the following pages present three extended passages from the Babylonian Talmud. These extracts were not placed in boxes within the text because they are too long, but they should be read in connection with the description of the Talmud to be found in Chapter 9. These texts were chosen because each represents an important feature of the talmudic enterprise: interpreting older texts, establishing the law, using narrative to explore theology. Each translation is followed by a brief commentary in italics indicating some characteristic features of the text.

BERAKHOT 2A–3A

mishnah: From when [may people] recite the evening Sh'ma? From the hour that the priests come in to eat of their teruma-offering, until the end of the first watch; [these are] R. Eliezer's words, but the sages say, Until midnight. Rabban Gamaliel says, Until the first light of dawn….

gemara:… The Master said: “From the hour the priests come in to eat of their teruma-offering.” Now when do priests eat teruma-offering? From the hour the stars come out. So let him [straightforwardly] teach “from the hour the stars come out”! [By teaching the law obliquely] he teaches us something extra by the way: Priests eat teruma-offering from the hour the stars come out.

And this teaches us [in turn] that [need for] an expiation-sacrifice does not disqualify [a priest from eating teruma], as it is taught: “And when the sun sets he shall be clean” (Leviticus 22:7).