Commentary for Menachot 56:12

ר' יוסי בר רבי יהודה אומר אף של עץ לא יעשה כדרך שעשו מלכי בית חשמונאי אמרו לו משם ראיה שפודים של ברזל היו וחיפום בבעץ העשירו עשאום של כסף חזרו והעשירו עשאום של זהב

is a general proposition, 'of pure gold' is a particular specification, 'of beaten work shall the candlestick be made' is another general proposition; we thus have two general propositions separated by a particular specification, in which case you may only include such things as are similar to the thing specified, and as the thing specified is clearly a metal so all metals are included. R'Jose B'Judah on the other hand interprets the verse by 'amplification and limitation' thus, 'And thou shalt make a candlestick' is an amplifying proposition, 'of pure gold' is a limitation, 'of beaten work shall the candlestick be made' is another amplifying proposition; we thus have two amplifying propositions separated by a limitation, in which case they include [well-nigh] everything.

Explore commentary for Menachot 56:12. In-depth commentary and analysis from classical Jewish sources.