Hello kollel!
A simple question, and perhaps I'm missing something. At the end of the daf, rava asks like whom RYBN holds. But isn't RYBN a tanna? Why does he have to hold like anyone? Or is it just presumed his shita aligns with one of the others and the gemara wants to fit it into the right category?
Thank you!
Josh
Very nice question! In the Mefarshim I see one basic answer which each commentary phrases in his own way. But the basic point is the same:
1. The Rashba writes: He cannot be a third opinion, as we see from the fact that Chazal (namely, in the previous Mishnah) do not mention his view as a third one in contrast with that of Raban Gamliel and Rebbi Yehoshua.
2. Ritva: If Rebbi Yochanan ben Nuri would be a third opinion, then the story is coming to contradict the two prior opinions.
(I understand the Ritva to mean that the Gemara assumes that the story which follows the two opinions of the previous Mishnah must reflect either one or the other, but not a third opinion. Accordingly, one can view this answer as not very different from the Rashba's answer.)
The Shitah Mekubetzes cites the Ri mi'Gash who explains similarly and elaborates somewhat; if you are interested to check there, too, he is Ma'arich.
Best wishes,
Yishai Rasowsky