Megillah 17
לָמָּה נִמְנוּ שְׁנוֹתָיו שֶׁל יִשְׁמָעֵאל? כְּדֵי לְיַחֵס בָּהֶן שְׁנוֹתָיו שֶׁל יַעֲקֹב. דִּכְתִיב: ״וְאֵלֶּה שְׁנֵי חַיֵּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל מְאַת שָׁנָה וּשְׁלֹשִׁים שָׁנָה וְשֶׁבַע שָׁנִים״. כַּמָּה קַשִּׁישׁ יִשְׁמָעֵאל מִיִּצְחָק? אַרְבֵּיסַר שְׁנִין, דִּכְתִיב: ״וְאַבְרָם בֶּן שְׁמוֹנִים שָׁנָה וְשֵׁשׁ שָׁנִים בְּלֶדֶת הָגָר אֶת יִשְׁמָעֵאל לְאַבְרָם״, וּכְתִיב: ״וְאַבְרָהָם בֶּן מְאַת שָׁנָה בְּהִוָּלֶד לוֹ אֵת יִצְחָק בְּנוֹ״, וּכְתִיב: ״וְיִצְחָק בֶּן שִׁשִּׁים שָׁנָה בְּלֶדֶת אוֹתָם״, בַּר כַּמָּה הֲוָה יִשְׁמָעֵאל כִּדְאִתְיְלִיד יַעֲקֹב? בַּר שִׁבְעִים וְאַרְבְּעָה, כַּמָּה פָּיְישָׁן מִשְּׁנֵיהּ — שִׁתִּין וּתְלָת.
Why were the years of Ishmael mentioned in the Torah? For what purpose were we told the life span of that wicked man? In order to reckon through them the years of Jacob. As it is written: “And these are the years of the life of Ishmael, a hundred and thirty-seven years” (Genesis 25:17). How much older was Ishmael than Isaac? Fourteen years. As it is written: “And Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abram” (Genesis 16:16). And it is written: “And Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him” (Genesis 21:5). And it is written with regard to Jacob and Esau: “And Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them” (Genesis 25:26). Based on these verses, how old was Ishmael when Jacob was born? Seventy-four. How many of his years remained then until his death? Sixty-three, as Ishmael died at the age of a hundred and thirty-seven.
וְתַנְיָא: הָיָה יַעֲקֹב אָבִינוּ בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁנִּתְבָּרֵךְ מֵאָבִיו בֶּן שִׁשִּׁים וְשָׁלֹשׁ שָׁנָה, וּבוֹ בַּפֶּרֶק מֵת יִשְׁמָעֵאל. דִּכְתִיב: ״וַיַּרְא עֵשָׂו כִּי בֵרַךְ וְגוֹ׳ וַיֵּלֶךְ עֵשָׂו אֶל יִשְׁמָעֵאל וַיִּקַּח אֶת מָחֲלַת בַּת יִשְׁמָעֵאל אֲחוֹת נְבָיוֹת״, מִמַּשְׁמַע שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״בַּת יִשְׁמָעֵאל״, אֵינִי יוֹדֵעַ שֶׁהִיא אֲחוֹת נְבָיוֹת? מְלַמֵּד שֶׁקִּידְּשָׁהּ יִשְׁמָעֵאל וָמֵת, וְהִשִּׂיאָהּ נְבָיוֹת אָחִיהָ.
And it was taught in a baraita: Jacob our father was sixty-three years old at the time he was blessed by his father, and at that same time Ishmael died. How is it known that these two events occurred at the same time? As it is written: “When Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob…then Esau went to Ishmael and took for a wife Mahalath, the daughter of Ishmael, Abraham’s son, the sister of Nebaioth” (Genesis 28:6–9). From the fact that it is stated: “the daughter of Ishmael,” do I not know that she was the sister of Nebaioth? For what purpose then does the verse say this explicitly? This teaches that Ishmael betrothed her to Esau and in the meantime he died, and Nebaioth her brother married her off. Therefore, special mention is made of Nebaioth. Consequently, it is understood that Jacob was sixty-three years old when he received his blessing and left his father’s house.
שִׁתִּין וּתְלָת וְאַרְבֵּיסַר עַד דְּמִתְיְלִיד יוֹסֵף, הָא שִׁבְעִין וְשִׁבְעָה, וּכְתִיב: ״וְיוֹסֵף בֶּן שְׁלֹשִׁים שָׁנָה בְּעׇמְדוֹ לִפְנֵי פַּרְעֹה״, הָא מְאָה וּשְׁבַע, שַׁב דְּשִׂבְעָא וְתַרְתֵּי דְּכַפְנָא — הָא מְאָה וְשִׁיתְּסַר,
If we calculate these sixty-three years and the fourteen until Joseph was born, this means that Jacob should have been seventy-seven at the time of Joseph’s birth. And it is written: “And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh” (Genesis 41:46). This indicates that Jacob should have then been at least a hundred and seven years old when Joseph was thirty. Add the seven years of plenty and the two of famine, and this would then indicate that Jacob should have been a hundred and sixteen years old when he arrived in Egypt in the second year of the famine.
וּכְתִיב: ״וַיֹּאמֶר פַּרְעֹה אֶל יַעֲקֹב כַּמָּה יְמֵי שְׁנֵי חַיֶּיךָ. וַיֹּאמֶר יַעֲקֹב אֶל פַּרְעֹה יְמֵי שְׁנֵי מְגוּרַי שְׁלֹשִׁים וּמְאַת שָׁנָה״, מְאָה וְשִׁיתְּסַר הָוְיָין,
But it is written: “And Pharaoh said to Jacob, How many are the days of the years of your life? And Jacob said to Pharaoh, The days of the years of my sojournings are a hundred and thirty years” (Genesis 47:8–9). Jacob indicated that he was a hundred and thirty when he arrived in Egypt, which is different from the hundred and sixteen years calculated previously. Where are the missing fourteen years from Jacob’s lifetime?
אֶלָּא שְׁמַע מִינַּהּ אַרְבַּע עֶשְׂרֵה שְׁנִין דַּהֲוָה בְּבֵית עֵבֶר לָא חָשֵׁיב לְהוּ. דְּתַנְיָא: הָיָה יַעֲקֹב בְּבֵית עֵבֶר מוּטְמָן אַרְבַּע עֶשְׂרֵה שָׁנָה. עֵבֶר מֵת לְאַחַר שֶׁיָּרַד יַעֲקֹב אָבִינוּ לַאֲרַם נַהֲרַיִם שְׁתֵּי שָׁנִים, יָצָא מִשָּׁם וּבָא לוֹ לַאֲרַם נַהֲרַיִם, נִמְצָא כְּשֶׁעָמַד עַל הַבְּאֵר — בֶּן שִׁבְעִים וָשֶׁבַע שָׁנָה.
Rather, learn from here that the fourteen years that Jacob spent in the house of Eber are not counted here. As it is taught in a baraita: Jacob was studying in the house of Eber for fourteen years while in hiding from his brother Esau. If we were to calculate the life spans recorded in the Torah, we would find that Eber died when Jacob was seventy-nine years old, two years after Jacob our father went down to Aram-naharaim, to the house of Laban. When Jacob left after completing his studying there, he then went immediately to Aram-naharaim. Therefore, when Jacob stood at the well upon his arrival in Aram-naharaim, he was seventy-seven years old.
וּמְנָלַן דְּלָא אִיעֲנַשׁ — דְּתַנְיָא: נִמְצָא יוֹסֵף שֶׁפֵּירַשׁ מֵאָבִיו עֶשְׂרִים וּשְׁתַּיִם שָׁנָה, כְּשֵׁם שֶׁפֵּירַשׁ יַעֲקֹב אָבִינוּ מֵאָבִיו, דְּיַעֲקֹב תְּלָתִין וְשִׁיתָּא הָוְיָין! אֶלָּא: אַרְבֵּיסַר דַּהֲוָה בְּבֵית עֵבֶר לָא חָשֵׁיב לְהוּ.
And from where do we derive that Jacob was not punished for the fourteen years that he was in the house of Eber, during which time he failed to fulfill the mitzva of honoring one’s parents? As it is taught in a baraita: It turns out that Joseph was away from his father for twenty-two years, just as Jacob our father was away from his own father for that same period of time. According to the previous calculation, however, the baraita is difficult, as Jacob was absent for thirty-six years. Rather, conclude from here that the fourteen years that he was in the house of Eber are not counted, as he was not punished for them.
סוֹף סוֹף דְּבֵית לָבָן עֶשְׂרִין שְׁנִין הָוְיָין! אֶלָּא מִשּׁוּם דְּאִשְׁתַּהִי בְּאוֹרְחָא תַּרְתֵּין שְׁנִין, דְּתַנְיָא: יָצָא מֵאֲרַם נַהֲרַיִם וּבָא לוֹ לְסֻכּוֹת, וְעָשָׂה שָׁם שְׁמוֹנָה עָשָׂר חוֹדֶשׁ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְיַעֲקֹב נָסַע סֻכּוֹתָה וַיִּבֶן לוֹ בָּיִת וּלְמִקְנֵהוּ עָשָׂה סֻכּוֹת״, וּבְבֵית אֵל עָשָׂה שִׁשָּׁה חֳדָשִׁים, וְהִקְרִיב זְבָחִים.
The Gemara raises an objection: But ultimately, Jacob was in Laban’s house for only twenty years. Why, then, is he faulted for being away from his father for twenty-two years? Rather, he was punished because on his journey back from Aram-naharaim he tarried another two years before returning home to his parents, as it is taught in a baraita: Jacob left Aram-naharaim and came to Sukkot, and spent eighteen months there, as it is stated: “And Jacob journeyed to Sukkot, built himself a house, and made booths [sukkot] for his cattle” (Genesis 33:17). The Gemara understands this verse to mean that first he made booths [Sukkot], to live in during the summer, and then he built a house in the winter, and afterward he again made booths [sukkot] during the next summer, indicating that he must have been there for eighteen months. He then was in Bethel for six months, and he brought offerings, totaling two years in all. In this way, all the various calculations of years are reconciled.
הֲדַרַן עֲלָךְ מְגִילָּה נִקְרֵאת
הַקּוֹרֵא אֶת הַמְּגִילָּה לְמַפְרֵעַ — לֹא יָצָא. קְרָאָהּ עַל פֶּה, קְרָאָהּ תַּרְגּוּם בְּכׇל לָשׁוֹן — לֹא יָצָא. אֲבָל קוֹרִין אוֹתָהּ לַלּוֹעֲזוֹת בְּלַעַז, וְהַלּוֹעֵז שֶׁשָּׁמַע אַשּׁוּרִית — יָצָא.
MISHNA: With regard to one who reads the Megilla out of order, reading a later section first, and then going back to the earlier section, he has not fulfilled his obligation. If he read it by heart, or if he read it in Aramaic translation or in any other language that he does not understand, he has not fulfilled his obligation. However, for those who speak a foreign language, one may read the Megilla in that foreign language. And one who speaks a foreign language who heard the Megilla read in Ashurit, i.e., in Hebrew, has fulfilled his obligation.
קְרָאָהּ סֵירוּגִין וּמִתְנַמְנֵם — יָצָא. הָיָה כּוֹתְבָהּ, דּוֹרְשָׁהּ וּמַגִּיהָהּ, אִם כִּוֵּון לִבּוֹ — יָצָא, וְאִם לָאו — לֹא יָצָא.
If one read the Megilla at intervals, pausing and resuming, or while he is dozing off, he has fulfilled his obligation. If one was writing a Megilla, or expounding upon it, or correcting it, and he read all its words as he was doing so, the following distinction applies: If he had intent to fulfill his obligation with that reading he has fulfilled his obligation, but if not, he has not fulfilled his obligation.
הָיְתָה כְּתוּבָה בְּסַם וּבְסִיקְרָא וּבְקוֹמוֹס וּבְקַנְקַנְתּוֹם, עַל הַנְּיָיר וְעַל הַדִּפְתְּרָא — לֹא יָצָא, עַד שֶׁתְּהֵא כְּתוּבָה אַשּׁוּרִית, עַל הַסֵּפֶר, וּבִדְיוֹ.
If one reads from a Megilla that was written not with ink but with sam or with sikra or with komos or with kankantom, or from a Megilla that was written not on parchment but on neyar or on diftera, a kind of unprocessed leather, he has not fulfilled his obligation. He does not fulfill his obligation unless he reads from a Megilla that is written in Ashurit, i.e., in the Hebrew language and using the Hebrew script, upon parchment and with ink.
גְּמָ׳ מְנָא הָנֵי מִילֵּי? אָמַר רָבָא, דְּאָמַר קְרָא: ״כִּכְתָבָם וְכִזְמַנָּם״ — מָה זְמַנָּם לְמַפְרֵעַ לָא, אַף כְּתָבָם לְמַפְרֵעַ לָא.
GEMARA: It was taught in the mishna that one who reads the Megilla out of order has not fulfilled his obligation. The Gemara asks: From where are these matters derived? Rava said: The verse states concerning Purim: “That they should unfailingly observe these two days according to their writing, and according to their appointed times every year” (Esther 9:27), and the word “times” is referring to the two days of Purim, the fourteenth and the fifteenth of Adar. And we learn by way of analogy: Just as their appointed times cannot be out of order, as the fifteenth of Adar cannot possibly come before the fourteenth, so too, their writing must not be out of order.
מִידֵּי ״קְרִיאָה״ כְּתִיבָה הָכָא? ״עֲשִׂיָּיה״ כְּתִיבָה, דִּכְתִיב: ״לִהְיוֹת עוֹשִׂים אֵת שְׁנֵי הַיָּמִים״, אֶלָּא מֵהָכָא, דִּכְתִיב: ״וְהַיָּמִים הָאֵלֶּה נִזְכָּרִים וְנַעֲשִׂים״, אִיתַּקַּשׁ זְכִירָה לַעֲשִׂיָּיה: מָה עֲשִׂיָּיה לְמַפְרֵעַ לָא, אַף זְכִירָה לְמַפְרֵעַ לָא.
The Gemara rejects this derivation: Is reading written here at all? It is “observing” that is written here in this verse, not reading, as it is written: “That they should unfailingly observe these two days according to their writing, and according to their appointed times.” Rather, the proof is from here, as it is written: “And that these days should be remembered and observed throughout every generation” (Esther 9:28). Remembering is juxtaposed to observing, indicating: Just as observing cannot be out of order, as was derived from the words “That they should unfailingly observe these two days according to their writing, and according to their appointed times,” so too, remembering, by reading the Megilla, may not be out of order.
תָּנָא: וְכֵן בְּהַלֵּל, וְכֵן בִּקְרִיאַת שְׁמַע וּבִתְפִלָּה.
§ The Sages taught in a baraita: This halakha of not reading out of order applies also to hallel, and also to the recitation of Shema, and also to the Amida prayer, meaning that to fulfill one’s obligation he must recite the text of each of these in order.
הַלֵּל מְנָלַן? רַבָּה אָמַר, דִּכְתִיב: ״מִמִּזְרַח שֶׁמֶשׁ עַד מְבוֹאוֹ״. רַב יוֹסֵף אָמַר: ״זֶה הַיּוֹם עָשָׂה ה׳״.
The Gemara asks: From where do we derive that hallel may not be recited out of order? Rabba said: As it is written in hallel: “From the rising of the sun until its setting the Lord’s name is to be praised” (Psalms 113:3). Just as the sunrise and sunset cannot be reversed, so too, hallel may not be recited out of order. Rav Yosef said: It is derived from the verse in hallel that states: “This is the day that the Lord has made” (Psalms 118:24); just as the day follows a certain order, so too, hallel must be recited in its proper order.
רַב אַוְיָא אָמַר: ״יְהִי שֵׁם ה׳ מְבוֹרָךְ״. וְרַב נַחְמָן בַּר יִצְחָק, וְאִיתֵּימָא רַב אַחָא בַּר יַעֲקֹב אָמַר: מֵהָכָא: ״מֵעַתָּה וְעַד עוֹלָם״.
Rav Avya said: It is derived from the verse in hallel: “Blessed be the name of the Lord” (Psalms 113:2), indicating that the blessing of God must “be” just as it is written. Rav Naḥman bar Yitzḥak said, and some say that it was Rav Aḥa bar Ya’akov who said: It is derived from here, the end of the aforementioned verse: “From now and for evermore” (Psalms 113:2), i.e., it should be like time, which cannot be reversed.
קְרִיאַת שְׁמַע, דְּתַנְיָא: קְרִיאַת שְׁמַע כִּכְתָבָהּ, דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי, וַחֲכָמִים אוֹמְרִים: בְּכׇל לָשׁוֹן. מַאי טַעְמָא דְּרַבִּי? אָמַר קְרָא:
From where do we know one has not fulfilled his obligation of reciting the Shema if he recited it out of order? As it is taught in a baraita: The recital of the Shema must be as it is written, i.e., in Hebrew; this is the statement of Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi. But the Rabbis say: It may be recited in any language. The Gemara asks: What is the reason of Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi? The verse states:
״וְהָיוּ״, בַּהֲוָיָתָן יְהוּ. וְרַבָּנַן, מַאי טַעְמָא? אָמַר קְרָא: ״שְׁמַע״, בְּכׇל לָשׁוֹן שֶׁאַתָּה שׁוֹמֵעַ.
“And these words…shall be” (Deuteronomy 6:6), teaching that these words, the words of the Shema, always “shall be” as they are, i.e., in the Hebrew language. The Gemara asks: And as for the Sages, what is the reason for their opinion? The verse states: “Hear, O Israel” (Deuteronomy 6:4), which could also be translated, “Understand, O Israel,” indicating that you may recite these words in any language that you hear, i.e., understand.
וְרַבִּי נָמֵי, הָא כְּתִיב: ״שְׁמַע״? הַהוּא מִיבְּעֵי לֵיהּ: הַשְׁמַע לְאָזְנֶיךָ מַה שֶּׁאַתָּה מוֹצִיא מִפִּיךָ. וְרַבָּנַן — סָבְרִי כְּמַאן דְּאָמַר הַקּוֹרֵא אֶת שְׁמַע וְלֹא הִשְׁמִיעַ לְאׇזְנוֹ יָצָא.
The Gemara asks: And according to Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi as well, isn’t it indeed written, “hear”? What does he learn from this word, if not that the Shema may be recited in any language? The Gemara answers: This word is necessary to teach something else: Make heard to your ears what your mouth is saying, i.e., the Shema must be recited audibly, not merely thought in one’s heart. The Gemara asks: And how do the Sages know this? The Gemara explains: They hold like the one who said that if one recites the Shema but does not make it audible to his ears, he has nevertheless fulfilled his obligation.
וְרַבָּנַן נָמֵי, הָכְתִיב ״וְהָיוּ״? הַהוּא מִיבְּעֵי לֵיהּ שֶׁלֹּא יִקְרָא לְמַפְרֵעַ. וְרַבִּי, שֶׁלֹּא יִקְרָא לְמַפְרֵעַ מְנָא לֵיהּ? מִ״דְּבָרִים״ ״הַדְּבָרִים״. וְרַבָּנַן — ״דְּבָרִים״ ״הַדְּבָרִים״ לָא מַשְׁמַע לְהוּ.
The Gemara asks: And according to the Sages as well, isn’t it indeed written, “And these words shall be”? What do they learn from this, if not that the Shema must be recited in Hebrew? The Gemara answers: That word is necessary to teach that one must not recite the words of the Shema out of order, but they “shall be” as they are, in the proper order. The Gemara asks: And from where does Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi learn that one must not recite the Shema out of order? The Gemara answers: He derives it from the fact that the verse does not say just: Words, but “the words,” referring to specific words, which teaches that they must be recited in their proper order without any variation. The Gemara asks: And what do the Sages learn from the phrase “the words”? The difference between words and “the words” is inconsequential according to them.
לֵימָא קָסָבַר רַבִּי כׇּל הַתּוֹרָה כּוּלָּהּ בְּכׇל לָשׁוֹן נֶאֶמְרָה, דְּאִי סָלְקָא דַּעְתָּךְ בִּלְשׁוֹן הַקּוֹדֶשׁ נֶאֶמְרָה — לְמָה לִי לְמִכְתַּב ״וְהָיוּ״!
The Gemara analyzes the dispute: Shall we say that Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi maintains that the entire Torah may be recited in any language? As, if it enters your mind to say that the entire Torah may be recited only in the sacred tongue, Hebrew, and not in any other language, why do I need the Torah to write “and these words shall be” with respect to the Shema? Why would I think that the Shema is different from the rest of the Torah?
אִצְטְרִיךְ, סָלְקָא דַּעְתָּךְ ״שְׁמַע״ — כְּרַבָּנַן, כְּתַב רַחֲמָנָא ״וְהָיוּ״.
The Gemara rejects this argument: There is no proof from here, as even if the Torah must generally be recited in Hebrew it is nevertheless necessary to specify the matter here, since without such specification it might have entered your mind to say that in this context “hear” means understand, as maintained by the Sages, and that the Shema may be recited in any language. Therefore the Merciful One writes in the Torah, “and these words shall be,” to teach us that the Shema may be recited only in the original Hebrew.
לֵימָא קָסָבְרִי רַבָּנַן כׇּל הַתּוֹרָה בִּלְשׁוֹן הַקּוֹדֶשׁ נֶאֶמְרָה, דְּאִי סָלְקָא דַּעְתָּךְ בְּכׇל לָשׁוֹן נֶאֶמְרָה — לְמָה לִי לְמִכְתַּב ״שְׁמַע״!
The Gemara suggests: Shall we say then that the Sages maintain that the entire Torah must be recited specifically in the sacred tongue, Hebrew? As, if it enters your mind to say that the entire Torah may be recited in any language, why do I need the Torah to write “hear” with respect to the Shema? Why would one think that the Shema is different from the rest of the Torah?
אִיצְטְרִיךְ, סָלְקָא דַּעְתָּךְ אָמֵינָא ״וְהָיוּ״ — כְּרַבִּי, כְּתַב רַחֲמָנָא ״שְׁמַע״.
The Gemara rejects this argument: Even if the Torah may generally be recited in any language, it was nevertheless necessary to specify the matter here. Without such specification it could enter your mind to say that the words “and these words shall be” teach that the Shema may be recited only in Hebrew, as asserted by Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi. Therefore the Merciful One writes the word “hear” in the Torah, to teach us that the Shema may be recited in any language.
תְּפִלָּה מְנָא לַן? דְּתַנְיָא: שִׁמְעוֹן הַפָּקוֹלִי הִסְדִּיר שְׁמוֹנֶה עֶשְׂרֵה בְּרָכוֹת לִפְנֵי רַבָּן גַּמְלִיאֵל עַל הַסֵּדֶר בְּיַבְנֶה. אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן, וְאָמְרִי לַהּ בְּמַתְנִיתָא תָּנָא: מֵאָה וְעֶשְׂרִים זְקֵנִים, וּבָהֶם כַּמָּה נְבִיאִים, תִּיקְּנוּ שְׁמוֹנֶה עֶשְׂרֵה בְּרָכוֹת עַל הַסֵּדֶר.
§ The baraita cited previously taught that the halakha against reciting a text out of order applies to the Amida prayer as well. The Gemara asks: From where do we derive this? As it is taught in a baraita: Shimon HaPakuli arranged the eighteen blessings of the Amida prayer before Rabban Gamliel in their fixed order in Yavne, which indicates that there is a specific order to these blessings that must not be changed. Rabbi Yoḥanan said, and some say that it was taught in a baraita: A hundred and twenty Elders, i.e., the Men of the Great Assembly, and among them several prophets, established the eighteen blessings of the Amida in their fixed order, which also shows that the order of these blessings may not be changed.
תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: מִנַּיִן שֶׁאוֹמְרִים אָבוֹת — שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״הָבוּ לַה׳ בְּנֵי אֵלִים״. וּמִנַּיִן שֶׁאוֹמְרִים גְּבוּרוֹת — שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״הָבוּ לַה׳ כָּבוֹד וָעוֹז״. וּמִנַּיִן שֶׁאוֹמְרִים קְדוּשּׁוֹת — שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״הָבוּ לַה׳ כְּבוֹד שְׁמוֹ הִשְׁתַּחֲווּ לַה׳ בְּהַדְרַת קֹדֶשׁ״.
The Gemara proceeds to explain this order: The Sages taught in a baraita: From where is it derived that one says the blessing of the Patriarchs, the first blessing of the Amida? As it is stated: “Ascribe to the Lord, mighty ones” (Psalms 29:1), which means that one should mention before the Lord the mighty ones of the world, i.e., the Patriarchs. And from where is it derived that one then says the blessing of mighty deeds? As it is stated in the continuation of that verse: “Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength” (Psalms 29:1). And from where is it derived that one then says the blessing of holiness? As it is stated in the next verse: “Give to the Lord the glory due to His name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness” (Psalms 29:2).
וּמָה רָאוּ לוֹמַר בִּינָה אַחַר קְדוּשָּׁה — שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְהִקְדִּישׁוּ אֶת קְדוֹשׁ יַעֲקֹב וְאֶת אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל יַעֲרִיצוּ״, וּסְמִיךְ לֵיהּ: ״וְיָדְעוּ תוֹעֵי רוּחַ בִּינָה״. וּמָה רָאוּ לוֹמַר תְּשׁוּבָה אַחַר בִּינָה — דִּכְתִיב: ״וּלְבָבוֹ יָבִין וָשָׁב וְרָפָא לוֹ״.
The Gemara continues: And why did they see fit to institute to say the blessing of understanding after the blessing of holiness? As it is stated: “They shall sanctify the Holy One of Jacob, and shall revere the God of Israel” (Isaiah 29:23), and adjacent to that verse it is written: “They also that erred in spirit shall come to understanding” (Isaiah 29:24). This shows that it is proper for the theme of understanding to follow the theme of God’s holiness. And why did they see fit to institute to say the blessing of repentance after the blessing of understanding? As it is written: “And they will understand with their heart, repent, and be healed” (Isaiah 6:10-11), showing that the theme of repentance properly follows the theme of understanding.
אִי הָכִי — לֵימָא רְפוּאָה בָּתְרַהּ דִּתְשׁוּבָה? לָא סָלְקָא דַּעְתָּךְ, דִּכְתִיב: ״וְיָשׁוֹב אֶל ה׳ וִירַחֲמֵהוּ וְאֶל אֱלֹהֵינוּ כִּי יַרְבֶּה לִסְלוֹחַ״.
The Gemara asks: If so, that the sequence of blessings is based on this verse, let us say that the blessing of healing should be said after the blessing of repentance. Why, then, is the next blessing in the Amida the blessing of forgiveness and not the blessing of healing? The Gemara explains: This cannot enter your mind, as it is written: “And let him return to the Lord, and He will have compassion upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon” (Isaiah 55:7), which shows that the theme of repentance should be followed by that of forgiveness.
וּמַאי חָזֵית דְּסָמְכַתְּ אַהָא? סְמוֹךְ אַהָא! כְּתַב קְרָא אַחֲרִינָא: ״הַסּוֹלֵחַ לְכׇל עֲוֹנֵיכִי הָרוֹפֵא לְכׇל תַּחֲלוּאָיְכִי הַגּוֹאֵל מִשַּׁחַת חַיָּיְכִי״. לְמֵימְרָא דִּגְאוּלָּה וּרְפוּאָה בָּתַר סְלִיחָה הִיא, וְהָכְתִיב: ״וָשָׁב וְרָפָא לוֹ״! הָהוּא לָאו רְפוּאָה דְתַחְלוּאִים הִיא, אֶלָּא רְפוּאָה דִסְלִיחָה הִיא.
The Gemara poses a question: But what did you see to rely on this verse? Rely on the other verse, which juxtaposes repentance to healing. The Gemara answers: Another verse, in which it is written: “Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from the pit” (Psalms 103:3–4), proves that the theme of healing should follow that of forgiveness. The Gemara asks: Is that verse coming to say that the blessings of redemption and healing should be placed following the blessing of forgiveness? But isn’t it written: “Repent, and be healed” (Isaiah 6:10), which suggests that repentance should be followed by healing? The Gemara answers: That verse is referring not to the literal healing from illness, but rather to the figurative healing of forgiveness, and therefore this verse too supports the sequence of forgiveness following repentance.
וּמָה רָאוּ לוֹמַר גְּאוּלָּה בִּשְׁבִיעִית? אָמַר רָבָא: מִתּוֹךְ שֶׁעֲתִידִין לִיגָּאֵל בִּשְׁבִיעִית — לְפִיכָךְ קְבָעוּהָ בִּשְׁבִיעִית. וְהָאָמַר מָר: בְּשִׁשִּׁית קוֹלוֹת, בִּשְׁבִיעִית מִלְחָמוֹת, בְּמוֹצָאֵי שְׁבִיעִית בֶּן דָּוִד בָּא! מִלְחָמָה נָמֵי אַתְחַלְתָּא דִגְאוּלָּה הִיא.
The Gemara continues: And why did they see fit to institute to say the blessing of redemption as the seventh blessing? Rava said: Since there is a tradition that the Jewish people are destined to be redeemed in the seventh year of the Sabbatical cycle, consequently, they fixed redemption as the seventh blessing. But didn’t the Master say in a baraita: In the sixth year of the Sabbatical cycle in the days of the arrival of the Messiah, heavenly sounds will be heard; in the seventh year there will be wars; and upon the conclusion of the seventh year, in the eighth year, the son of David, the Messiah, will come? The redemption will take place not during the seventh year but after it. The Gemara answers: Nevertheless, the war that takes place during the seventh year is also the beginning of the redemption process, and it is therefore correct to say that Israel will be redeemed in the seventh year.
וּמָה רָאוּ לוֹמַר רְפוּאָה בִּשְׁמִינִית? אָמַר רַבִּי אַחָא: מִתּוֹךְ שֶׁנִּתְּנָה מִילָה בִּשְׁמִינִית שֶׁצְּרִיכָה רְפוּאָה — לְפִיכָךְ קְבָעוּהָ בִּשְׁמִינִית.
The Gemara continues: And why did they see fit to institute that one says the blessing of healing as the eighth blessing? Rabbi Aḥa said: Since circumcision was assigned to the eighth day of life, and circumcision requires healing, consequently, they established healing as the eighth blessing.
וּמָה רָאוּ לוֹמַר בִּרְכַּת הַשָּׁנִים בִּתְשִׁיעִית? אָמַר רַבִּי אֲלֶכְּסַנְדְּרִי: כְּנֶגֶד מַפְקִיעֵי שְׁעָרִים, דִּכְתִיב: ״שְׁבוֹר זְרוֹעַ רָשָׁע״, וְדָוִד כִּי אַמְרַהּ — בִּתְשִׁיעִית אַמְרַהּ.
And why did they see fit to institute that one says the blessing of bountiful years as the ninth blessing? Rabbi Alexandri said: This blessing was instituted in reference to those who raise the prices of food. We pray for rain so that the price of produce will not rise as a result of shortages, as it is written: “Break the arm of the wicked” (Psalms 10:15), referring to the wicked, who practice deception and extort the poor. And when David expressed this request, he expressed it in the ninth psalm. Although today it is considered the tenth psalm, the first and second psalms are actually counted as one, and therefore this is the ninth psalm. Therefore, the blessing of the years was fixed as the ninth blessing.
וּמָה רָאוּ לוֹמַר קִיבּוּץ גָּלִיּוֹת לְאַחַר בִּרְכַּת הַשָּׁנִים? דִּכְתִיב: ״וְאַתֶּם הָרֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל עַנְפְּכֶם תִּתֵּנוּ וּפֶרְיְכֶם תִּשְׂאוּ לְעַמִּי יִשְׂרָאֵל כִּי קֵרְבוּ לָבוֹא״. וְכֵיוָן שֶׁנִּתְקַבְּצוּ גָּלִיּוֹת — נַעֲשֶׂה דִּין בָּרְשָׁעִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְאָשִׁיבָה יָדִי עָלַיִךְ וְאֶצְרוֹף כַּבּוֹר סִיגָיִךְ״, וּכְתִיב: ״וְאָשִׁיבָה שׁוֹפְטַיִךְ כְּבָרִאשׁוֹנָה״.
The Gemara asks: And why did they see fit to institute that one says the blessing of the ingathering of the exiles after the blessing of the years? As it is written: “And you, O mountains of Israel, you shall shoot forth your branches, and yield your fruit to My people Israel; for they will soon be coming” (Ezekiel 36:8), which indicates that the ingathering of the exiles will follow after Eretz Yisrael is blessed with bountiful produce. And once the exiles have been gathered, judgment will be meted out to the wicked, as it is stated: “And I will turn my hand against you and purge away your dross as with lye” (Isaiah 1:25), and immediately after it is written: “And I will restore your judges as at first” (Isaiah 1:26). For this reason the blessing of the restoration of judges comes after the blessing of the ingathering of the exiles.
וְכֵיוָן שֶׁנַּעֲשָׂה דִּין מִן הָרְשָׁעִים — כָּלוּ הַפּוֹשְׁעִים, וְכוֹלֵל זֵדִים עִמָּהֶם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְשֶׁבֶר פּוֹשְׁעִים וְחַטָּאִים יַחְדָּיו (יִכְלוּ)״.
And once judgment is meted out to the wicked, the transgressors, i.e., the heretics and sectarians, will cease to be. Consequently, the next blessing is that of the heretics, and one includes evildoers with them, as it is stated: “And the destruction of the transgressors and of the sinners shall be together, and they that forsake the Lord shall cease to be” (Isaiah 1:28). The “transgressors and sinners” are the evildoers, and “they that forsake the Lord” are the heretics.
וְכֵיוָן שֶׁכָּלוּ הַפּוֹשְׁעִים — מִתְרוֹמֶמֶת קֶרֶן צַדִּיקִים, דִּכְתִיב: ״וְכׇל קַרְנֵי רְשָׁעִים אֲגַדֵּעַ תְּרוֹמַמְנָה קַרְנוֹת צַדִּיק״. וְכוֹלֵל גֵּירֵי הַצֶּדֶק עִם הַצַּדִּיקִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״מִפְּנֵי שֵׂיבָה תָּקוּם וְהָדַרְתָּ פְּנֵי זָקֵן״ — וּסְמִיךְ לֵיהּ: ״וְכִי יָגוּר אִתְּכֶם גֵּר״.
And once the heretics cease to be, the horn, i.e., the glory, of the righteous will be exalted, as it is written: “All the horns of the wicked will I cut off; but the horns of the righteous shall be exalted” (Psalms 75:11). Therefore, after the blessing of the heretics, one says the blessing about the righteous. And he includes the righteous converts along with the righteous, as it is stated: “You shall rise up before the hoary head, and honor the face of the elder” (Leviticus 19:32), and adjacent to this it is stated: “And if a stranger sojourns with you” (Leviticus 19:33). An “elder” is one with Torah wisdom and a “stranger” is one who has converted to Judaism.
וְהֵיכָן מִתְרוֹמֶמֶת קַרְנָם — בִּירוּשָׁלַיִם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״שַׁאֲלוּ שְׁלוֹם יְרוּשָׁלִָם יִשְׁלָיוּ אוֹהֲבָיִךְ״.
And where will the horns of the righteous be exalted? In Jerusalem, as it is stated: “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem; they who love you shall prosper” (Psalms 122:6). “They who love you” are the righteous. Therefore, the blessing of the rebuilding of Jerusalem is placed after the blessing of the righteous.
וְכֵיוָן שֶׁנִּבְנֵית יְרוּשָׁלַיִם — בָּא דָּוִד, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר:
And once Jerusalem is rebuilt, the Messiah, scion of the house of David, will come, as it is stated:
