Study Nedarim folio 35B with parallel Hebrew-English text, traditional commentary, and modern study tools. Free access to Babylonian Talmud online.
Text Excerpt
מתני׳ ותורם את תרומתו ומעשרותיו לדעתו, ומקריב עליו קיני זבין, קיני זבות, קיני יולדות, חטאות ואשמות. ומלמדו מדרש הלכות ואגדות, אבל לא ילמדנו מקרא. אבל מלמד הוא את בניו ואת בנותיו מקרא.
Mishnah: The Mishnah proceeds to list other tasks that one may perform for someone who is prohibited by vow from benefiting from him. And he separates his teruma and his tithes, provided that it is with the knowledge and consent of the owner of the produce. And he sacrifices for him the bird nests, i.e., pairs of birds, pigeons and turtledoves, of zavin (see Leviticus 15:13–15); the bird nests of zavot (see Leviticus 15:28–30); the bird nests of women after childbirth (see Leviticus 12:6–8); sin-offerings; and guilt-offerings. And he teaches him midrash, halakhot, and aggadot, but he may not teach him Bible. However, he may teach his sons and daughters Bible.
Talmud: A dilemma was raised before the rabbis: Are these priests our agents or agents of Heaven when they perform the Temple service? The Talmud elaborates: What is the practical difference whether they are our agents or God’s agents? The Talmud answers: The difference is with regard to one prohibited by vow from deriving benefit from another. If you say that the priests are our agents, don’t the priests provide benefit for the one for whom benefit is forbidden by vow, and therefore, sacrificing that person’s offering is prohibited? And if you say that they are agents of Heaven, it is permitted. What is the status of priests?
תא שמע, דתנן: מקריב עליו קיני זבין כו׳. אי אמרת שלוחי דידן, קא מהני ליה?
Come and hear proof to resolve the dilemma, as we learned in the Mishnah: And he sacrifices for him the bird nests of zavin, etc. The Talmud infers: If you say that the priests are our agents, the priests would thereby provide benefit to one for whom benefit from them is forbidden. Based on the ruling in the Mishnah, apparently, priests are agents of Heaven.