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Bava Basra 122b

בבא בתרא קכ״ב ע״ב

Bava Batra 122b

Learn Bava Basra 122b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

The burial town of יהושע and כלב's portion, then a new משנה comparing sons and daughters in inheritance, and how big the בכור's double portion is.

Overview

The amud opens by finishing an earlier discussion of people who received land outside the lottery. The גמרא notes that יהושע's burial town is called 'סרח' in one פסוק and 'חרס' in another, and explains that the two names describe its fruit at different stages. It then shows that כלב received חברון. Since חברון was an עיר מקלט, אביי explains that כלב got only the surrounding fields. Next comes a new משנה: son and daughter are alike in inheritance, but a בכור's double portion and the daughters' support come only from the father's estate. The גמרא asks what 'alike' means. It rejects three readings, from רב נחמן בר יצחק, רב פפא and רב אשי, because each either repeats another משנה or fails to explain the word 'אלא'. Finally, מר בר רב אשי explains that sons and daughters inherit from both parents, and the בכור's double portion comes only from the father's estate. A ברייתא then begins to discuss whether the double portion is double one heir's share or two-thirds of the whole estate.

Opening lines

כְּתִיב: ״סֶרַח״,

It is written: 'Serah',

וּכְתִיב: ״חֶרֶס״!

and it is written: 'Heres'!

אָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר:

Rabbi Elazar said:

בַּתְּחִלָּה פֵּירוֹתֶיהָ כְּחֶרֶס,

at first its fruits were like clay,

The steps (23)

  1. ChallengeTwo different names for יהושע's burial town
  2. Resolutionרבי אלעזר: the fruits changed from hard to overripe
  3. ResolutionAnother version: the fruits changed from spoiling to long-lasting
  4. Statementכלב also received a special portion: חברון
  5. ChallengeBut חברון was a city of refuge
  6. Resolutionאביי: כלב got only the outskirts
  7. StatementNew משנה: son and daughter in inheritance, and two differences
  8. QuestionWhat does 'son and daughter are alike' mean?
  9. ChallengeThey can't inherit together, because a son comes first
  10. Resolutionרב נחמן בר יצחק: Both inherit 'due' property like owned property
  11. ChallengeThis was already taught in the case of בנות צלפחד
  12. ChallengeHis reading doesn't fit the word 'but'
  13. Resolutionרב פפא: Son and daughter both receive the firstborn's share
  14. Challengeרב פפא's reading repeats an earlier משנה
  15. Challengeרב פפא's reading cannot explain the word 'but'
  16. Resolutionרב אשי: a father may give everything to one child
  17. ChallengeThis is רבי יוחנן בן ברוקא's view, taught later
  18. RejectionAn unattributed ruling followed by a dispute does not set the halacha
  19. ChallengeThe word 'but' still makes no sense under רב אשי
  20. Resolutionמר בר רב אשי: son and daughter both inherit from father and mother
  21. StatementA ברייתא: the double portion is double what one heir gets
  22. QuestionDouble one share, or two-thirds of everything?
  23. ProofOpening a logical argument