Objectives of Sugyot – A Study of the Redaction of the Babylonian Talmud as Reflected in Three Sugyot of Tractate 'Eruvin

Abstract

This article presents a novel methodology for the analysis of passages (Sugyot) foundin the Babylonian Talmud based upon identifying the objectives of the redaction that guided the editors of that passage. Three different Talmud passages are presented, and the various objectives of the redaction were indicated: First, a passage whose objective was to take the form of ten statements in the name of R. Yirmiyah ben Elazar, though there exist more of his statements. Second, a Sugya dealing with the stylistic use of the expression “and further” (ve^cod), in order not to leave the first part of the Mishna withoutany Talmudic commentary. Third, a section whose objective was to reject the position taken by R. Yossi berabbi Yehuda from being accepted as standard Jewish Law. Were it not for the editorial intervention by the redactors, the law would have been determinedby R. Yossi’s position. The question is to understand why a Sugya is found as is in thetext in contrast to other sources, e.g., parallel passages in the Babylonian Talmud, manusscript readings, the Jerusalem Talmud, the Tosefta, Geonic literature, readings found inmedieval and later commentaries, etc. In other words, one must under take to examine themotives of the editors of a passage when they approached the task of redaction. Thus, itwill be possible to solve sundry issues or difficulties that crop up in different passages, as, for instance, in matters of form and style, difficult readings of Halakha and differences intexts. Furthermore, one may determine if and how the deciders of Jewish Law (Poskim) were influenced by the redaction of Sugya.