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Bava Basra 117b

בבא בתרא קי״ז ע״ב

Bava Batra 117b

Learn Bava Basra 117b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

How ארץ ישראל was divided (by יוצאי מצרים, by באי הארץ, or by both), and רב פפא's questions to אביי on this

Overview

This amud finishes a ברייתא that brings two פסוקים together. It says ארץ ישראל was split according to both groups: those who left מצרים (יוצאי מצרים) and those who entered the land (באי הארץ). Someone who belonged to both groups took a share from each. The ברייתא then explains what happened to the portions of the sinners in the desert. יהושע and כלב took the portions of the מרגלים. The מתלוננים and עדת קרח lost their own share, but their sons inherited through their grandfathers. The גמרא asks how we know the פסוק 'לשמות מטות אבותם' is about יוצאי מצרים and not just the שבטים. It answers from 'ונתתי אתה לכם מורשה', which was said to the generation that left מצרים. A סימן then lists a series of questions רב פפא asked אביי. The first one begins here: the פסוק 'לרב תרבה נחלתו' fits the view that the land was divided by יוצאי מצרים. His challenge to the other view continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

לְאֵלּוּ וּלְאֵלּוּ נִתְחַלְּקָה הָאָרֶץ,

The land was divided to these and to those,

כְּדֵי לְקַיֵּים שְׁנֵי מִקְרָאוֹת הַלָּלוּ –

in order to uphold these two verses.

הָא כֵּיצַד?

How so?

הָיָה מִיּוֹצְאֵי מִצְרַיִם –

If he was from those who left Egypt,

The steps (6)

  1. StatementThe land was divided by both groups
  2. StatementThe portions of the מרגלים, the מתלוננים and עדת קרח
  3. ChallengeIs the verse really about those who left Egypt?
  4. ResolutionProof from 'I will give it to you as an inheritance'
  5. StatementA memory aid for the questions coming next
  6. Challengeרב פפא begins his question: the פסוק fits the יוצאי מצרים view