BONES FROM THE SPINE OR SKULL (cont.)
Answer #2 (Beraisa - Shamai): Even from one bone of the spine or skull (has Tum'as Ohel).
This shows that the spine and skull are more stringent!
Rejection: We cannot bring a proof from Shamai, for he is more stringent.
Inference: Only Shamai, who is stringent, says that they are more stringent. Chachamim require a half Kav (to obligate a Nazir to shave)!
Rejection: Perhaps Chachamim argue only about one bone from the spine or skull, but they agree that a quarter Kav suffices.
A QUARTER KAV OF BONES [line 9]
(R. Eliezer): Some early Chachamim said that a half Kav of bones or a half Log of blood is Metamei in every respect. A quarter Kav of bones or a quarter Log of blood has no Tum'as Ohel;
Others said that even a quarter Kav of bones or a quarter Log of blood is Metamei in every respect;
Later sages said that a half Kav of bones or a half Log of blood is Metamei in every respect. A quarter Kav of bones or a quarter Log of blood is Metamei b'Ohel regarding Terumah and Kodshim, but not regarding a Nazir or one offering the Korban Pesach.
Objection: We do not rule like a third mediating opinion (i.e. of later sages; alternatively, it distinguishes between cases that the previous opinions did not mention)!
Answer (R. Yakov bar Idi): Here we rule like the third opinion because they received the law from the last of the Nevi'im.
TUM'OS FOR WHICH A NAZIR DOES NOT SHAVE [line 19]
(Mishnah): For these a Nazir shaves...
In the Reisha, these words hint at something for which he does not shave, i.e. a bone k'Se'orah;
A Nazir shaves only if he touches or moves it, but not for entering a tent with such a bone.
These words are repeated in the Seifa to allude to something else for which he does not shave, i.e. a Sechuchis stone (Tosfos - a stone sticking out from a wall, and he does not know if it towered over him and Tum'ah; Rashi - a stone on a Mes or grave).
(Mishnah): For half a Kav of bones...
Inference: He shaves for half a Kav, but not for a quarter Kav.
Question: What is the case?
Suggestion: If among them is a bone k'Se'orah, for that alone he must shave! (Tosfos - even though our Mishnah discusses Tum'as Ohel, the inference connotes that he shaves for touching a quarter Kav.)
Answer: The case is, the bones were ground up, and there is no piece k'Se'orah.
A LIMB LACKING FLESH [line 4]
(Mishnah): (He shaves) due to a limb from a Mes or a limb from a Chai that has enough flesh on it to sustain it (if it were attached to a Chai).
Question: What is the law if it lacks this amount of flesh?
Answer #1 (R. Yochanan): A Nazir does not shave for it.
Answer #2 (Reish Lakish): A Nazir shaves for it.
R. Yochanan learns from our Mishnah. It says that he shaves only if it has sufficient flesh!
Reish Lakish learns from the fact that it is not listed in the Seifa (the next Mishnah, 54a) among things for which a Nazir does not shave.
R. Yochanan says that this is no proof. Anything that can be inferred from the Reisha is not taught in the Seifa.
Objection #1: Our Mishnah teaches a half Kav of bones, implying that he does not shave for a quarter Kav, yet the Seifa teaches about a quarter Kav!
Answer: A quarter Kav needed to be taught. If not, one might have thought that he does not shave even for touching or moving them;
The Seifa teaches that the exemption is only for Tum'as Ohel of them.
Objection #2: The Reisha teaches about a half Log of blood, implying that he does not shave for a quarter Log, yet the Seifa teaches about a quarter Log!
Answer: A quarter Log was taught to oppose R. Akiva, who says that a Nazir shaves for touching or moving it.
Question: What is the case of a limb from a Mes that R. Yochanan and Reish Lakish argue about?
If it contains a bone k'Se'orah, why does R. Yochanan say that he does not shave for it?
If it does not have a bone k'Se'orah, why does Reish Lakish say that he shaves for it?
Answer: Really, it has no bone k'Se'orah. Reish Lakish holds that even so, the Torah says that he shaves for it:
Beraisa: It says "anyone who will touch on the face of the field, a body killed by a sword, or a Mes (becomes Tamei)." "On the face of the field" teaches about one who towers above a Mes;
"A body killed" teaches about a limb from a Chai with sufficient flesh;
"A sword " teaches that a sword that killed a person is Tamei just like a Mes;
"Or a Mes" teaches about a limb that became detached from a Mes;
"Or a bone of a man" teaches about a quarter Kav of bones;
"Or a grave" teaches about a sealed coffin;
We learned that a sealed coffin is Metamei anything above or below it.