My question is from the top of 105a,
Isn't that exactly what the Mishna discussed that some people are out already and some are in... The Mishna teaches us that only the Rishonim that already left are Tamei while the others still in the Azarah are only Tamei when they out. How is this different form what Rabah is asking?
YOSSI L, Beit Shemesh Israel
Shalom Yossi,
Thank you for the excellent question. It really pinpoints what the Gemara is probing.
You are correct that the Mishnah states in broad terms: those who already went out are Tamei, while those still inside the Azarah remain Tahor. Rabah bar Rav Huna is testing the boundary of those categories. The Safek is whether the Mishnah's "inside" status persists only so long as insiders and outsiders are roughly balanced, or whether once a Rov of the Mis'askim (or of the animal) is outside we treat the remainder as if they are "out" by the principle of Rov k'Kulo.
This is how the Chazon Ish (Kodshim, Zevachim, Kama 39:3) frames the Sugya. He asks why the Mishnah did not speak explicitly in terms of Rov if, at the moment a majority has gone out, even those still inside become Tamei. It can be understood from his words that the Gemara is reading the Mishnah and inquiring whether we should apply Rov k'Kulo within its language, and count those remaining as "already out" once a majority has exited.
Best regards,
Aharon Steiner