Study Zevachim folio 118B with parallel Hebrew-English text, traditional commentary, and modern study tools. Free access to Babylonian Talmud online.
Text Excerpt
״ולו תאנת שילה״ – מקום שכל הרואה אותו מתאנח עליו על אכילת קדשים שלו.
“And the border turned about eastward to Taanath Shiloh” (Joshua 16:6), a place adjacent to Shiloh. Why did it bear the name of Taanath Shiloh? It is because it was the place from which whoever saw the Tabernacle in Shiloh after its destruction would moan [mitane’aḥ] for it with regard to the consumption of sacrificial animals from offerings of lesser sanctity that had been previously permitted there, but was now no longer permitted.
רבי אבהו אמר, אמר קרא: ״בן פרת יוסף בן פרת עלי עין״ – עין שלא רצתה לזון וליהנות מדבר שאינו שלו, תזכה ותאכל כמלא עיניה.
R' Abbahu says that a different biblical allusion may be found in what the verse states in the context of Jacob’s blessing to Joseph: “Joseph is a fruitful vine, a fruitful vine by a fountain [ayin]” (Genesis 49:22). The Talmud interprets the word fountain homiletically: An eye [ayin] that did not wish to partake or derive benefit from something that was not his, i.e., the wife of Potiphar, should merit to have offerings of lesser sanctity consumed in Shiloh, in Joseph’s portion of Eretz Yisrael, to the fullest extent of its eyes, i.e., from wherever Shiloh can be seen.
רבי יוסי ברבי חנינא אמר: ״ורצון שכני סנה״ – עין שלא רצתה ליהנות מדבר שאינו שלו, תזכה ותאכל בין השנואין.
R' Yosei, son of R' Ḥanina, says that another allusion may be found in the context of Moses’ blessing to Joseph: “And the good will of Him Who resided in the bush [seneh]” (Deuteronomy 33:16). The Talmud interprets the word “seneh” homiletically: An eye that did not wish to derive benefit from something that was not his should merit to have offerings of lesser sanctity consumed among the haters [senu’in]. In other words, offerings of lesser sanctity may be consumed in any place that overlooks Shiloh, even in the portions of the other tribes, who are described by the Torah as hating Joseph (see Genesis, chapter 37).