Study Arakhin folio 12A with parallel Hebrew-English text, traditional commentary, and modern study tools. Free access to Babylonian Talmud online.
§ A dilemma was raised before the rabbis: With regard to libations that are brought by themselves, without an animal offering, do they require song on the part of the Levites as the libations are poured on the altar, or do they not require song? The Talmud explains the sides of the dilemma: Should
The Talmud seeks to resolve the dilemma through a baraita cited earlier. Come and hear: R' Yosei says that a fortunate matter is brought about on an auspicious day, and a deleterious matter on an inauspicious day, e.g., the 9th of Av, on which several tragedies have already occurred. As the rabbis
The Talmud analyzes the baraita: This song, what was its purpose? If we say that it accompanied an obligatory burnt offering, was there any obligatory communal burnt offering sacrificed at that time? The daily offering had ceased to be brought on the 17th of Tammuz, 3 weeks before the 9th of Av. Ra
Rava said, and some say it was Rav Ashi who said: And can you understand that this song was recited over any offering? The song of the day for Sunday, which is when the baraita says that the Temple was destroyed, is the psalm beginning with the verse: “A psalm of David. The earth is YHWH’s, and the
The Talmud asks: But isn’t it taught in the baraita that the Levites were standing on their platform near the altar, which is the place where they sing to accompany offerings? The Talmud answers: This can be explained in accordance with the opinion of Reish Lakish. As Reish Lakish says: The Levites