Chullin 176

ונסורת של חרשין דקה וסיד וחרסית לבנה ומגופה שכתשן

fine sawdust, lime, or a potsherd or a brick or an earthenware stopper [of a cask] that have been ground into powder?

ת"ל

The text therefore says: 'And he shall cover it'.

וכסהו

Then I might also include even coarse dung, coarse sand, crushed metal vessels,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' For these can in no wise be included within the term 'dust'.');">¹</span>

יכול שאני מרבה אף זבל הגס וחול הגס ושחיקת כלי מתכות ולבנה ומגופה שלא כתשן וקמח וסובין ומורסן

or a brick or stopper that have not been ground into powder, or flour, bran or coarse bran.

ת"ל

The text therefore says, 'with dust'.

בעפר

And why do you prefer to include the one and exclude the other?

ומה ראית לרבות את אלו ולהוציא את אלו

Since the verse includes some and excludes others, I include those that are a kind of dust<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' For in all the former examples plants can grow, accordingly they are included in the term dust.');">²</span>

אחר שריבה הכתוב ומיעט מרבה אני את אלו שהן מין עפר ומוציא אני את אלו שאין מין עפר

and exclude those that are not a kind of dust.

אימא

Perhaps I should argue thus, 'And he shall cover it' is a general proposition, 'dust' is a specified particular, we thus have a general proposition followed by a specified particular, in which case the scope of the proposition is limited by the particular specified, that is, dust onl but nothing else! - R'Mari replied.

וכסהו כלל עפר פרט כלל ופרט אין בכלל אלא מה שבפרט עפר אין מידי אחרינא לא

Here it is a general proposition complemented by a specified particular,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., , 'which needs the specified particular'. The general proposition of the verse is in itself insufficient, for it would even include a covering such as the turning of a vessel over the blood. Hence the specification was required to complement and thereby elucidate the implication of the general proposition by indicating that only such dust was intended for covering as mixes with blood and absorbs it. For another instance of the application of this principle of exegesis v. Bek. 19a.');">³</span>

אמר רב מרי

and a general proposition complemented by a specified particular is not to be interpreted by the same rule as a general proposition followed by a specified particular.

משום דהוה כלל הצריך לפרט וכל כלל הצריך לפרט אין דנין אותו בכלל ופרט

R'Nahman son of R'Hisda expounded.

דרש רב נחמן בר רב חסדא

One may only cover up [the blood] with that which if sown would produce growth.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' This would exclude hard and dry earth which cannot produce any growth.');">⁴</span>

אין מכסים אלא בדבר שזורעין בו ומצמיח

Raba remarked: This is an absurdity! Said R'Nahman B'Isaac to Raba: Wherein lies its absurdity?

אמר רבא

I told it him, and l derived it from the following Baraitha: If a person was travelling through a desert and can find no dust wherewith to cover up [the blood], he may grind a golden denar to powder and cover it up therewith.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The fact that he must resort to such an expedient proves that the hard stony ground of the desert may not be used for covering. rpt rpg');">⁵</span>

האי בורכא

If a person was travelling on a ship and has no dust wherewith to cover up [the blood], he may burn his garment and cover up with the ashes thereof.

א"ל רב נחמן בר יצחק לרבא

Now this is clear concerning the burning of a garment and covering up therewith, for we find that ashes are referred to as dust;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Cf. Num. XIX, 17. The two Heb. terms 'ashes' and 'dust' are similar in sound and might very well be interchanged as in the verse referred to.');">⁶</span>

מאי בורכתיה

but whence do we know this of a golden denar? - R'Zera answered: It is written: It hath dust of gold.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Job. XXVIII, 6.');">⁷</span>

אנא אמריתה ניהליה ומהא מתניתא אמריתה ניהליה

Our Rabbis taught: One may cover up [the blood] only with dust: so Beth Shammai.

היה מהלך במדבר ואין לו אפר לכסות שוחק דינר זהב ומכסה

But Beth Hillel say.

היה מהלך בספינה ואין לו עפר לכסות שורף טליתו ומכסה

We find ashes referred to as dust, for it is written: And for the unclean they shall take of the dust of the burning [of the purification from sin].<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. p. 495, n. 5.');">⁸</span>

בשלמא שורף טליתו ומכסה אשכחן אפר דאיקרי עפר אלא דינר זהב מנלן

Beth Shammai, however, say.

אמר ר' זירא

It [sc. , ashes] might be referred to as 'the dust of the burning' but it is never referred to as 'dust' simply.

(איוב כח, ו) ועפרות זהב לו

A Tanna taught: To these they added coal dust,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., slag; or perhaps soot.');">⁹</span>

תנו רבנן

stibium, stone dust.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'the scraps from chiselling'.');">¹⁰</span>

אין מכסין אלא בעפר דברי בית שמאי ובית הלל אומרים

Some add, even orpiment.

מצינו אפר שקרוי עפר שנאמר

Raba said: As a reward for our father Abraham having said: I am but dust and ashes,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Gen. XVIII, 27.');">¹¹</span>

(במדבר יט, יז) ולקחו לטמא מעפר שריפת [וגו']

his descendants were worthy to receive two commandments: the ashes of the [Red] Cow, and the dust [used in the ceremony] of a woman suspected of adultery.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Cf. Num. V, 17.');">¹²</span>

ובית שמאי עפר שריפה איקרי עפר סתמא לא איקרי

Why does he not reckon also the dust used for the covering up of the blood? - Because that is only the perfection of the commandment but it is of no advantage [to the performer].<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' For the slaughtered animal is permitted even though the blood had not been covered up. In each of the other commandments there is a blessing and benefit bestowed: the dust used in the ceremony of a woman suspected of adultery serves to remove all suspicion and to restore peace and confidence between husband and wife, and the ashes of the Red Cow serve to cleanse the unclean (cf. Num. XIX) .');">¹³</span>

תנא

Raba also said: As a reward for our father Abraham having said,

הוסיפו עליהן השחור והכחול ונקרת פיסולין ויש אומרים

אף הזרניך

אמר רבא

בשכר שאמר אברהם אבינו (בראשית יח, כז) ואנכי עפר ואפר זכו בניו לשתי מצות אפר פרה ועפר סוטה

וליחשוב נמי עפר כסוי הדם

התם הכשר מצוה איכא הנאה ליכא

ואמר רבא

בשכר שאמר אברהם אבינו