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Bechoros 14a

בכורות י״ד ע״א

Bekhorot 14a

Learn Bechoros 14a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Holy animals blemished before or after their הקדש: their status after פדיון, and the גמרא's inferences about the state before פדיון

Overview

This amud opens with a משנה comparing two kinds of blemished holy animals. If an animal had a permanent מום before it was made הקדש, only its money value was holy. Once redeemed, it becomes fully חולין, except for בכור and מעשר. If the הקדש came first, or the מום was only temporary at the time, the animal's body was holy. It keeps much of that holiness even after פדיון. The גמרא then reads the משנה closely. It infers that before פדיון, even קדושת דמים exempts an animal from בכורה and מתנות. It also suggests the ban on shearing and work before פדיון supports רבי אליעזר about בדק הבית animals, but rejects that proof. The ban might be only a decree for animals of the מזבח, made to prevent confusion. Finally, the גמרא works out that the permitted offspring were conceived before פדיון and born after it. So offspring born before פדיון are forbidden, and the discussion continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

מַתְנִי׳ כׇּל הַקֳּדָשִׁים שֶׁקָּדַם מוּם קָבוּעַ לְהֶקְדֵּשָׁן

MISHNA: All sacrificial animals in which a permanent blemish came before their consecration

וְנִפְדּוּ — חַיָּיבִין בַּבְּכוֹרָה וּבַמַּתָּנוֹת,

and they were redeemed, are obligated in the firstborn law and in the gifts,

וְיוֹצְאִין לְחוּלִּין לִיגָּזֵז וְלֵיעָבֵד,

and they go out to ordinary status, to be shorn and to be worked,

וְלָדָן וַחֲלָבָן מוּתָּר לְאַחַר פִּדְיוֹנָן.

and their offspring and their milk are permitted after their redemption.

The steps (11)

  1. StatementA blemish before consecration: once redeemed, the animal is fully ordinary
  2. StatementMore leniencies for the blemished-first animal, with בכור and מעשר as exceptions
  3. StatementConsecration before the blemish: the animal does not become fully ordinary
  4. StatementThe consecrated-first animal: offspring and milk forbidden, liability outside, תמורה, burial
  5. StatementBefore redemption, the animal is exempt from firstborn and gifts
  6. ProofShearing and work forbidden before redemption: support for רבי אליעזר?
  7. RejectionNo proof: the ban is a rabbinic decree only for animals of the altar
  8. QuestionWhich offspring does the משנה permit?
  9. RejectionNot offspring conceived after redemption, since that is obvious
  10. ResponseOffspring conceived before redemption but born after it
  11. StatementYoung born before redemption are forbidden