[84a - 52 lines; 84b - 48 lines]

1)[line 4]אבוך ערק לאסיאAVUCH ARAK L'ASYA- your father escaped to Asya. With regard to the identity of Asya, there are several opinions: (a) Tosfos to Yevamos 115a DH Amar brings the Gemara in Bava Basra 56a that identifies Asya with Keini mentioned in Bereishis 15:19. It seems that the Keini people lived near Moav, to the west of the Dead Sea. They lived in Ir ha'Temarim (Palm City), which may be Chatzatzon Tamar, to the west of the Dead Sea. The Targum translates Keni as Shalamite, an Arabic tribe (RABBI ARYEH KAPLAN); (b) possibly Callirhoe and its surroundings, on the east side of the Jordan River, near the Dead Sea; (c) Asia Minor, or rather the Roman province embracing the Western part of the peninsula of Asia Minor, bequeathed by King Attalus to the Roman republic; (d) a town called Essa, east of Lake Kineres. (MAHARATZ CHAYOS asks that the only mention of the displacement of Rebbi Yosi is the Gemara in Shabbos 33b, where, as a result of a certain incident in which the Roman Empire was slighted, Rebbi Yosi was exiled (as a punishment) to Tzipori. However, it is possible to answer that after he was exiled to Tzipori he feared worse consequences, and escaped to Asya - MK)

2)[line 4]ללודקיאLUDKIYA- to Laodicea ad Lycum, a city in Lydia, a district of Asia Minor

3)[line 4]כי הוו מקלעי... בהדי הדדיKI HAVU MIKLA'EI... BAHADEI HADADEI- when Rebbi Yishmael b'Rebbi Yosi and Rebbi Elazar b'Rebbi Shimon would stand face-to-face

4)[line 6]הוה עייל בקרא דתורי בינייהוHAVAH AYIL BAKRA D'SOREI BEINAIHU- a pair of oxen could walk in between them, (even though their bellies were touching)

5)[line 8]מטרוניתאMATRONISA- a Roman noblewoman

6)[line 10]"[וַיֹּאמֶר זֶבַח וְצַלְמֻנָּע 'קוּם אַתָּה וּפְגַע בָּנוּ] כִּי כָאִישׁ גְּבוּרָתוֹ'; [וַיָּקָם גִּדְעוֹן וַיַּהֲרֹג אֶת זֶבַח וְאֶת צַלְמֻנָּע, וַיִּקַּח אֶת הַשַּׂהֲרֹנִים אֲשֶׁר בְּצַוְּארֵי גְמַלֵּיהֶם]""[VA'YOMER ZEVACH V'TZALMUNA: 'KUM ATAH U'FEGA BANU] KI KA'ISH GEVURASO!' [VA'YAKAM GID'ON VA'YAHAROG ES ZEVACH V'ES TZALMUNA, VAYIKACH ES HA'SAHARONIM ASHER B'TZAVREI GEMALEIHEM]" - "[And Zevach and Tzalmuna said: 'Arise and kill us yourself,] for as a man is, so is his strength!' [So Gideon arose and killed Zevach and Tzalmuna, and he took the golden crescents that were on the necks of their camels]." (Shoftim 8:21) (GIDEON SLAYS ZEVACH AND TZALMUNA)

(a)In the most miraculous manner, the Shofet Gideon, with a mere 300 men, routed and destroyed the camp of Midyan, numbering 120,000, capturing and killing two of their kings, Oreiv and Ze'ev, in the process.

(b)Only 15,000 Midyanite troops escaped the slaughter, and they were now encamped in Karkor, together with the kings Zevach and Tzalmuna. In spite of their battle-weariness, Gideon and his men set out to finish the job that they had started.

(c)Before embarking on his pursuit of Zevach and Tzalmuna, he issued a request from the residents of Sukos and Penuel to provide his weary troops with food. They refused, claiming that since he had not yet captured the two kings, they were under no obligation to give him anything. He promised each of them that upon his return, he would punish them for their insulting behavior.

(d)Gideon went on to catch the camp of Zevach and Tzlmuna by surprise and destroy it. Taking the two kings captive, he brought them before the inhabitants of Sukos and proceeded to do with the inhabitants as he promised them.

(e)Finally, when he inquired of Zevach and Tzalmuna about the Jewish men whom they had killed in Tavor, he discovered that they had killed his seventy maternal brothers. He informed them that had they not done so, he would have kept them alive, but that now he would kill them. He turned to his oldest son, Yeser, and instructed him to strike them down, but the youngster was afraid and did not comply. That was when the two kings addressed Gideon and suggested that he do the job himself, which he promptly did.

7)[line 12]"אַל תַּעַן כְּסִיל כְּאִוַּלְתּוֹ""AL TA'AN KESIL K'IVALTO"- "Do not answer a fool in accordance with his foolishness." (Mishlei 26:4)

8)[line 13]שלא להוציא לעז על בניהםSHE'LO L'HOTZI LA'AZ AL BENEIHEM- so as not to give their children a bad reputation [that they are illegitimate]

9)[line 14]כחמתCHEMES- (O.F. bolzole) a leather shepherd's purse

10)[line 17]דקורי דהרפנאיDEKUREI D'HARPANA'EI- (a) the (large) baskets (RASHI here and TOSFOS to Chulin 4a DH Dekurya) of Harpaniya, a rich industrial town in Bavel; (b) the jugs of Harpaniya (RASHI to Shabbos 127a)

11)[line 18]משפירי ירושליםMI'SHAPIREI YERUSHALAYIM- from the charming, beautiful people of Yerushalayim

12)[line 19]שופריהSHUFREI- his shining countenance

13)[line 20]מבי סלקיMI'BEI SALKEI- [directly from] the craftsman's shop

14)[line 20]ונמלייה פרצידיא דרומנא סומקאU'NEMALYEI PARTZIDAYA D'ROMANA SUMKA- and fill it with red pomegranate kernels

15)[line 21]ונהדר ליה כלילא דוורדא סומקא לפומיהU'NEHADER LEI KELILA D'VARDA SUMKA L'FUMEI- and lay a wreath of red roses on its mouth

16)[line 22]ונותביה בין שמשא לטולאV'NOSVEI BEIN SHIMSHA L'TULA- and place it in a part of the room that is not in direct sunlight nor in the shade

17)[line 23]זהרוריZAHARUREI- the light that it reflects

18)[line 28]דהדרת פניםHADRAS PANIM- a beard

19)[line 30]לפגעו ביLIFGE'U VI- they should meet me [first]

20)[line 32]לא מסתפי מר מעינא בישאLO MISTEFI MAR ME'EINA BISHA- the Master is not worried about the consequences of the Evil Eye?

21)[line 35]"בֵּן פּוֹרָת יוֹסֵף, בֵּן פּוֹרָת עֲלֵי עָיִן""BEN PORAS YOSEF, BEN PORAS ALEI AYIN..."- "Yosef is a fruitful bough, a fruitful bough next to a well..." (Bereishis 49:22)

22)[line 36]עולי עיןOLEI AYIN- raised above the eye, i.e. beyond the power of the evil eye

23)[line 37]"וְיִדְגּוּ לָרוֹב בְּקֶרֶב הָאָרֶץ""V'YIDGU LA'ROV B'KEREV HA'ARETZ"- "and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the land." (Bereishis 48:16)

24)[line 39]קא סחיKA SACHI- he was swimming

25)[line 40]ושוור לירדנא אבתריהV'SHAVAR L'YARDENA A'BASREI- and he jumped over the Yarden River to get to him

26)[line 40]חילך לאורייתאCHEILACH L'ORAISA- "[You should use] your strength for [learning] Torah!"

27)[line 40]אי הדרת בךIY HADRAS BACH- if you repent

28)[line 41]בעי למיהדר לאתויי מאניהBA'I L'MEHADAR L'ASUYEI MANEI- he wanted to go back [to the other side of the Yarden River] to get his belongings

29a)[line 41]אקרייהAKARYEI- he taught him Scriptures

b)[line 41]ואתנייהASNEYEI- he taught him Mishnayos

30a)[line 42]הסייףSAYIF- the sword

b)[line 42]והסכיןSAKIN- the knife

c)[line 42]והפגיוןPAGYON- (a) and the double-edged sword; (b) a short sword or dagger; (c) a spit

d)[line 42]והרומחROMACH- the spear

e)[line 42]ומגל ידMAGAL YAD- the small hand-held scythe or sickle

f)[line 42]ומגל קצירMAGAL KATZIR- and a large scythe or sickle

31)[line 42]מאימתי מקבלין טומאהME'EMASAI MEKABLIN TUM'AH? - From when do they becomes "ready" to receive Tum'ah? (TUM'AS KELIM)

(a)A utensil is considered "ready" to receive Tum'ah only after it is completely finished. If the artisan only decided that the utensil needs no more work, it is considered complete and may become Tamei. In our Sugya, Rebbi Yochanan and Reish Lakish argued as to when these instruments with blades are considered finished.

(b)If the artisan afterwards decides to do more work on the utensil, it remains Tamei until an action is performed on the utensil that makes his intention clear. The action that must be performed to change the status of a utensil must be an action that renders the utensil unfit for its original purpose. For example, if a tanner decided to use a hide as a rug, it may become Tamei from that moment on. If he then changes his mind and decides to make shoes out of it, it remains in its current status until he begins to cut the hide for shoes. (For a further discussion of the principles of Tum'ah and Taharah, see Background to Nazir 54:13.)

32a)[line 43]משיצרפם בכבשןMISHE'YETZARFEM B'CHIVSHAN- when the smith forges them in the furnace

b)[line 44]משיצחצחן במיםMISHE'YETZACHTZECHEN B'MAYIM- when the smith furbishes (steels) them by placing the red-hot utensils in cold water (Their argument can only refer to copper utensils, since the Mishnah rules with regard to iron utensils that they become ready to receive Tum'ah as soon as they are forged in the furnace (Kelim 4:4) - ARUCH)

33)[line 44]לסטאה בלסטיותיה ידעLISTA'AH B'LISTEYUSEI YADA- (lit. a robber knows about robbing) since Reish Lakish used to be a bandit, the Halachah should follow his opinion, since he has direct knowledge of the matter

34)[line 45]חלש דעתיהCHALASH DA'ATEI- he became upset, dejected (because of the seemingly heretical word of Reish Lakish)

35)[line 45]חלש ריש לקישCHALASH REISH LAKISH- Reish Lakish became deathly ill

36)[line 46]"עָזְבָה יְתוֹמֶיךָ אֲנִי אֲחַיֶּה; וְאַלְמְנוֹתֶיךָ עָלַי תִּבְטָחוּ""AZVAH YESOMECHA, ANI ACHAYEH; V'ALMENOSECHA ALAI TIVTACHU"- "Leave your orphaned children, I will preserve them alive; and let your widows trust in Me." (Yirmeyahu 49:11)

37)[line 47]נח נפשיה דר' שמעון בן לקישNACH NAFSHEI D'REBBI SHIMON BEN LAKISH- Rebbi Shimon ben Lakish died

38)[line 47]והוה קא מצטער ר' יוחנן בתריה טובאV'HAVAH KA MITZTA'ER REBBI YOCHANAN BASREI TUVA- and Rebbi Yochanan became extremely aggrieved [over the loss of Reish Lakish]

39)[line 48]ליתביה לדעתיהLEISVEI L'DA'ATEI- to calm him down

40)[line 48]דמחדדין שמעתתיהD'MECHADEDIN SHEMA'ATEI- that he is very sharp in his Torah learning

41)[line 49]בר לקישאBAR LEKISHA- Rebbi Shimon bar Lakish, Reish Lakish

42)[line 50]ומפריקנאU'MAFRIKNA- and I would answer

43)[line 50]רווחא שמעתאRAVCHA SHEMA'ATA- Torah learning would increase, expand

44a)[last line]והוה קא צוחV'HAVAH KA TZAVACH- and he was screaming

b)[last line]עד דשף דעתיה [מיניה]AD D'SHAF DA'ATEI MINEI- until he lost his mind

84b----------------------------------------84b

45)[line 2]באורתאB'URTA- at night

46)[line 2]הוו מייכי ליה שיתין נמטיHAVAH MAICHEI LEI SHITIN NAMTEI- they would fold under him sixty felt cloths

47)[line 3]לצפראL'TZAFRA- when morning came

48)[line 3]נגדי מתותיה שיתין משיכלי דמא וכיבאNAGDEI MI'TUSEI SHITIN MESHICHLEI DAMA V'CHEIVA- they drew from under him (i.e. from those felt cloths) sixty tubs of blood and pus

49)[line 5]דביתהוDEVIS'HU- his wife

50)[line 5]שיתין מיני לפדאSHITIN MINEI LAFDA- sixty types of fig-paste dishes

51)[line 8]לבית נשאL'BEIS NASHA- to her father's house

52)[line 9]סליקו ואתו הנך [שיתין] ספונאיSELIKU V'ASU HANACH [SHITIN] SEFUNA'EI- sixty sailors came up [from the sea] and came [to Rebbi Elazar b'Rebbi Shimon]

53)[line 9]עיילו ליה שיתין עבדי כי נקיטי שיתין ארנקיAILU LEI SHITIN AVDEI KI NEKITEI SHITIN ARNEKEI- they brought him sixty slaves holding sixty money-bags

54a)[line 11]בקי באבוךBAKI B'AVUCH- check on your father

b)[line 11]מאי קא עביד האידנאMAI KA AVID HA'IDNA- what he is doing now

55)[line 13]הוה קא מרנני רבנןHAVAH KA MERANENEI RABANAN- the Rabanan complained [about Rebbi Elazar b'Rebbi Shimon's lenient ruling]

56)[line 17]דרתיחי עליRESICHI ALAI- they are angry at me

57)[line 17]ולא מיעסקי בי שפירV'LO MI'ASKEI BI SHAPIR- and they will not perform Halvayas ha'Mes properly at my funeral

58)[line 18]אוגנין בעיליתאיOGNIN B'ILISA'I- store me in the attic

59)[line 18]ולא תידחלין מינאיV'LO SIDCHALIN MINAI- and do not be afraid of me

60)[line 18]אישתעיא ליISHTAYA LI- she told me

61)[line 19]מתמני סריTAMNEI SREI- eighteen

62)[line 20]כי הוה סליקנא, מעיננא ליה במזייהKI HAVAH SELIKNA, ME'AINANA LEI B'MAZYEI- when I would go up, I would inspect his hair

63a)[line 21]כי הוה משתמטא ביניתא מיניהKI HAVAH MISHTAMTA BINISA MINEI- if a hair came out of him (his scalp)

b)[line 21]הוה אתי דמאHAVAH ASI DAMA- blood would flow [from his scalp]

64)[line 21]חזאי ריחשא דקא נפיק מאוניהCHAZA'I RICHASHA D'KA NAFIK ME'UNEI- I saw a worm crawling out of his ear

65)[line 23]בזילותאZILUSA- the degradation

66)[line 23]ולא מחאי כדבעי ליV'LO MECHA'I KED'BA'I LI- and I did not protest as much as was fitting for me to protest

67)[line 24]הוו קיימי אבבאHAVU KAIMEI A'BAVA- they would stand at the door (lit. gate) [of his attic room]

68)[line 25]הוה קא מינציא דביתהו בהדי שבבתאHAVAH KA MINTZEYA DEVIS'HU BAHADEI SHEVEVTA- his wife was arguing with one of her neighbors

69)[line 26]אמרה להAMRAH LAH- and the neighbor said

70)[line 27]אורח ארעאORACH AR'A- proper respect

71)[line 28]פרידה אחתPEREIDAH ACHAS- one "fledgling"

72)[line 29]בני עכבריאBNEI ACHBERAYA- the people of Achberaya, a community neighboring the place where Rebbi Elazar b'Rebbi Shimon lived

73)[line 29]נייםNAYIM- "slept" [in the attic]

74)[line 30]לא סליק חיה רעה למתייהוLO SALIK CHAYAH RA'AH L'MASAIHU- no wild animal came into their area

75)[line 30]מעלי יומא דכיפורי הוהMA'ALEI YOMA D'CHIPUREI HAVAH- it was on Erev Yom ha'Kipurim

76)[line 31]שדרו רבנן לבני ביריSHADRU RABANAN L'VEI BEIRI- the Rabanan sent to the inhabitants of Beiri

77)[line 31]ואסקוהו לערסיהV'ASKUHU L'ARSEI- and they took out his deathbed

78)[line 31]ואמטיוה למערתא דאבוהV'AMTEYUHA LI'ME'ARTA D'AVUHA- and they brought it to the burial cave of his father

79)[line 32]אשכחוה לעכנא דהדרא לה למערתאASHKECHUHA L'ACHNA D'HADRA LAH LI'ME'ARTA- and they found a snake encircling the mouth of the cave, with its tail in its mouth

80a)[line 34]באתר דמרי ביתא תלא זייניהBA'ASAR D'MAREI BEISA TALA ZAINEI- on the peg where the master of the house hangs his sword,

b)[line 35]כולבא רעיא קולתיה תלאKULBA RA'AYA KULSEI TALA?!- shall the knave of a shepherd hang his knapsack?!

81)[line 36]בתורה מיהא גדול ממך, לא ידענאBA'TORAH MIHA GADOL MIMCHA, LO YADANA- That he was a greater Torah scholar than you, I did not know.

82)[line 39]מקשו ומפרקוMAKSHU U'MEFARKU- they (Raban Shimon ben Gamliel and Rebbi Yehoshua ben Korcha) asked and they (Rebbi Elazar b'Rebbi Shimon and Rebbi) answered

83)[line 46]השתא היקפתנו תשובות חבילות שאין בהן ממשHASHTA HEIKAFTANU TESHUVOS CHAVILOS SHE'EIN BAHEN MAMASH- now you have just encircled me with questions that have no substance

84)[last line]ענוותניןANVESANIN- [exceedingly] humble men