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Bava Basra 108a

בבא בתרא ק״ח ע״א

Bava Batra 108a

Learn Bava Basra 108a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

The end of the ditches discussion and the close of פרק בית כור. Then the opening of פרק יש נוחלין: its משנה on four inheritance groups and the גמרא's question about the order of the משנה's list.

Overview

First, the גמרא finishes a discussion from the previous page about two ditches dug to keep wild animals from jumping in: a larger חריץ and a smaller בן חריץ. It asks why both are needed. A wide ditch alone lets the animal stand inside it and jump. A narrow ditch alone lets the animal stand on its edge and jump. So both are dug, one טפח apart. Then a הדרן closes פרק בית כור, and a new chapter, פרק יש נוחלין, begins. Its משנה sorts relatives into four groups: those who inherit both ways, those who only receive, those who only pass on, and those who do neither. The גמרא then asks why the משנה lists the father inheriting from his sons before the sons inheriting from the father. It gives a first reason the sons should come first: we do not open with misfortune. The rest of the question continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא תְּהֵא חַיָּה קוֹפֶצֶת.

so that a wild animal will not jump.

וְלַעֲבֵיד חָרִיץ –

But let him make a (large) ditch

וְלָא לַעֲבֵיד בֶּן חָרִיץ!

and not make a small ditch!

אַיְּידֵי דְּרָוַוח,

Since it is wide,

The steps (15)

  1. StatementThe ditches stop animals from jumping in
  2. ChallengeWhy not dig only the big ditch?
  3. ResolutionA wide ditch lets the animal stand inside and jump
  4. ChallengeThen why not dig only the small ditch?
  5. ResolutionA narrow ditch lets the animal stand on its edge and jump
  6. QuestionHow far apart are the two ditches?
  7. ResponseOne handbreadth apart
  8. Conclusionהדרן — Closing פרק בית כור
  9. StatementFour kinds of inheritance relationships
  10. StatementRelatives who inherit both ways
  11. StatementRelatives who inherit but do not pass on
  12. StatementRelatives who pass on but do not inherit
  13. StatementMaternal brothers: neither way
  14. ChallengeWhy does the משנה list the father inheriting from his sons first?
  15. ChallengeFirst reason: we do not open with something sad