Pesachim

Because lo! Moses was standing on the First Passover and giving instructions about the Second Passover,1 as it is said, Moreover, let the children of Israel keep the passover in its appointed season;2 and it is written, And there were certain men, who were unclean by the dead body of a man.3 And R. Simeon b. Gamaliel?4 — He answers you: Because he was engaged in the laws of Passover, he instructed them5 in all the laws of Passover. What is R. Simeon b. Gamaliel's reason? Because lo! Moses was standing at the beginning of the month and giving orders about the Passover, as it is said, This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you.6 And it is written, Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to their father's houses, etc.6 But how do you know that he was standing at the beginning of the month; perhaps he was standing on the fourth or the fifth of the month? Rather, said Rabbah b. Shimi in Rabina's name, [It is deduced] from here: And the Lord spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the first month of the second year;7 and it is written, Moreover let the children of Israel keep the passover in its appointed season.8 But here too, how do you know that he was standing at the beginning of the month: perhaps he was standing on the fourth or the fifth of the month? — Said R. Nahman b. Isaac: [The implication of] ‘wilderness’ [here] is learned from ‘wilderness’ [elsewhere]. Here it is written, ‘in the wilderness of Sinai’,’ while there it is written, And the Lord spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tent of meeting, on the first day of the second month:9 just as there [it was] at the beginning of the month, so here too at the beginning of the month. Now, let [the events of] the first month be written first, and then that of the second month?10 — Said R. Menasia b. Tahlifa in Rab's name: This proves that there is no chronological order11 in the Torah. R. Papa observed: This was said only of two subjects; but in the same subject what is earlier is earlier and what is later is later. For should you not say thus, [how, then, apply the principle that] when a general proposition is followed by a particular specification the general proposition comprises only what is contained in the particular specification; perhaps it is a particular specification followed by a general proposition! Moreover, [it is a principle that] when a particular specification is followed by a general proposition, the generalization becomes an addition to the specification,12 [here too] perhaps it is a generalization followed by a particularization! But if so, the same [question] applies even to two subjects? Now, that is well on the view that [when] a generalization and a specification [are] at a distance from each other, we do not interpret13 them as a generalization followed by a specification, then it is correct. But on the view that we do interpret [them thus], what can be said?14 — Even on the view that we do interpret, that is only [when they occur] in the same subject; but [when] in two subjects we do not interpret [them thus]. Rab Judah said in Rab's name: He who searches [for leaven] must [also] declare it null.15 What is the reason? Shall we say [it is] because of crumbs16 — but they are of no value?17 And should you answer, since they are guarded in virtue of his house,18 they are of account, surely it was taught: [If there are in a man's field] late figs, while he guards his field on account of the grapes; or if there are late grapes, while he guards his field on account of his cucumbers and gourds,19 when the owner is particular about them, they are forbidden [to a stranger] as theft and are subject to tithes; when the owner is not particular about them, they are not forbidden as theft and are exempt from tithe!20 — Said Raba: It is a preventive measure, lest he find a tasty loaf21 and [set] his mind upon it.22 Then let him annul it when he finds it? — He may find it after the interdict [commences], and then it does not stand in his ownership and [so] he cannot annul it. For R. Eleazar said: Two things are not in a man's ownership, yet the Writ regarded them as though they were in his ownership. And these are they: a pit in public ground23 and leaven from six hours24 and onwards.25 Then let him annul it at the fourth or the fifth [hour]?26 — Since it is neither the time of the prohibition nor the time of searching, he may transgress and not annul it. proper time. from intruders not for their sake but because it contains other crops yet to be gathered. that does not give them any value, and the same should apply here. though actually it is not. making the search?