Shabbat

[they may supersede the Sabbath] because if their time passes they are annulled!  Rather this is R. Eliezer s reason: Because Scripture saith, and in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised,  [implying] even on the Sabbath.  Then let the Divine Law write it in connection with circumcision, and these [others] can come to be deduced thence? Because one can refute [the analogy]: as for circumcision, that is because thirteen covenants were made in connection therewith. Now, the Rabbis disagree with R. Eliezer only in respect of the preliminaries of circumcision; but as for circumcision itself, all hold that it supersedes the Sabbath: whence do we know it? Said 'Ulla, It is a traditional law;  and thus did R. Isaac say, It is a traditional law. An objection is raised: How do we know that the saving of life supersedes the Sabbath? R. Eleazar b. 'Azariah said: If circumcision, which is [performed on but] one of the limbs of man, supersedes the Sabbath, the saving of life, a minori, must supersede the Sabbath. Now if you think that it is a traditional law, can one argue a minori from a traditional law? Surely it was taught, R. Eleazar said to him: Akiba! [That] a bone [of a corpse] the size of a barley grain defiles  is a traditional law, whereas [that] a quarter [log] of blood [of a corpse] defies is [deduced by you] a minori,  and we do not argue a minori from a traditional law! — Rather said R. Eleazar: We learn 'a sign' [written in connection with circumcision from] 'a sign' [written in connection with the Sabbath].  If so, let Tefillin, in connection with which 'sign'  is written, supersede the Sabbath?  — Rather 'covenant' is learnt from, 'covenant'.  Then let [the circumcision of] an adult, in connection with whom 'covenant' is written,  supersede the Sabbath?  — Rather 'generations' is learnt from 'generations'.  Then let fringes, in connection with which 'generations' is written,  supersede the Sabbath?  Rather said R. Nahman b. Isaac: We learn 'sign,' 'covenant' and 'generations' from 'sign,' 'covenant' and 'generations,' thus excluding the others in connection with each of which only one is written. R. Johanan said: Scripture saith, in the [eighth] day, 'in the day' [implying] even on the Sabbath.  Resh Lakish objected to R. Johanan: If so, those who lack atonement,  in connection with whom 'in the day' is written,  do they too supersede the Sabbath?  — That is required [for teaching], by day but not by night.  But this too  is required [for teaching], by day but not by night? That is deduced from, and he that is eight days old.  But this too can be derived from, in the day that he commanded [the children of Israel to offer their oblations, etc.]?  — Though it may be derived from, in the day that he commanded, [etc.]', yet it [the other verse] is necessary: you might argue, Since the Merciful One had compassion upon him, [permitting him] to bring [a lesser sacrifice] in poverty, he may bring [it] at night too: hence we are informed [otherwise]. Rabina demurred: If so,  let a zar and an onen  be eligible for them?  Surely Scripture brought him back. R. Aha b. Jacob said, Scripture saith, 'the eighth', [intimating] the eighth, even if it is the Sabbath. But this 'eighth' is required to exclude the seventh? — That follows from, 'and the that is eight days old'. Yet they are still required, one to exclude the seventh and the other to exclude the ninth, for if [we deduced] from one [verse only] I might say, only the seventh is excluded, since its time [for circumcision] has not [yet] arrived, but from the eighth onward that is the [right] time? Hence it is clear [that it must be explained] as R. Johanan. It was taught in accordance with R. Johanan and not as R. Aha b. Jacob: '[And in] the eighth [day the flesh of his foreskin] shall be circumcised': even on the Sabbath. Then to what do I apply, every one that profaneth it shall surely be put to death?  To labours other than circumcision. Yet perhaps it is not so, but [it includes] even circumcision, whilst to what do I apply 'in the eighth... shall be circumcised': [To all days] except the Sabbath? Therefore 'in the day' is stated, [teaching], even on the Sabbath. Raba observed: Why was this Tanna content at first, and what was his difficulty eventually?  — He argues thus: '[in] the eighth shall be circumcised': even on the Sabbath. Then to what do I apply, every one that profaneth it shall be put to death'? To labours other than circumcision, but circumcision supersedes it. What is the reason? It [follows] a minori. If leprosy, which suspends the sacrificial service,