Bechoros 25b

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Bekhorot 25b

Learn Bechoros 25b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Wool that fell off a blemished בכור before it died or was slaughtered: the מחלוקת between עקביא בן מהללאל and the חכמים, as reported by רבי יהודה and by רבי יוסי, plus the rule for wool that is only half-detached.

Overview

The משנה finishes רבי יהודה's version of an argument between עקביא בן מהללאל and the חכמים about hair that fell off a blemished בכור before it was slaughtered. רבי יוסי says the argument was really about a בכור that died. The משנה then rules on wool that is only dangling from the animal. The גמרא explains that in רבי יוסי's view everyone permits the wool when the animal was slaughtered, and ריש לקיש adds that the argument applies only where a מומחה had permitted the animal. רב ששת challenges ריש לקיש from a ברייתא about blemished animals mixed into a flock, where רבי יוסי says "יבקר." רב נחמן reads that ברייתא as being about mixed wool, and רבא defends ריש לקיש. In ארץ ישראל, רבי ירמיה rejects this reading and brings two versions of רבי יוחנן: the argument is about searching and not finding the blemished animal, or about searching and finding it. Each version is tied to an older argument about lost טומאה. The amud ends as the גמרא starts a new challenge to ריש לקיש from wool plucked off an unblemished בכור, which continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (23)

1. StatementThe Sages forbid it, in רבי יהודה's version
2. Statementרבי יוסי moves the argument to a case where the animal died
3. StatementWool that is still dangling from a firstborn
4. Challengeרבי יוסי's wording seems to imply something that makes no sense
5. ResolutionEveryone permits it if slaughtered; they argue only if it died
6. StatementThe argument applies only when an expert permitted the animal
7. Challengeרב ששת brings a ברייתא about blemished animals
8. QuestionWhat does 'let it be checked' mean?
9. ResponseThe ברייתא is about mixed wool, following each side's version
10. Challengeרב ששת's challenge: checking means checking the blemish
11. Resolutionרבא: checking means checking whether an expert permitted it
12. Rejectionרבי ירמיה rejects the Babylonian reading
13. StatementThe argument matches רבי מאיר and the Rabbis on impurity
14. StatementThe Rabbis: Dig until you reach untouched ground
15. StatementA second version: He searched and found
16. StatementThe lost grave in a field
17. QuestionWhy did רבי אסי not accept the first version?
18. ResponseA blemished animal cannot just disappear
19. ResolutionMaybe the blemish healed
20. QuestionWhy didn't רבי חייא בר אבא explain it like רבי אסי?
21. ResponseA field often has many graves, but checked animals don't suddenly get blemishes
22. Resolutionרבי אסי: animals gore each other, so blemishes are common
23. ChallengeChallenge from wool plucked off an unblemished בכור