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Bechoros 29b

בכורות כ״ט ע״ב

Bekhorot 29b

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

Open Bechoros 29b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Paying a בכור examiner, and what one may buy from people suspected about בכורות, שביעית, and תרומה

Overview

The amud first finishes the earlier משנה about paying a כהן examiner. It gives two ways he could become טמא: a trodden בית הפרס, whose טומאה is only מדרבנן, or other kinds of טומאה a כהן may contract that still stop him from eating תרומה. An elderly examiner who must ride a donkey is paid like an idle worker, and אביי explains that this means idle from his own particular job. Then a new משנה lists what one may not buy from someone suspected about בכור animals: not even deer meat, untanned hides, or raw wool. Spun thread and garments are allowed, and רבי אליעזר also allows female hides. The גמרא explains each rule, including the argument over whether a seller could fake a female hide by blaming mice. It also shows that the 'extra' words in the משנה mean wool cleaned of its dirt, and felt. Two more משניות follow. One covers a person suspected about שביעית, where 'woven' means braided chains. The other covers a person suspected of selling תרומה as חולין, where רבי שמעון's wording includes fish innards mixed with olive oil. A story about a suspected butcher begins and continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

וְרַב יְהוּדָה בַּר אַמֵּי מִשְּׁמֵיהּ דְּרַב יְהוּדָה אָמַר:

And Rav Yehuda bar Ami said in the name of Rav Yehuda:

בֵּית הַפְּרָס שֶׁנִּידַּשׁ טָהוֹר.

A beit haperas that has been trodden down is pure.

אִי נָמֵי:

Alternatively:

בִּשְׁאָר טוּמְאוֹת,

it is with other impurities,

The steps (27)

  1. StatementA trodden field of graves is pure
  2. ResolutionOr he became impure through other kinds of impurity
  3. StatementAn elderly examiner is paid like an idle worker
  4. Statementאביי: idle from his own particular work
  5. StatementNew משנה: what not to buy from a suspect
  6. Statementרבי אליעזר allows hides of female animals
  7. StatementRaw wool is forbidden, spun thread and garments are allowed
  8. ResponseWhy deer meat is forbidden
  9. StatementInference that tanned hides may be bought
  10. ResponseWhy tanned hides are trusted
  11. QuestionAsking the reason for רבי אליעזר's ruling
  12. ResponseA female hide is easy to recognize
  13. QuestionWhy does the תנא קמא disagree
  14. ResponseThe תנא קמא fears a trick: blaming mice
  15. QuestionWhy is רבי אליעזר not worried about the trick
  16. ResponseMouse damage can be recognized
  17. ChallengeWhy mention dirty wool after bleached wool?
  18. ResolutionIt is one case: wool cleaned of its dirt
  19. ChallengeWhy mention garments after spun thread?
  20. ResolutionGarments here means felt
  21. StatementNew משנה: the person suspected about שביעית
  22. ChallengeWhy mention woven goods after spun thread?
  23. ResolutionWoven here means braided chains
  24. StatementNew משנה: buying from someone suspected about תרומה
  25. QuestionWhat does רבי שמעון's wording add?
  26. ResponseIt includes fish innards mixed with olive oil
  27. StatementA story begins about a suspected butcher