Shalom,
I am confused why the Gemarra is going back and forth between challenging Rav Yehudah and Rav Huna. Seemingly it would make more sense after finishing challenging one Amora to move on to challenging the other Amora. Or, if there was a connection between what was brought up in challenging one Amora to use that to challenge the other Amora. Instead, the Gemarra seemingly moves back and forth in the challenges without connection between one challenge and the next and it is difficult to understand the flow. The Gemarra first challenges Rav Yehudah and then challenges Rav Huna. The Gemarra then goes back to challenging Rav Yehudah. Then the Gemarra goes back to challenging Rav Huna. And then afterwards the Gemarra goes back to challenging Rav Yehuda. Why is the Gemarra going back and forth without seemingly any connection between the challenges?
Thank you for your help,
Avraham Sacks
Avraham Sacks, Ramat Beit Shemesh
Dear Avraham,
You bring up an interesting point- however-
There is nothing wrong with bringing a source and asking a question to one side, and then bringing another source and asking a question to the other side. There is no need of connection between question 1,2,3,etc., each question is on its own. What is there to gain by rearranging the questions- if no connection exists?
I believe that if you check other arguments in Shas followed by questions, that the Gemara does not follow your pattern of asking only to one side and then only to the other side.
Also, you want that after challenging one Amora, the Gemara should use this to challenge the other- but there is no reverse challenge because the other Amora stays with the original (question's) approach.
I would like to suggest as follows- The Gemara here first asks 3 questions from Chumash and Navi, then 4 questions from Kesuvim- Tehilim and Iyov and then from Braisos.
All the best,
Reuven Weiner