Bechoros 11a

בכורות י״א ע״א

Bekhorot 11a

Learn Bechoros 11a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Redeeming a פטר חמור: the lamb's value, redeeming with money, who owns the redeemed donkey, and tithing the lambs

Overview

The amud opens by finishing the חכמים's point: the verse requiring a שקל is only about השג יד. רב נחמן rules like the חכמים, and רב יוסף says even a skinny lamb worth a tiny coin can redeem a פטר חמור. רבי טרפון then gives three levels of giving, and רבא rules that the lamb should be worth a רגיא (three זוזים). The גמרא settles the clash between the two rulings: a רגיא is what we tell someone who asks first, but a cheap lamb still works after the fact. ריש לקיש allows redeeming the donkey with money equal to its value, and רבינא shows that even רבי יהודה agrees, since 'lamb' is only a leniency. Next, the גמרא asks who owns a donkey that an outsider redeemed. It proves from a thief's כפל payment that a פטר חמור is not like הקדש, so the donkey stays with the owner. The amud then explains when the redemption lamb is tithed, and brings רב נחמן's rulings about inheriting donkeys and untithed produce through a grandfather who was a כהן. It ends by starting a new ruling about someone who buys טבל, which continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (41)

1. ResolutionThe shekel verse is about affordability only
2. Statementרב נחמן rules like the חכמים
3. QuestionHow little can the lamb be worth?
4. ResponseEven a skinny lamb worth a tiny coin
5. Proofרבא finds support in the משנה
6. ChallengeIsn't this obvious?
7. ResolutionFirst answer: such a low value might be rejected
8. ResolutionSecond answer: a skinny lamb might be rejected
9. Questionרבי יהודה נשיאה asks רבי טרפון
10. Responseרבי טרפון's three levels of giving
11. Statementרבא rules the lamb should be worth a רגיא
12. QuestionHow much is a רגיא worth?
13. ResponseA רגיא is three זוזים, close to both sides
14. ChallengeTwo rulings seem to contradict each other
15. ResolutionOne ruling is advice beforehand, the other is after the fact
16. StatementNo lamb? Redeem the donkey with its value in money
17. QuestionWhose opinion does ריש לקיש follow?
18. RejectionIt cannot follow רבי יהודה
19. ResponseIt follows רבי שמעון
20. Statementרב אחא teaches it this way
21. Challengeרבינא: the הלכה follows רבי יהודה
22. ChallengeAn unattributed משנה follows רבי יהודה, so how can the הלכה follow רבי שמעון?
23. ResolutionEven רבי יהודה agrees, because a firstborn donkey is no stricter than consecrated property
24. Proofרב נחמן redeemed a donkey with boiled vegetables
25. StatementRedeeming someone else's firstborn donkey works
26. QuestionWho owns the redeemed donkey, the redeemer or the owner?
27. ResponseThe question only arises according to רבי יהודה
28. QuestionThe two sides of the question: like consecrated property or not?
29. ProofA thief who steals a firstborn donkey pays double
30. QuestionThe ברייתא must follow רבי יהודה
31. ConclusionNo double payment for consecrated property, so the donkey is not like it
32. QuestionWhen does the redemption lamb get tithed?
33. RejectionIt cannot be a lamb the priest received
34. ResponseAn Israelite with ten doubtful firstborn donkeys
35. ProofThe ברייתא supports רב נחמן
36. StatementTen definite firstborn donkeys passed down through the family
37. StatementThe grandson redeems the donkeys and keeps the lambs
38. StatementThe same rule for inherited untithed produce
39. ResolutionWhy the donkey ruling alone is not enough
40. ResolutionWhy the produce ruling cannot teach the donkey ruling
41. StatementA new ruling about someone who buys untithed produce