Commentary for Pesachim 140:2
ואלא שבא בטומאה סוף סוף מנא ידעי
It was taught: Judah the son of Durtai separated himself [from the Sages], he and his son Durtai, and went and dwelt in the South. '[For,]' said he, 'if Elijah should come and say to Israel, "why did you not sacrifice the hagigah on the Sabbath?" what can they answer him? I am astonished at the two greatest men of our generation. Shemaiah and Abtalyon, who are great Sages and great interpreters [of the Torah], yet they have not told Israel, The hagigah overrides the Sabbath. Rab said, What is the reason of the son of Durtai? Because it is written, And thou shalt sacrifice the passover-offering unto the Lord thy God, of the flock and the herd: yet surely the Passover offering is only from lambs or goats? But 'flock' refers to the Passover offering, [while] 'herd' refers to the hagigah, and the Divine Law saith, 'And thou shalt sacrifice the passover-offering'. Said R. Ashi: And are we to arise and explain the reason of schismatics? But the verse comes for [the exegesis] of R. Nahman. For R. Nahman said in Rabbah b. Abbuha's name: How do we know that the left-over of the paschal offering is brought as a peace-offering? Because it is said, 'and thou shalt sacrifice
Explore commentary for Pesachim 140:2. In-depth commentary and analysis from classical Jewish sources.