Bechoros 12b

בכורות י״ב ע״ב

Bekhorot 12b

Learn Bechoros 12b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Redeeming a פטר חמור: which animals may be used, suspicion of כהנים, a lamb or donkey that dies, and timing

Overview

The amud opens by finishing an earlier point: even according to רבי שמעון, פסולי המוקדשין cannot redeem a פטר חמור, because the Torah compares them to a deer and a hart. The גמרא then asks whether a בהמת שביעית may be used to redeem a פטר חמור. It narrows the question to a doubtful donkey according to רבי יהודה. רב חסדא answers that it may redeem a ספק but not a ודאי. רב חסדא also rules that a שביעית animal is exempt from בכורה but obligated in מתנות, because שביעית is 'לאכלה' and not for burning. That rule is defended against a משנה about חלה on שביעית dough. Next, a ברייתא teaches that כהנים are suspected of not redeeming firstborn donkeys. A new משנה argues about a redemption lamb or donkey that dies, and רבא explains that the פסוק compares a פטר חמור to a firstborn son only for redemption. The amud ends by settling when a פטר חמור is redeemed: ideally after thirty days, but an early redemption still works.

Opening lines

The steps (33)

1. RejectionEven for רבי שמעון, disqualified holy animals are like a deer and a hart
2. QuestionNew question: redeeming with an animal bought with Sabbatical produce
3. StatementA definite firstborn donkey is ruled out; the question is about a doubtful one
4. StatementThe question applies only according to רבי יהודה
5. QuestionIs setting aside a lamb that stays yours 'eating' or 'trade'?
6. Responseרב חסדא: a שביעית animal may redeem a doubtful donkey
7. StatementAnother ruling of רב חסדא: exempt from firstborn, obligated in gifts
8. StatementWhy: 'for eating' and not for burning
9. ChallengeA משנה about שביעית dough and חלה
10. ChallengeWhy should שביעית dough need חלה?
11. Resolutionחלה is different because of 'לדרתיכם'
12. ProofA ברייתא confirms the 'לדרתיכם' answer
13. ChallengeWhy not learn from חלה?
14. ResolutionMain purpose: eating versus burning
15. StatementThe משנה matches a ברייתא about giving the donkey to a כהן
16. Statementכהנים are suspected about firstborn donkeys
17. ChallengeIsn't that obvious?
18. ResolutionThe suspicion applies to every כהן
19. StatementNew משנה: the redemption lamb dies
20. StatementTestimony: if the redemption lamb dies, the כהן gets nothing
21. StatementIf the donkey dies: burial and who gets the lamb
22. Statementרב יוסף's source for רבי אליעזר: compare to a firstborn son
23. Challengeאביי: then the donkey should be permitted for use, but רבי אליעזר says bury it
24. ResolutionBurial is just like a firstborn son's burial
25. ChallengeBut every person needs burial, not only a firstborn
26. ChallengeAnother source shows רבי אליעזר treats the donkey as forbidden
27. Resolutionרבא limits the comparison to redemption only
28. StatementWhen valuations, firstborn sons, and firstborn donkeys are dealt with
29. ChallengeA contradiction: does a firstborn donkey wait thirty days?
30. ChallengeThe challenging ברייתא ends: one may add without limit
31. Resolutionרב נחמן: if redeemed early, the donkey is still redeemed
32. ChallengeThen an early-redeemed son would not be redeemed, but רב says he is
33. Resolutionרבא: redeeming a son 'from now' does not work