RELIGIOUS ENCYCLOPEDIA
Talmud, The
the orders are: zera'im, "seeds"; mo'edh, "festivals"; nashim, "women"; nezikin, "injuries"; kodliashim, "holy things"; and teharoth, "purifications." The names of the tracts are old, testimony to some comes from the middle of the second century of our era; some of them are derived from the contents, some from the first word, and some have in use a double nomenclature. The present number of the tracts is sixty-three. Originally the three first tracts of the fourth order constituted but one, and the fifth tract of the same order was formerly the conclusion of the preceding tract. Consequently the number of tracts was formerly but sixty. The arrangement of the tracts within the separate orders is not universally the same, but the length of the tracts has been the most general governing principle. The division into chapters is also ancient. In the Gemara many chapters are cited by the names (the initial words) still in use. An alphabetical index of the chapter-headings is found in many editions of the Babylonian Talmud in the appendix to the tract Berakhoth; it may be found also in J. Buxtorf, De abbreviaturis Hebraicis, at the end (Basel, 1613); J. C. Wolf, Bibliotheca Ilebrcea, ii. 724-741 (Hamburg, 1721); and best in W. H. Lowe, The Fragment of Talmud Babli Pesachim in the University Library, pp. 50-59
(Cambridge, 1879) . The number of chapters is 523.
III. Contents of the Sixty-three Mishna Tracts: First Order, eleven tracts (1) Berakhoth, " blessings," is on blessings and prayers, especially those for daily use. (2) Pe'ah, " corner," deals with the corners of the field in agriculture and the rights of the poor (cf. Lev. xix. 9, 20, xxiii. 22; Deut. xxiv. 19-22). (3) Dammai (also pronounced Demay), " doubtful (fruits)," deals with fruits of which it is uncertain whether the tithe was given to the priests. (4) Kil'ayim, " of two sorts," deals with forbidden mixtures of things (cf. Lev. xix. 19; Deut. xxii. 9-11). (5) Shebhi'ith, " sabbatical year" (Ex. xxiii. 11; Lev. xxv. 1-7; Deut. xv. 1 sqq.), of which it treats. (6) Terumoth, " heave (offering)," deals with the offerings noted in Num. xviii. 8 sqq., 25-26. (7) Ma'asroth (or Ma'aser rishon), " tithes " (or " first tithe "), treats of the matter of Num. xviii. 21-24. (8) Ma'aser sheni, " second tenth," deals with the tithe which was to be eaten at Jerusalem (Deut. xiv. 22 sqq.). (9) Hallah, " Cake," having to do with the dough of Lev. xv. 18-21. (10) 'Orlah, " foreskin (of trees)," treats of the prohibition to eat the fruit of trees during~the first three years after planting (Lev. xix. 23).
(11) Bikkurim, " first fruits," on the laws in Ex. xxiii. 19; Deut. xxvi. 1 sqq.
Second Order, twelve tracts. (1) Shabbath, " Sabbath," on the laws connected with observance of the Sabbath, enumerates the thirty-nine chief kinds of work forbidden. (2) 'Erubhin, " mingling," treats of three methods of avoiding the especially burdensome requirements of the Sabbath laws. (3) Pesahim, " Passover festivals," treats of jthe ordinances respecting Passover. (4) Shekalim, " shekels^"- Healing with the tax of Ex. xxx. 12-16 for the support of the Temple. (5) Yoma, " day of (atonement)," treats of that fast. (6) Sukkah, " booth," on the feast of tabernacles. (7) Bezah or Yom tobh, " egg " or " feast day," named after the initial word, treats of the observances of festivals, and on the distinction between these and the Sabbath. (8) Rosh ha-Shanah, " new year's feast," deals with festivals of the new moon and the new year. (9) Ta- 'anith, " fasting," treats of fasts and times of mourning. (10) Meghillah, " roll," principally on the Esther roll read at Purim in the synagogue. (11) Mo'edh katan, " halffeast," deals with the days between the first and last days of the Passover and feast of tabernacles observances.
(12) Haghigah, " feasting," has to do with the observances of the three chief feasts.
Third Order, seven tracts. (1) Yebhamoth, " widows obligated to a Levirate marriage," has to do with the levirate marriage (see Family and Marriage Relations, He-
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brew, § 12). (2) Kethubhoth, " marriage contracts," deals with the duties of husband and wife. (3) Nedharim, " vows," considers vows and their annulment. (4) Nazir! " Nazirite," on the Nazirite vow (see Nazirites). (5) Gittin, " divorce papers," on the dissolution of marriage. (6) Sotah, " woman suspected of adultery," on the subject treated in Num. v. 11-31 (see Ordeal). (7) Kiddushin, " betrothal," has to do with the conditions of legal marriage (see Family and Marriage Relations, Hebrew).
Fourth Order, ten tracts. (1) Babha kamma, " first gate," deals with injuries, and follows Ex. xxi'. 33, xxii. 5-6, giving four chief kinds of injuries of this kind. (2) Babha mezi'a, " middle gate," treats of sales, leases, things found, and interest. (3) Babha bathra, " last gate," considers matters dealing with property rights, sales, and inheritance. (4) Sanhedhrin, " court of justice," treats of the various courts of law, the four methods of capital punishment, and of those who shall have part or no part in the future world. See Law, Hebrew, Civil and Criminal; Stoning; Sanhedrin. (5) Makkoth, " blows," deals with stripes as a method of legal punishment. This and the preceding tract were originally one. (6) Shebhu'oth, " oaths," on the regulations respecting oaths (cf. Lev. v. 4 sqq.). (7) 'Edhuyyoth, " evidences," is a collection of testimonies by later teachers to earlier deliverances; many of the sayings occur elsewhere in the Mishna under other subjects. (8) 'Abhodhah zarah, " idolatrous worship," treating of idolatry and idols. (9) Abhoth, " fathers " (also Pirke abhoth, " sayings of the fathers "), aims to show the continuity of tradition and its reliability, and then to give practical instruction. This tract is very often reprinted, and is commonly found in Jewish prayer-books. (10) Horayoth, ' decisions," deals with religious and legal decisions erroneously followed.
Fifth Order, eleven tracts. (1) Zebhahim, " sacrifice," — the name indicates its subject. (2) Menahoth, " meat offerings," the title of which also denotes its subject. (3) Hullin, " profane," has to do with the killing of animals not designed for sacrifice and like matters. (4) Bekhoroth, "first-born" (on various firstlings). (5) 'Arakhin, "valuations," deals with equivalents to be paid instead of persons dedicated to deity. (6) Temurah, " exchange," refers to substitution for dedicated animals. (7) Kerithoth, " extirpations," treats of the excommunication or cutting of one off from the congregation, and the expiation for a fault so punishable. (8) Me'ilah, " trespass," has to do with the subject prescribed for in Num. v. 6-8. (9) Tamidh, " the daily (morning and evening) offering," — the title denotes the subject. (10) Middoth, " measures," expounds the furnishing of Temple and sanctuary. (11) Kinnim, " birds' nests," has to do with the bringing of birds (doves) as offerings.
Sixth Order, twelve tracts. (1) Kelim, " utensils," treats of the various kinds of ceremonial impurity which vessels may acquire. (2) 'Ohaloth, " tents," deals with the defilement incurred through connection with a corpse.
(3) Negha'im, " leprosy," is concerned with that disease.
(4) Parah, " red heifer," has to do with the ceremony of purification by the ashes of a red heifer (Num. xix.). (5) Teharoth, " purities " — the name is a euphemistic expression for " impurities," and the tract deals with minor defilements. (6) Mikwa'oth, " ritual baths," treats of the bathing of the defiled. (7) Niddah, " menstruous woman," — the name indicates the subject. (8) Makhshirin, " predisposings," has to do with the predisposition to defilement caused by contact with various fluids. (9) Zabhim, " sufferers from discharges," deals with the subject of Lev. xv. 2 sqq. (10) Tebhul yom, the title means one who has taken a ritual bath on the day of defilement, and therefore remains defiled till sunset. (11) Yadhayim, " hands," treats of ceremonial defilement and purification of the hands. (12) 'Ukzin, " stems," deals with the relations of fruit to stems, skins, and seeds with reference to the mutual impartation of defilement.
IV. The Palestinian Talmud: Two early names of this collection are " Talmud of the land of Israel " and " Jerusalem Talmud." Talmud itself means: (1) study, especially in the expression Talmud torah; (2) teaching, especially in connection with proof texts; (3) explanations coming from the time of the Amoraim dealing with deliverances of the earlier Tannaim (in this sense it is supplanted by
Talmud, The