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Bava Basra 119b

בבא בתרא קי״ט ע״ב

Bava Batra 119b

Learn Bava Basra 119b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

משה's doubt about בנות צלפחד and ownership of ארץ ישראל, honoring a student before his teacher, and the three praises of בנות צלפחד

Overview

This amud finishes רבי שמעון השקמוני's teaching that good things come about through worthy people, which is why the inheritance laws came through בנות צלפחד. The גמרא then asks: if ארץ ישראל already counted as owned by those who left מצרים, what was משה unsure about? It answers that this was exactly his doubt, from the word 'מורשה'. The resolution is that both readings are true, and the song at the sea ('תביאמו', 'bring THEM') supports this. Next, the גמרא asks why the daughters would go to the נשיאים after משה. רבי יאשיה reverses the order of the פסוק. אבא חנן says everyone sat together in the בית המדרש. Their argument turns on whether a student may be honored in his teacher's presence, and the הלכה depends on whether the teacher himself honors the student. Finally, a ברייתא praises בנות צלפחד as wise, skilled interpreters, and righteous. The גמרא explains each praise, and since they married at forty, it says a miracle let them have children, like יוכבד.

Opening lines

שֶׁמְּגַלְגְּלִים זְכוּת עַל יְדֵי זַכַּאי,

that merit is brought about through one who is worthy,

וְחוֹבָה עַל יְדֵי חַיָּיב.

and liability through one who is guilty.

וְאִי סָלְקָא דַּעְתָּךְ

And if it enters your mind

אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל מוּחְזֶקֶת,

that ארץ ישראל was already held in their possession,

The steps (24)

  1. StatementGood things come through good people
  2. ChallengeIf the land was already owned, what was משה unsure about?
  3. Resolutionמשה's doubt was this very question
  4. ResponseBoth readings are true
  5. Proof'You will bring THEM': an unknowing prophecy
  6. ChallengeWhy would they go to the princes after משה?
  7. ResolutionRead the verse in reverse order
  8. ResolutionEveryone was sitting together in the study hall
  9. QuestionWhat is the root of their disagreement?
  10. ResponseHonoring a student in front of his teacher
  11. ConclusionTwo rulings stated on the same question
  12. ChallengeThe two rulings contradict each other
  13. ResolutionIt depends on whether the teacher honors the student
  14. StatementThe three praises of בנות צלפחד
  15. StatementThey were wise because they spoke at the right moment
  16. ProofProof: they spoke up while משה taught about יבום
  17. StatementThey were interpreters: 'If he had a son, we would not have spoken'
  18. ChallengeA ברייתא says 'daughter' instead of 'son'
  19. Resolutionרבי ירמיה: remove the word 'daughter'
  20. Resolutionאביי: 'daughter' means a son's daughter
  21. StatementThey were righteous: they married only fitting men
  22. StatementEven the youngest married at forty or older
  23. ChallengeHow could women who married at forty have children?
  24. ResolutionA miracle happened for them, like for יוכבד