹ רָשָׁע אֵינָן נֶהֱרָסוֹת, צַדִּיק מַה פָּעָל?

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**And** following the aforementioned verse: “For behold, the wicked bend the bow, they have made ready their arrow upon the string,” the next verse **states: “When the foundations are destroyed, what has the Righteous One done?”** (Psalms 11:3). **Rav Yehuda and Rav Eina** interpret this verse. **One says: If Hezekiah and his camp are destroyed, what has the Righteous One done? And one says: If the Temple should be destroyed, what has the Righteous One done? And Ulla says: If the intentions of that wicked person,** Sennacherib, **are not destroyed, what has the Righteous One done?**


###### Sanhedrin 26b:4
[Sanhedrin 26b:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sanhedrin/r/26b:4)

בִּשְׁלָמָא לְמַאן דְּאָמַר: אִילּוּ מַחְשְׁבוֹתָיו שֶׁל אוֹתוֹ רָשָׁע, הַיְינוּ דִּכְתִיב ״כִּי הַשָּׁתוֹת יֵהָרֵסוּן״.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara asks: **Granted, according to the one who says** that the verse means: **If the intentions of that wicked person** are not destroyed, what has the Righteous One done, **this is** the reason **that it is written: “When the foundations [*hashatot*] are destroyed,”** i.e., the intentions of Sennacherib are destroyed, as intentions are called *shatot*.


###### Sanhedrin 26b:5
[Sanhedrin 26b:5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sanhedrin/r/26b:5)

וּלְמַאן דְּאָמַר בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ, נָמֵי – דִּתְנַן: אֶבֶן הָיְתָה שָׁם מִימוֹת נְבִיאִים הָרִאשׁוֹנִים, וּשְׁתִיָּיה הָיְתָה נִקְרֵאת.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**And according to the one who says** it is referring to **the Temple,** the word *hashatot* is **also** clear, **as we learned** in a mishna (*Yoma* 53b): **There was a stone** in the Holy of Holies **from the days of the early prophets,** David and Samuel, who laid the groundwork for construction of the Temple, **and** this stone **was called** the **Foundation [*shetiyya*]** Stone.


###### Sanhedrin 26b:6
[Sanhedrin 26b:6](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sanhedrin/r/26b:6)

אֶלָּא לְמַאן דְּאָמַר חִזְקִיָּה וְסִיעָתוֹ, הֵיכָא אַשְׁכְּחַן צַדִּיקֵי דְּאִיקְּרוּ ״שָׁתוֹת״?

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**But according to the one who says** that the reference is to **Hezekiah and his camp, where do we find that righteous people are referred to as *shatot*?**


###### Sanhedrin 26b:7
[Sanhedrin 26b:7](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sanhedrin/r/26b:7)

דִּכְתִיב: ״כִּי לַה׳ מְצֻקֵי אֶרֶץ וַיָּשֶׁת עֲלֵיהֶם תֵּבֵל״. וְאִיבָּעֵית אֵימָא מֵהָכָא: ״הִפְלִיא עֵצָה הִגְדִּיל תּוּשִׁיָּה״.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara answers: **As it is written:** “He raises up the poor out of the dust, He lifts up the needy from the dung hill, to make them sit with princes and inherit the throne of glory; **for the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s, and He has set [*vayyashet*] the world upon them”** (I Samuel 2:8). Since the righteous are considered the foundations of the world, this verse is interpreted in reference to them. **And if you wish, say** instead that it is derived **from here: “Wonderful is His counsel, and great His wisdom [*tushiyya*]”** (Isaiah 28:29). Accordingly, the wise, righteous people are called *shatot*.


###### Sanhedrin 26b:8
[Sanhedrin 26b:8](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sanhedrin/r/26b:8)

אָמַר רַבִּי חָנָן: לָמָּה נִקְרָא שְׁמָהּ תּוּשִׁיָּה? מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהִיא מַתֶּשֶׁת כֹּחוֹ שֶׁל אָדָם. דָּבָר אַחֵר: תּוּשִׁיָּה – שֶׁנִּיתְּנָה בַּחֲשַׁאי מִפְּנֵי הַשָּׂטָן. דָּבָר אַחֵר: תּוּשִׁיָּה – דְּבָרִים שֶׁל תּוֹהוּ שֶׁהָעוֹלָם מְשׁוּתָּת עֲלֵיהֶם.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
With regard to the latter verse, **Rabbi Ḥanan says: Why is** the Torah **called *tushiyya*? Because it weakens [*matteshet*] the strength of a person** who engages in its study. **Alternatively, *tushiyya*** can be interpreted as an abbreviation: **That it was given in secret [*shenittena beḥashai*].** This was done **because of the Satan,** lest he claim that the Jewish people are not worthy of it. **Alternatively, *tushiyya*** can be interpreted as an abbreviation for **amorphous [*tohu*] matters that** seem foreign and strange, but nevertheless **the world is founded [*meshotat*] on them.**


###### Sanhedrin 26b:9
[Sanhedrin 26b:9](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sanhedrin/r/26b:9)

אָמַר עוּלָּא: מַחְשָׁבָה מוֹעֶלֶת אֲפִילּוּ לְדִבְרֵי תוֹרָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״מֵפֵר מַחְשְׁבוֹת עֲרוּמִים וְלֹא תַעֲשֶׂינָה יְדֵיהֶם תּוּשִׁיָּה״.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Ulla says: Thought,** i.e., concern, **is effective [*mo’elet*] in** disturbing **even** the study of **statements of Torah, as it is stated: “He frustrates the thoughts of the crafty, so that their hands can perform nothing [*velo…tushiyya*]”** (Job 5:12), and *tushiyya* is a reference to Torah.


###### Sanhedrin 26b:10
[Sanhedrin 26b:10](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sanhedrin/r/26b:10)

אָמַר רַבָּה: אִם עֲסוּקִין לִשְׁמָהּ, אֵינָהּ מוֹעֶלֶת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״רַבּוֹת מַחֲשָׁבוֹת בְּלֶב אִישׁ וַעֲצַת ה׳ הִיא תָקוּם״. עֵצָה שֶׁיֵּשׁ בָּהּ דְּבַר ה׳ הִיא תָּקוּם לְעוֹלָם.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Rabba says: If** people **engage** in Torah study **for its own sake,** concern **is not effective; as it is stated: “There are many devices in a man’s heart; but the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand”** (Proverbs 19:21). Rabba interprets this to mean that **a counsel that has in it the statement of the Lord shall rise forever** and cannot be disturbed.


###### Sanhedrin 26b:11
[Sanhedrin 26b:11](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sanhedrin/r/26b:11)

אָמַר רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אֵימָתַי. אָמַר רַבִּי אֲבָהוּ אָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר: הֲלָכָה כְּרַבִּי יְהוּדָה.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
§ The mishna teaches that **Rabbi Yehuda says: When** are all these people, e.g., gamblers and those who lend with interest, disqualified from bearing witness? It is when they have no occupation other than this one. **Rabbi Abbahu says** that **Rabbi Elazar says: The *halakha*** is **in accordance with** the opinion of **Rabbi Yehuda.**


###### Sanhedrin 26b:12
[Sanhedrin 26b:12](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sanhedrin/r/26b:12)

וְאָמַר רַבִּי אֲבָהוּ אָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר: כּוּלָּן צְרִיכִין הַכְרָזָה בְּבֵית דִּין.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**And Rabbi Abbahu says** that **Rabbi Elazar says: All of** these **require a proclamation in the court.** In other words, one is disqualified only after it is proclaimed in court that he was found guilty of this behavior.


###### Sanhedrin 26b:13
[Sanhedrin 26b:13](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sanhedrin/r/26b:13)

רוֹעֶה – פְּלִיגִי בַּהּ רַב אַחָא וְרָבִינָא: חַד אָמַר בָּעֵי הַכְרָזָה, וְחַד אָמַר לָא בָּעֵי הַכְרָזָה.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
With regard to **a shepherd,** who is also disqualified from bearing witness, **Rav Aḥa and Ravina disagree. One says** that **he requires a proclamation** that he is disqualified due to his being a shepherd, **and one says** that **he does not require a proclamation** and is disqualified automatically.


###### Sanhedrin 26b:14
[Sanhedrin 26b:14](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sanhedrin/r/26b:14)

בִּשְׁלָמָא לְמַאן דְּאָמַר לָא בָּעֵי הַכְרָזָה, הַיְינוּ דְּאָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה אָמַר רַב: סְתָם רוֹעֶה פָּסוּל. אֶלָּא לְמַאן דְּאָמַר בָּעֵי הַכְרָזָה, מַאי סְתָם רוֹעֶה פָּסוּל?

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara asks: **Granted, according to the one who says** that **he does not require a proclamation, this is what Rav Yehuda** means when he **says** that **Rav says** that **an ordinary shepherd is disqualified,** i.e., he does not require a specific proclamation. **But according to the one who says** that a shepherd **requires a proclamation, what** is meant by the statement that **an ordinary shepherd is disqualified?**


###### Sanhedrin 26b:15
[Sanhedrin 26b:15](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sanhedrin/r/26b:15)

דְּבִסְתָמָא מַכְרְזִינַן עֲלֵיהּ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara answers: It means **that in an ordinary** case, the court **proclaims about him** that he is disqualified for having engaged in shepherding. If the court discovers that he regularly engages in this trade, it proclaims immediately that he is disqualified, and the court does not need to prove that he shepherds his flock in the fields of others.


###### Sanhedrin 26b:16
[Sanhedrin 26b:16](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sanhedrin/r/26b:16)

הָהִיא מַתָּנָה דַּהֲווֹ חֲתִימִי עֲלַהּ תְּרֵין גַּזְלָנִין, סְבַר רַב פָּפָּא בַּר שְׁמוּאֵל לְאַכְשׁוֹרַהּ, דְּהָא לָא אַכְרְזִינַן עֲלַיְיהוּ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara recounts: With regard to **a certain** deed of **gift on which** the names of **two robbers were signed, Rav Pappa bar Shmuel thought to deem it valid** despite the identity of the witnesses, **as** the court **did not proclaim about them** that they were disqualified.


###### Sanhedrin 26b:17
[Sanhedrin 26b:17](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sanhedrin/r/26b:17)

אֲמַר לֵיהּ רָבָא: נְהִי דְּבָעֵינַן הַכְרָזָה בְּגַזְלָן דְּרַבָּנַן, בְּגַזְלָן דְּאוֹרָיְיתָא מִי בָּעֵינַן הַכְרָזָה?

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Rava said to him: Although we require a proclamation** in order to disqualify a robber from bearing witness, this is only **with regard to a robber** who is guilty of stealing **by rabbinic law; with regard to a robber** who is guilty of stealing **by Torah law, do we require a proclamation?** He is disqualified automatically.


###### Sanhedrin 26b:18
[Sanhedrin 26b:18](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sanhedrin/r/26b:18)

סִימָן: דָּבָר, וַעֲרָיוֹת, גַּנָּב.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
§ The Gemara states **a mnemonic** for the following statements with regard to disqualification from testifying: **Something; and forbidden sexual relations;** and **a thief.**


###### Sanhedrin 26b:19
[Sanhedrin 26b:19](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sanhedrin/r/26b:19)

אָמַר רַב נַחְמָן: אוֹכְלֵי דָּבָר אַחֵר פְּסוּלִין לְעֵדוּת.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Rav Naḥman says: Those who eat something else,** a euphemism for pork, **are disqualified from bearing witness.** This is referring to those who accept charity from gentiles, thereby causing a desecration of God’s name. They are tantamount to wicked people guilty of monetary transgressions, as they are willing to desecrate God’s name for monetary gain.


###### Sanhedrin 26b:20
[Sanhedrin 26b:20](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sanhedrin/r/26b:20)

הָנֵי מִילֵּי בְּפַרְהֶסְיָא, אֲבָל בְּצִינְעָה לָא. וּבְפַרְהֶסְיָא נָמֵי לָא אֲמַרַן אֶלָּא דְּאֶפְשָׁר לֵיהּ לְאִיתְּזוֹנֵי בְּצִינְעָה, וְקָא מְבַזֵּי נַפְשֵׁיהּ בְּפַרְהֶסְיָא. אֲבָל לָא אֶפְשָׁר לֵיהּ – חַיּוּתֵיהּ הוּא.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara comments: **This statement** applies with regard to taking charity from gentiles **in public [*befarhesya*], but** if one takes it **in private** he is **not** disqualified. **And even** if he takes it **in public, we said** that he is disqualified **only** in a case **where he can sustain** himself by accepting charity from gentiles **in private and** despite this **he disgraces himself** by taking it **in public. But** if **he cannot** support himself in any other manner, he is not disqualified, as **it is his livelihood.**


###### Sanhedrin 26b:21
[Sanhedrin 26b:21](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sanhedrin/r/26b:21)

אָמַר רַב נַחְמָן: הֶחָשׁוּד עַל הָעֲרָיוֹת כָּשֵׁר לְעֵדוּת. אָמַר רַב שֵׁשֶׁת: עֲנִי מָרִי, אַרְבְּעִין בְּכַתְפֵּיהּ וְכָשֵׁר?

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Rav Naḥman says: One who** due to a rumor **is suspected of** engaging in **forbidden sexual relations is fit to bear witness. Rav Sheshet said** to him: **Answer me, my Master:** The *halakha* is that one who is rumored to have engaged in forbidden sexual intercourse receives **forty** lashes **on his shoulders, and** yet you say **he is fit** to bear witness?


###### Sanhedrin 26b:22
[Sanhedrin 26b:22](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sanhedrin/r/26b:22)

אָמַר רָבָא: וּמוֹדֶה רַב נַחְמָן לְעִנְיַן עֵדוּת אִשָּׁה שֶׁהוּא פָּסוּל. אָמַר רָבִינָא, וְאִיתֵּימָא רַב פָּפָּא: לָא אֲמַרַן אֶלָּא לְאַפּוֹקַהּ, אֲבָל לְעַיּוֹלַהּ – לֵית לַן בַּהּ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Rava said: And Rav Naḥman concedes that he is disqualified with regard to testimony** about the status of a married **woman,** as he is clearly under suspicion with regard to this matter. **Ravina says, and some say Rav Pappa** says: **We said** he is disqualified **only with regard to** testimony that **removes her** status as a married woman, e.g., testimony that her husband died, as he is suspected of wanting her for himself. **But with regard to** testimony that **establishes her** in that status, **we have no** problem **with it.**


###### Sanhedrin 26b:23
[Sanhedrin 26b:23](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sanhedrin/r/26b:23)

פְּשִׁיטָא! מַהוּ דְּתֵימָא הָא עֲדִיפָא לֵיהּ, דִּכְתִיב: ״מַיִם גְּנוּבִים יִמְתָּקוּ וְגוֹ׳״? קָא מַשְׁמַע לַן דְּכַמָּה דְּקַיְימָא הָכִי שְׁכִיחָא לֵיהּ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara asks: Isn’t that **obvious?** Why should he be suspected of lying in order to render a woman married? The Gemara answers: **Lest you say** that if he wants her for himself, **this** situation, i.e., her being married to another, **is preferable to him; as it is written: “Stolen waters are sweet** and bread eaten in secret is pleasant” (Proverbs 9:17), i.e., the forbidden is more pleasant than the permitted, Rav Pappa **teaches us** that this is not the case, **as the way** the woman **is** now, being unmarried, **she is** more **available to him.** He therefore is not motivated to testify falsely that she is married.


###### Sanhedrin 26b:24
[Sanhedrin 26b:24](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sanhedrin/r/26b:24)

וְאָמַר רַב נַחְמָן: גַּנַּב נִיסָן וְגַנַּב תִּשְׁרֵי – לָא שְׁמֵיהּ גַּנָּב.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**And Rav Naḥman says: A thief of Nisan and a thief of Tishrei,** i.e., one who steals during the harvest seasons, **is not called a thief** and is therefore not disqualified from bearing witness.


###### Sanhedrin 26b:25
[Sanhedrin 26b:25](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sanhedrin/r/26b:25)

וְהָנֵי מִילֵּי בַּאֲרִיסָא, וְדָבָר מוּעָט, וּבְדָבָר שֶׁנִּגְמְרָה מְלַאכְתּוֹ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara explains: **This statement** applies specifically **with regard to a tenant farmer, and** it is a situation where he took **a small amount, and in** a case where it was **an item whose work was completed,** i.e., that needed no further processing. Since the produce was sufficiently processed, the tenant may assume that he deserves additional pay for any further labor and justify taking a small amount of the produce for his effort. Consequently, his theft is not willful.


###### Sanhedrin 26b:26
[Sanhedrin 26b:26](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sanhedrin/r/26b:26)

אִיכָּרֵיהּ דְּרַב זְבִיד, חַד גְּנַב קַבָּא דִשְׂעָרֵי, וּפַסְלֵיהּ, וְחַד גְּנַב קִיבּוּרָא דַאֲהִינֵי, וּפַסְלֵיהּ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara recounts: An incident occurred with **the** tenant **farmers of Rav Zevid. One stole a *kav* of barley, and** Rav Zevid **disqualified him** from bearing witness, **and one stole a cluster of dates, and he disqualified him.** The reason for their disqualification is that the quantity of produce they stole is not considered a small amount.


###### Sanhedrin 26b:27
[Sanhedrin 26b:27](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sanhedrin/r/26b:27)

הָנְהוּ קָבוֹרָאֵי דִּקְבוּר נַפְשָׁא בְּיוֹם טוֹב רִאשׁוֹן שֶׁל עֲצֶרֶת, שַׁמְּתִינְהוּ רַב פָּפָּא וּפַסְלִינְהוּ לְעֵדוּת, וְאַכְשְׁרִינְהוּ רַב הוּנָא בְּרֵיהּ דְּרַב יְהוֹשֻׁעַ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara relates: There were **these gravediggers, who buried a person on the first day of the festival of *Shavuot*,** desecrating the Festival. **Rav Pappa excommunicated them and** then **disqualified them from bearing witness, and Rav Huna, son of Rav Yehoshua, deemed them fit** to bear witness.


###### Sanhedrin 26b:28
[Sanhedrin 26b:28](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sanhedrin/r/26b:28)

אֲמַר לֵיהּ רַב פָּפָּא: וְהָא רְשָׁעִים נִינְהוּ? סָבְרִי: מִצְוָה קָא עָבְדִי.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Rav Pappa said to** Rav Huna, son of Rav Yehoshua: **But aren’t they wicked people,** as they violated a Torah prohibition? Rav Huna, son of Rav Yehoshua, answered him: **They assumed they were doing a mitzva,** as they were burying the dead.


###### Sanhedrin 26b:29
[Sanhedrin 26b:29](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sanhedrin/r/26b:29)

וְהָא קָא מְשַׁמְּתִינַן לְהוּ? סָבְרִי: כַּפָּרָה קָא עָבְדִי לַן רַבָּנַן.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
Rav Pappa asked: **But didn’t I excommunicate them** for this? Nevertheless, they continued to bury people on the Festival. Rav Huna, son of Rav Yehoshua, answered: **They assumed:** We were not excommunicated for doing something wrong. Rather, since the mitzva of burying the dead involved desecrating the Festival, **the Sages are achieving atonement for us,** although our behavior was appropriate.


###### Sanhedrin 26b:30
[Sanhedrin 26b:30](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sanhedrin/r/26b:30)

אִיתְּמַר:

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
§ A conspiring witness is one who testified that a certain incident occurred at a particular time and place, and then two other witnesses testify that he was elsewhere at that time. The Gemara discusses the disqualification of a conspiring witness from providing testimony in other cases. **It was stated**