Bava Basra 109b

בבא בתרא ק״ט ע״ב

Bava Batra 109b

Learn Bava Basra 109b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

The order of inheritance between the אב, the בת, and the brothers; why only the father's side counts as משפחה; and the story of יהונתן, the grandson of משה.

Overview

The גמרא first defends the reading of ״והעברתם״ that puts a בת ahead of the אב. It then asks each of the two derivations what it does with the other verse. ״שארו״ teaches that a husband inherits his wife, and ״והעברתם״ teaches רבי's rule that only a daughter moves land from one שבט to another. Next the גמרא asks how we know ״שארו״ means the father. רבא answers that only the father's side is called משפחה. A פסוק in שופטים seems to call a לוי ״ממשפחת יהודה״ through his mother. The גמרא explains that this man, יהונתן the grandson of משה, is linked to יהודה and to king מנשה because he worshipped idols like מנשה. From this come teachings that the corrupt are linked to the corrupt, and that a person should marry into a good family. The amud ends with the debate over whether פנחס also descended from יתרו.

Opening lines

The steps (23)

1. ChallengeMaybe the father comes before even a daughter
2. ResolutionThe word 'pass' would be unnecessary
3. QuestionWhat does the 'pass' side do with 'his kinsman'?
4. Response'His kinsman' teaches that a husband inherits his wife
5. QuestionWhat does the 'kinsman' side do with 'pass'?
6. Response'Pass' teaches that only a daughter moves land between tribes
7. QuestionHow do we know 'his kinsman' means the father?
8. ResponseThe verse calls a relative 'your father's kinswoman'
9. ChallengeBut 'kinswoman' is also used for the mother
10. ResolutionOnly the father's side is called 'family'
11. ChallengeA young man who was a Levite but 'of the family of Judah'
12. Resolution'Levi' was just his name
13. ChallengeWhy was Micah so happy to have 'the Levite'?
14. ResolutionMicah saw the name as a good sign
15. ChallengeBut his name was Jonathan
16. ResolutionYour reading has the same problem: he was Moses' grandson
17. ResolutionHe acted like מנשה, so the פסוק links him to מנשה and to יהודה
18. StatementThe corrupt are linked to the corrupt
19. ProofA different source: אדוניה is linked to אבשלום
20. StatementAlways attach yourself to good people
21. ChallengeDidn't פנחס also come from יתרו?
22. ResolutionNo, פוטיאל refers to יוסף, who fought his desire
23. ChallengeThe tribes mocked פנחס for his idol-fattening grandfather