1)

(a)The Mishnah states that, basically, all Yisrael have a portion in Olam ha'Ba (See Tos. Yom-Tov) - including someone who died at the hand of Beis-Din.

(b)'Olam ha'Ba' in this Mishnah refers to - the world after Techi'as ha'Meisim, where those who have earned it will arise body and Soul from the grave ...

(c)... and will live forever.

(d)do We learn this from the Pasuk in Yeshayah -"ve'Amech Kulam Tzadikim, Le'olam Yirshu Aretz Neitzer Mata'i, Ma'aseh Yadai Lehispa'er".

2)

(a)The Tzadikim in Olam ha'Ba will sit with their crowns on their heads and enjoy the Glory of the Shechinah.

(b)They will therefore neither need to eat or drink.

(c)The Tana writes 'a portion' - because each person will benefit according to his desert.

3)

(a)To be included among the exceptions who lose their portion in Olam ha'Ba, a person needs to deny that ...

1. ... Techi'as ha'Meisim - is mentioned in the Torah (See Tos. Yom-Tov) or that ...

2. ... Torah - is not Divine.

(b)The third exception is an 'Apikores' - (Someone who despises Talmidei-Chachamim, Kal-va'Chomer the itself [See also Tos. Yom-Tov]).

(c)Rebbi Akiva adds to the exceptions someone who reads 'Sefarim Chitzonim' - (i.e. Books written by heretics, such as those written by Aristotle).

(d)Besides history books about the ward of Nochri kings and love-story books, this includes - books that teach a person nothing and reading is a sheer waste of time (See Tos. Yom-Tov).

4)

(a)The Tana Kama concludes his list of exceptions with someone who says incantations over a wound (See Tos. Yom-Tov), and he quotes the Pasuk in Beshalach - "Kol ha'Machalah asher Samti be'Mitzrayim Lo Asim alecha".

(b)He is Chayav - provided he spits when he cites the Pasuk, and ...

(c)... he lose his portion in Olam ha'Ba - because of the prohibition against sspitting when mentioning the four-letter Name of Hash-m (Havayah).

(d)And Aba Shaul adds to the list someone who 'utters the Name of Hash-m with its letters' - by which he means that one reads it the way it is spelt.

5)

(a)The Tana Kama lists three kings - and four Hedyotos who lost their portion in Olam ha'Ba ...

(b)... in spite of the fact that they were all great and wise men.

(c)Two of the three kings are Yeravam and Achav. The third is - Menasheh (See Tos. Yom-Tov on each name).

6)

(a)According to Rebbi Yehudah - Menasheh does receive a portion in Olam ha'Ba.

(b)He learns this from the Pasuk in Divrei ha'Yamim, which states - Hash-m accepted his Tefilah and returned him to his throne in Yerushalayim.

(c)The Chachamim counter however - that if Hash-m returned him to his throne, it does not follow that he regained his portion in Olam ha'Ba.

(d)The first three Hedyotos on the Tana's list are Bil'am, Do'eg and Achitofel, the first three Hedyotos on the Tana's list are Bil'am, Do'eg and Achitofel, the fourth - Gechazi (See Tos. Yom-Tov on each name).

7)

(a)All of the above lost their portion in Olam ha'Ba - because they were lacking in Emunah.

(b)Even though the previous Mishnah specifically mentioned 'Yisrael', the Tana sees fit to preclude Bil'am from those who receive a portion in Olam ha'Ba - because although all of Yisrael initially receive a portion in Olam ha'Ba, the pious among the nations of the world receive a portion too ...

(c)... and the Tana is coming to teach us - that Bil'am does not belong to that group.

8)

(a)The Mishnah learns from the words ...

1. ... "Lo Yadon Ruchi" (in the Pasuk in Bereishis), in connection with the Dor ha'Mabul "Lo Yadon Ruchi ba'Adam Le'olam be'she'Gam hu Basar") - that the Dor ha'Mabul will neither merit Olam ha'Ba nor will they be judged (See Tos. Yom-Tov).

2. ... "Vayafetz Hash-m osam" and "u'mi'Sham Hefitzam Hash-m" (from the Pasuk in No'ach "Vayafetz Hash-m osam mi'Sham al-P'nei Chol ha'Aretz, u'mi'Sham Hefitzam Hash-m") - that the Dor Haflagah forfeited both this world and the World to Come.

3. ... "ve'Anshei S'dom Ra'im ve'Chata'im" (in the Pasuk in Lech-L'cha "ve'Anshei S'dom Ra'im ve'Chata'im la'hashem Me'od") - "Ra'im" 'in this world' and "Chata'im" 'in the World to Come (i.e. that they too, lost out in both worlds).

(b)The Tana Kama holds that the Anshei S'dom have to stand in judgement before Hash-m (See Tos. Yom-Tov). Rebbi Nechemyah however says, based on the Pasuk in Tehilim ...

1. ... "al-Kein Lo Yakumu Resha'im ba'Mishpat" and ...

2. ... "va'Chata'im ba'Adas Tzadikim" - that neither the Dor ha'Mabul, nor the Anshei S'dom (See Tos. Yom-Tov) will be judged.

(c)The Tana Kama counters this based on the very same Pasuk "va'Chata'im ba'Adas Tzadikim" - according to which he explains - that although the Anshei S'dom will not be judged in the congregation of the Tzadikim, they will be judged in the congregation of the Resha'im.

9)

(a)In similar vein, based on the words "Vayamusu ha'Anashim Motzi'ei Dibas ha'Aretz Ra'ah" and "ba'Mageifah lifnei Hash-m" (in the Pasuk in Sh'lach-L'cha), the Mishnah states that the Meraglim themselves - forfeited both this world and the next.

(b)And Rebbi Akiva says, based on the Pasuk there "ba'Midbar ha'Zeh Yitamu ve'Sham Yamusu" - that the Dor ha'Midbar too, forfeited both this world and the next.

(c)Whereas Rebbi Eliezer, based on the Pasuk in Tehilim (with reference to Matan Torah) "Isfu Li Chasidai Korsei alei Zavach" - maintains that seeing as the Pasuk refers to them as Chasidim, they will certainly receive a portion in Olam ha'Ba.

10)

(a)By the same token, Rebbi Akiva Darshens from the Pasuk in Korach "Va'techas aleihem ha'Aretz, Vayovdu mi'Toch ha'Kahal" - that the congregation of Korach forfeited both worlds.

(b)Whereas Rebbi Eliezer, based on the Pasuk in Shiras Chanah in Shmuel) "Hash-m Meimis u'Mechayeh, Morid She'ol Vaya'al" - maintains that they will arise at Techi'as ha'Meisim.

(c)And by the same token again, Rebbi Akiva Darshen from the Pasuk in Nitzavim "Vayashlichem el Eretz Acheres ka'Yom ha'Zeh" - that just as a day that has gone does not return (See Tos. Yom-Tov), so too will the Ten Tribes, who were sent into Galus not return (See Tos. Yom-Tov).

(d)Based on the same Pasuk, Rebbi Eliezer explains - that just as the day gets dark and then becomes light once again (See Tos. Yom-Tov), so too will the Ten Tribes be renewed when Olam ha'Ba arrives.

11)

(a)The Tana now discusses the Ir ha'Nidachas. Based on the Pasuk in Re'ei "Yatz'u Anashim B'nei Beliya'al mi'Kirbecha ... ", he learns from the acronym of the word "Beliya'al " ('B'li Ya'al') - that the Madichim do not receive a portion in Olam ha'Ba (See Tiferes Yisrael).

(b)And he learns from the continuation of the Pasuk ...

1. ... "Vayadichu es Yoshvei Iram" in this regard - that the same applies to the Nidachim.

2. ... "Vayadichu es Yoshvei Iram" - that the Madichim must be residents from the town, and from the word ...

3. ... the word "mi'Kirbecha" - that they must be members of the same tribe.

(c)From "Yoshvei Iram" the Tana learns that the majority of the city must be Mudachim, and he learn that if the Madichim are women or children it does not become an Ir ha'Nidachas - from the word "Anashim".

(d)This does not mean that those who served Avodah-Zarah are Patur from Misah - but that they are sentenced as individuals who serve Avodah-Zarah (as will be explained shotly).

12)

(a)The sinners sentenced to death only if each one has two witnesses and was warned (See Tos. Yom-Tov DH 'u'Tzerichin ... ' & 'le'Chol Echad ve'Echad').

(b)They appointed many Batei-Dinim, who judged all the sinners and placed them to one side. If they turned out to be the majority, they were taken to the Beis-Din ha'Gadol which finalized their Din and sentenced them to death.

(c)Whereas ...

1. ... Anshei Ir ha'Nidachas - are sentenced to death by the sword, individuals who serve Avodah-Zarah are sentenced to stoning.

2. ... the property of the former is destroyed, that of the latter is not.

13)

(a)When the Mishnah says that a mule or a donkey-train saves the town - it means that if they happen to be residing in the town at the time and are not among the Mudachin, then they are added to those who did not serve Avodah-Zarah to make-up a majority, if necessary.

(b)To be considered members of the town in this regard, they must have been in town - for thirty days.

(c)In the event that they too, served Avodah-Zarah - then they will added to the Nidachim, to make-up a majority.

(d)Besides the fact that the Tana prefers to deal with the side of merit, he might specifically mention them in this light - because they are more likely not to have participated in the communal Avodah-Zarah spree.

14)

(a)The Tana learns from the Pasuk "Hachareim osah ve'es Kol asher bah ve'es Behemtah l'fi Charev" - that even the property of the Tzadikim in the town must be destroyed, provided it is in the town (See Tos. Yom-Tov) ...

(b)... though the property of the Resha'im is destroyed wherever it is.

15)

(a)The Torah requires all the town's belongings to be gathered in the main square, as the Pasuk writes "ve'es Kol Shelalah Tikbotz el Toch Rechovah". Once it is there - it is burned together with the town.

(b)If the town does not have a main square - then one builds one.

(c)In connection with this Halachah, the Tana learns from the Pasuk there "Vesafrafta ba'Eish es ha'Ir ve'es Kol Shelalah Kalil la'Hashem Elokecha" - that if the main square is outside the town, then one moves it to the inside.

(d)And from the words "la'Hashem Elokecha", he exempts Hekdeishos from being burned.

16)

(a)Consequently ...

1. ... Hekdeshos that are in the town - must be redeemed (See Tiferes Yisrael) ...

2. ... T'rumah - is left to rot, and ...

3. ... Ma'aser Sheini and Sifrei Kodesh - are placed in Genizah (See Tos/ Yom-Tov).

(b)We establish that T'rumah refers to the property of the Kohen, which one does one not burn - because it is disrespectful to do so.

(c)T'rumah that is still in the hand of the original owner however - is considered Sh'lal Shamayim and must be given to Kohanim who live in other locations.

(d)Ma'aser Sheini is not burned - because it is Kodesh (See Tos. Yom-Tov).

17)

(a)Quoting Hash-m, Rebbi Shimon sayS, based on the Pasuk in Re'ei "Kalil le'Hashem Elokecha Lo Sibaneh Od" - that if one carries out the Din against Ir ha'Nidachas, then it is as if one has brought an Olah before Him.

(b)Rebbi Yossi ha'Gelili learns from the Pasuk "Vehaysah Teil Olam", that one is not even permitted to plant gardens and orchards in the location of the Ir ha'Nidachas. Based on the Pasuk there "Lo Sibaneh Od", Rebbi Akiva says - that one is not permitted to build it as a residential town as it was before, but that one may plant gardens and orchards.

(c)Rebbi Yossi ha'Gelili translates the word "Od" as - 'at all'.

(d)The Halachah is - like Rebbi Akiva.

(e)Based on the Pasuk "ve'Lo Yidbak be'Yadcha Me'umah min ha'Cheirem", Rebbi Shimon say about the Resha'im says - that as long as there are Resha'im (who steal from the booty that is supposed to be burned), Hash-m is angry; once they are destroyed His anger dissipates.