## Zevachim Daf 58a

###### Zevachim 58a:1
[Zevachim 58a:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Zevachim/r/58a:1)

מַתְנִי׳ **קׇדְשֵׁי קָדָשִׁים** שֶׁשְּׁחָטָן בְּרֹאשׁ הַמִּזְבֵּחַ – רַבִּי יוֹסֵי אוֹמֵר: כְּאִילּוּ נִשְׁחֲטוּ בַּצָּפוֹן. רַבִּי יוֹסֵי בְּרַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר: מֵחֲצִי הַמִּזְבֵּחַ וְלַדָּרוֹם – כַּדָּרוֹם, מֵחֲצִי הַמִּזְבֵּחַ וְלַצָּפוֹן – כַּצָּפוֹן.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**MISHNA:** It was taught in the previous chapter that offerings of the most sacred order are to be slaughtered in the northern section of the Temple courtyard. With regard to **offerings of the most sacred order that one slaughtered atop the altar, Rabbi Yosei says:** Their status is **as though they were slaughtered in the north,** and the offerings are therefore valid. **Rabbi Yosei, son of Rabbi Yehuda, says:** The status of the area **from the halfway point of the altar and to the south** is **like** that of **the south,** and offerings of the most sacred order slaughtered in that area are therefore disqualified. The status of the area **from the halfway point of the altar and to the north** is **like** that of **the north.**


###### Zevachim 58a:2
[Zevachim 58a:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Zevachim/r/58a:2)

**גְּמָ׳** אָמַר רַב אַסִּי אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: אוֹמֵר הָיָה ר׳ יוֹסֵי, כּוּלֵּיהּ מִזְבֵּחַ בְּצָפוֹן קָאֵי. וּמַאי ״כְּאִילּוּ״? מַהוּ דְּתֵימָא בָּעֵינַן ״עַל יָרֵךְ״ – וְלֵיכָּא; קָא מַשְׁמַע לַן.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**GEMARA:** **Rav Asi says** that **Rabbi Yoḥanan says: Rabbi Yosei used to say: The entire altar stands in the north** section of the Temple courtyard. The Gemara asks: **And what** is the meaning of Rabbi Yosei’s statement that if one slaughtered offerings of the most sacred order atop the altar it is **as though** they were slaughtered in the north, which indicates that they were not actually slaughtered in the north? The Gemara answers: Rabbi Yosei said this **lest you say** that **we require** that the offering be slaughtered **“on the side** of the altar northward” (Leviticus 1:11), i.e., on the ground beside the altar, **and** that requirement **is not** fulfilled when it is slaughtered on top of the altar. Therefore, Rabbi Yosei **teaches us** that the offering is still valid.


###### Zevachim 58a:3
[Zevachim 58a:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Zevachim/r/58a:3)

אֲמַר לֵיהּ רַבִּי זֵירָא לְרַב אַסִּי: אֶלָּא מֵעַתָּה, לְרַבִּי יוֹסֵי בְּרַבִּי יְהוּדָה – הָכִי נָמֵי דְּחֶצְיוֹ בְּצָפוֹן וְחֶצְיוֹ בַּדָּרוֹם?!

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Rabbi Zeira said to Rav Asi:** Rabbi Yoḥanan apparently understands that the reason Rabbi Yosei holds that an offering of the most sacred order slaughtered on the altar is valid is because the entire altar is in the northern section of the Temple courtyard. **If that is so,** shall one **also** say **that according to Rabbi Yosei, son of Rabbi Yehuda, half of** the altar was situated **in the north** of the Temple courtyard **and half of it** was situated **in the south?**


###### Zevachim 58a:4
[Zevachim 58a:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Zevachim/r/58a:4)

וְכִי תֵּימָא הָכִי נָמֵי; וְהָא אַתְּ הוּא דְּאָמְרַתְּ מִשְּׁמֵיהּ דְּרַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: מוֹדֵי רַבִּי יוֹסֵי בְּרַבִּי יְהוּדָה שֶׁאִם שְׁחָטָן כְּנֶגְדָּן בַּקַּרְקַע – פְּסוּלָה!

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**And if you would say** that **indeed** that is so, **wasn’t it you who said in the name of Rabbi Yoḥanan** that **Rabbi Yosei, son of Rabbi Yehuda, concedes that if one slaughtered** offerings of the most sacred order **on the ground opposite** the northern half of the altar, the offering is **disqualified?** Accordingly, Rabbi Yosei, son of Rabbi Yehuda, apparently maintains that the altar is not located in the north at all.


###### Zevachim 58a:5
[Zevachim 58a:5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Zevachim/r/58a:5)

אֲמַר לֵיהּ: הָכִי קָאָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן – שְׁנֵיהֶם מִקְרָא אֶחָד דָּרְשׁוּ: ״וְזָבַחְתָּ עָלָיו אֶת עֹלֹתֶיךָ וְאֶת שְׁלָמֶיךָ״ –

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
Rav Asi **said to** Rabbi Zeira: Rabbi Yoḥanan’s statement with regard to Rabbi Yosei’s opinion is an independent statement rather than an inference from the mishna. And with regard to the dispute in the mishna, **this** is what **Rabbi Yoḥanan says: Both of them derived** their opinions **from one verse:** “An altar of earth you shall make for Me, **and you shall slaughter upon it your burnt offerings and your peace offerings”** (Exodus 20:21).


###### Zevachim 58a:6
[Zevachim 58a:6](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Zevachim/r/58a:6)

רַבִּי יוֹסֵי סָבַר: כּוּלּוֹ לְעוֹלָה וְכוּלּוֹ לִשְׁלָמִים. וְרַבִּי יוֹסֵי בְּרַבִּי יְהוּדָה סָבַר: חֶצְיוֹ לְעוֹלָה וְחֶצְיוֹ לִשְׁלָמִים;

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Rabbi Yosei maintains** that the verse teaches that **all of it,** i.e., the entire altar, is fit **for** slaughtering **a burnt offering, and all of it** is also fit **for** slaughtering **a peace offering. And Rabbi Yosei, son of Rabbi Yehuda, maintains** that the verse teaches that **half of it** is fit **for** slaughtering **a burnt offering and half of it** is fit **for** slaughtering **a peace offering.**


###### Zevachim 58a:7
[Zevachim 58a:7](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Zevachim/r/58a:7)

דְּאִי סָלְקָא דַעְתָּךְ כּוּלּוֹ לְעוֹלָה כָּשֵׁר, הַשְׁתָּא כּוּלּוֹ לְעוֹלָה – כָּשֵׁר, כּוּלּוֹ לִשְׁלָמִים מִיבַּעְיָא?!

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara explains the reasoning of Rabbi Yosei, son of Rabbi Yehuda: **As if** it **enters your mind** that **all of it is fit for** slaughtering **a burnt offering, now** that **all of it is fit for** slaughtering **a burnt offering,** which must be slaughtered in the northern section of the Temple courtyard (see 53b), **is it necessary** to teach that it is also fit **for** slaughtering **a peace offering,** which may be slaughtered anywhere in the Temple courtyard (see 55a)? The verse therefore must be understood as teaching that half the altar is fit for slaughtering burnt offerings and half is fit for slaughtering peace offerings.


###### Zevachim 58a:8
[Zevachim 58a:8](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Zevachim/r/58a:8)

וְאִידָּךְ – אִיצְטְרִיךְ; סָלְקָא דַּעְתָּךְ אָמֵינָא: עוֹלָה הוּא דִּדְחִיק לֵיהּ מָקוֹם; אֲבָל שְׁלָמִים, דְּלָא דְּחִיק לֵיהּ מָקוֹם – אֵימָא לָא; קָא מַשְׁמַע לַן.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara asks: **And** how does **the other** Sage, Rabbi Yosei, respond to this reasoning? The Gemara answers: It **was necessary** for the verse to mention peace offerings. Otherwise, it could **enter your mind to say** that the verse allows one to slaughter only **a burnt offering** atop the altar, **as the location** where **it** may be slaughtered on the ground is **narrow. But** with regard to **peace offerings, whose location** for slaughter on the ground is **not narrow, say** that **no,** one may not slaughter them atop the altar. Therefore, the verse **teaches us** that peace offerings as well may be slaughtered atop the altar.


###### Zevachim 58a:9
[Zevachim 58a:9](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Zevachim/r/58a:9)

גּוּפָא – אָמַר רַב אַסִּי אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: מוֹדֵי רַבִּי יוֹסֵי בְּרַבִּי יְהוּדָה שֶׁאִם שְׁחָטָן כְּנֶגְדָּן בַּקַּרְקַע – פְּסוּלוֹת. אֲמַר לֵיהּ רַב אַחָא מִדִּיפְתִּי לְרָבִינָא: מַאי כְּנֶגְדָּן בַּקַּרְקַע? אִילֵימָא אַמָּה יְסוֹד אַמָּה סוֹבֵב – הַאי גּוּפֵיהּ מִזְבֵּחַ הוּא! וְעוֹד, מַאי ״כְּנֶגְדָּן בַּקַּרְקַע״?

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
§ The Gemara discusses **the** matter **itself: Rav Asi says** that **Rabbi Yoḥanan says: Rabbi Yosei, son of Rabbi Yehuda, concedes that if one slaughtered** offerings of the most sacred order **on the ground opposite** the northern half of the altar, the offering is **disqualified. Rav Aḥa of Difti said to Ravina: What** is the meaning of the phrase: **On the ground opposite** the northern half of the altar? **If we say** it means that the offering was sacrificed upon the **cubit**-wide **base** of the altar or upon the **cubit**-wide **surrounding ledge** of the altar, **this itself is** part of the **altar. And furthermore, what** is the meaning of the phrase: **On the ground opposite** the northern half of the altar? The base and ledge are not on the ground.


###### Zevachim 58a:10
[Zevachim 58a:10](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Zevachim/r/58a:10)

וְכִי תֵּימָא דְּעָבֵיד מְחִילּוֹת בַּקַּרְקַע וְשָׁחֵיט בְּהוּ – וְכִי הַאי גַּוְונָא מִי הָוֵי מִזְבֵּחַ?! וְהָתַנְיָא: ״מִזְבַּח אֲדָמָה תַּעֲשֶׂה לִּי״ – שֶׁיְּהֵא מְחוּבָּר (מֵאֲדָמָה) [בַּאֲדָמָה]; שֶׁלֹּא יִבְנֶנּוּ לֹא עַל גַּבֵּי מְחִילּוֹת וְלֹא עַל גַּבֵּי כִּיפִּין.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**And if you would say** that the case is **where one dug tunnels in the ground** beneath the altar, **and slaughtered** the offerings **in them, in a case like this would** the **altar** itself **be** fit for use so that according to Rabbi Yosei, son of Rabbi Yehuda, one may slaughter the offerings of the most sacred order on the altar but not on the ground? **But isn’t it taught** in a *baraita*: The verse states: **“An altar of earth you shall make for Me”** (Exodus 20:21)? This verse indicates **that** the altar **must be attached to the earth,** so **that one may not build it on top of tunnels nor on top of arches.**


###### Zevachim 58a:11
[Zevachim 58a:11](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Zevachim/r/58a:11)

לָא צְרִיכָא, דְּבַצְּרֵיהּ בַּצּוֹרֵי.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara answers: **No,** it is **necessary** to have the phrase: On the ground opposite the northern half of the altar, in order to teach the *halakha* in a case **where one minimized** the dimensions of the altar and slaughtered the offerings on the ground where the northern half of the altar had previously stood.


###### Zevachim 58a:12
[Zevachim 58a:12](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Zevachim/r/58a:12)

אָמַר רַבִּי זֵירָא: אֶפְשָׁר אִיתָא לְהָא דְּרַבִּי יוֹחָנָן, וְלָא תְּנֵינָא לַהּ בְּמַתְנִיתִין?!

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
§ The Gemara returns to discuss Rabbi Yoḥanan’s statement that according to Rabbi Yosei the entire altar was located in the northern section of the Temple courtyard. The Gemara had mentioned that Rabbi Yoḥanan’s statement is an independent statement, not based on the mishna. **Rabbi Zeira said:** Is it **possible** that **this** statement **of Rabbi Yoḥanan is** correct **and we did not learn it in** any **mishna?**


###### Zevachim 58a:13
[Zevachim 58a:13](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Zevachim/r/58a:13)

נְפַק, דַּק וְאַשְׁכַּח – דִּתְנַן: בֵּירְרוּ מִשָּׁם עֲצֵי תְאֵינָה יָפִים לְסַדֵּר מַעֲרָכָה שְׁנִיָּה שֶׁל קְטֹרֶת; כְּנֶגֶד קֶרֶן מַעֲרָבִית דְּרוֹמִית, מָשׁוּךְ מִן הַקֶּרֶן כְּלַפֵּי צָפוֹן אַרְבַּע אַמּוֹת; בְּאוֹמֶד חָמֵשׁ סְאִין גֶּחָלִים. וּבְשַׁבָּת – בְּאוֹמֶד שְׁמוֹנֶה סְאִין גֶּחָלִים, שֶׁשָּׁם הָיוּ נוֹתְנִין שְׁנֵי בְּזִיכֵי לְבוֹנָה שֶׁל לֶחֶם הַפָּנִים.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
Rabbi Zeira **went out, examined** the matter, **and discovered** a mishna that alludes to Rabbi Yoḥanan’s statement, **as we learned** in a mishna (*Tamid* 2:5): The priests **selected fine wood of a fig tree from** the chamber of firewood, with which **to lay out a second arrangement** of wood on the altar so that coals from this arrangement could be used **for** burning the **incense.** This second arrangement was located **opposite** the **southwest corner** of the altar, **distanced from** the **corner northward** by **four cubits.** They would arrange enough wood which, when burned, would produce **approximately five *se’a*** of **coals. And on Shabbat,** there was enough wood to produce **approximately eight *se’a*** of **coals, as they would place there the two bowls of frankincense of the shewbread.**


###### Zevachim 58a:14
[Zevachim 58a:14](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Zevachim/r/58a:14)

וּמַאי סִימָנָא? רַבִּי יוֹסֵי הִיא, דְּתַנְיָא,

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara asks: **And what is the** significance of the mishna’s **defining** the precise location of the arrangement and the fact that this is where the frankincense is burned? The Gemara embarks on a lengthy discussion to answer this question: This mishna **is** in accordance with the opinion of **Rabbi Yosei,** who holds that this arrangement of wood and the burning of the frankincense must be in that precise location, **as it is taught** in a *baraita*: