Query (Rebbi Yirmeyah citing Rebbi Shmuel bar Rebbi Yitzchak): May one check to the light of a torch?

Question: Is he doubtful as the light is not steady?

Answer: His doubt is based on whether a torch can adequately check all places like a candle (as he stated earlier).

Proof #1: There is an allusion to using a candle from the pasuk (Tzefania 1, 12), "And it shall be at this time that I will search Yerushalayim with candles''.

Proof #2 (Mishlei 20, 27): "The light of Hash-m is the soul of man; it searches out all of the chambers of the innards''.

(Rebbi Yosa): The Mishnah shows that it is acceptable to check in the daytime - 'Rebbi Yehudah says that one checks on the night of the 14th and on the 14th in the morning and at the time of Bi'ur (destroying the Chametz).

Objection: Even the Rabanan (of that Mishnah) would agree- "The Chachamim say that if one did not check on the night of the 14th he should check on the 14th''.

Query: If one checks in the daytime, should he use a candle?

Proof (Beraisa): 'One may not check by moonlight nor by sunlight, nor by the light of the stars - only by candlelight.' Moonlight and starlight are understandable [they are visible at night] but is there sunlight at night? This shows that the Beraisa is discussing checking in the daytime and it still requires using a candle.

Not only are we discussing a dark house but even a well lit house and even in the daytime one must check by candlelight.

Query: May one check dark alleyways using a candle in the daytime of the 14th (since the candle will provide its full benefit)?

Answer: From the words of the Rabbis we can learn that even in a dark place [in the daytime] the candle is not as beneficial as in the night.

Proof (Rav Huna): When we were hiding from the enemy in the caves of the Great Shul we would light candles. When the light of the candles was dim, we knew that it was daytime and when it was bright, we knew that it was night time.

Support (Rebbi Achaya bar Zeira): When Noach entered the Teivah he brought with him precious stones and diamonds. When their light was dim, he knew it was the daytime; when their light was bright, he knew that it was the night.

Question: Why did Noach need to know if it was day or night?

Answer: Some animals eat in the day and some in the night.

Question: The pasuk says "Tzohar taaseh lateivah'' - that there was a window. So why did Noach need the precious stones?

Answer: This follows the opinion that the luminaries did not serve during the flood.