Bechoros 29a

בכורות כ״ט ע״א

Bekhorot 29a

Learn Bechoros 29a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Bechoros 29a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Paying an expert examiner of a בכור, and why taking pay to judge, testify, or sprinkle the פרה אדומה water cancels the act

Overview

The amud opens at the end of a משנה about paying an examiner of a בכור. An approved expert like אילא in יבנה may charge four איסרים for a small animal and six for a large one, and he is paid whether he finds it תם or בעל מום. The גמרא explains that a large animal takes more work to check. It also explains that he is paid either way so no one suspects him of inventing blemishes for money, and that he is paid only once per animal so he has no reason to delay. A new משנה rules that taking pay to judge, testify, or sprinkle and prepare the פרה אדומה water cancels the act. However, making up real losses, such as food for a כהן who became טמא, a ride for an old man, or lost work time, is allowed. The גמרא learns from משה רבינו that תורה is taught for free, and a ברייתא adds that one may pay to learn but never charge to teach. אביי resolves a contradiction with the משנה in קידושין: pay for carrying and filling is allowed, but pay for sprinkling and mixing is not. Finally, the גמרא explains that the כהן could have gone into a בית הפרס, which is only forbidden מדרבנן and may be crossed by blowing on the dust.

Opening lines

The steps (22)

1. Statementאילא in יבנה may take a fixed wage
2. QuestionWhy the different prices?
3. ResponseA large animal takes more work
4. ChallengeWhy pay him for an unblemished animal?
5. ResolutionOtherwise people would suspect him
6. ChallengeThe same suspicion works the other way
7. ResolutionHe is paid only once per animal
8. StatementPaid judges, witnesses, and purifiers make their acts worthless
9. StatementCovering real losses is allowed
10. QuestionAsking for the source
11. ResponseAs משה taught for free, so must we
12. ProofA ברייתא teaches the same
13. StatementIf no free teacher exists, pay to learn
14. StatementPaying to learn does not allow charging to teach
15. StatementThe משנה: Paid sprinkling makes the waters worthless
16. ChallengeContradiction: A man may make קידושין with purification water
17. Resolutionאביי: Pay for carrying is allowed, pay for sprinkling is not
18. ProofThe wording of both משניות supports אביי
19. StatementThe משנה: A כהן who was made טמא
20. ChallengeHow could the כהן go somewhere that made him טמא?
21. ResolutionHe went into a field that is only forbidden by the Rabbis
22. ProofYou may blow on the ground and walk through a בית הפרס