Beitzah 40b
ביצה מ׳ ע״ב
Learn Beitzah 40b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.
Open Beitzah 40b in Gemara Clarity
Topic
Closing the sugya of desert animals (מדבריות) and מוקצה on יום טוב: three answers to how רבי can treat desert animals as מוקצה, followed by the הדרן that ends מסכת ביצה.
Overview
The גמרא finishes a challenge. רבי (רבי יהודה הנשיא) told his son that רבי שמעון holds מוקצה only for גרוגרות וצמוקין, which are figs and grapes a person actively set aside to dry. So how can רבי treat desert animals (מדבריות) as מוקצה? The גמרא gives three answers. First, desert animals really are like drying figs and raisins, because the owner actively sent them away. Second, רבי was only reporting רבי שמעון's view and does not hold it himself. Third, רבי himself holds there is no מוקצה, and in the ברייתא he was arguing on the רבנן's own terms: at least agree that animals that come home at the first rainfall are domestic. The רבנן answered him, 'No, they are still desert animals.' Then the הדרן closes פרק משילין פירות and the whole מסכת ביצה.
Opening lines
אֶלָּא גְּרוֹגְרוֹת וְצִמּוּקִין בִּלְבַד!
except for dried figs and raisins alone!
אִיבָּעֵית אֵימָא: הָנֵי נָמֵי
If you want, say: these too
כִּגְרוֹגְרוֹת וְצִמּוּקִין דָּמֵי,
are like dried figs and raisins.
וְאִיבָּעֵית אֵימָא: לִדְבָרָיו דְּרַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן
And if you want, say: according to the words of Rabbi Shimon
The steps (5)
- ChallengeFinishing the challenge: מוקצה only for drying figs and raisins
- ResolutionFirst answer: desert animals are like figs and raisins
- ResolutionSecond answer: רבי was only reporting רבי שמעון's view
- ResolutionThird answer: רבי argued on the רבנן's own terms
- Conclusionהדרן: closing משילין פירות and מסכת ביצה