Talmud Bavli
Talmud Bavli

Commentary for Menachot 41:19

אמר אביי וכן לקדירה

What is the meaning of tebonehu? - Rabbah B''Ulla said, This is what was meant: I might have thought that one should heap the salt upon it as straw in clay. If so, said to him Abaye, it should have said yetabnenu!<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' (or) , denom. of 'straw', meaning 'to mix with straw', 'to put in much straw', and then to apply a large quantity (of any substance) '. ubbch');"><sup>32</sup></span> Rather said Abaye: I might have thought that one should pile up the salt like a building. If so, said Raba to him, it should have said yibnenu!<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' , implying building up row upon row.');"><sup>33</sup></span> Rather said Raba: I might have thought that it meant tebonehu. And what does tebonehu mean? R'Ashi explained: I might have thought that one should apply to it [salt] only to give it a taste,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., only a small quantity of salt, just a sprinkling in order to give it a taste.');"><sup>34</sup></span> just as the understanding,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Just as the understanding gives 'taste' and distinction to man (Rashi) . Or, that one might 'understand' that salt has been sprinkled on it');"><sup>35</sup></span> the verse therefore stated, Thou shalt season. How should one do it? One takes the limb, spreads salt over it, turns it over and again spreads salt over it, and then offers it. Abaye said, And so, too, it should be done for [cooking meat in] the pot.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., the meat must be salted on both sides.');"><sup>36</sup></span>

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