Bechoros 3a

בכורות ג׳ ע״א

Bekhorot 3a

Learn Bechoros 3a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Bechoros 3a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Fines for selling animals and slaves to a גוי, and how much gentile partnership exempts an animal from בכורה

Overview

This amud first finishes the attempt to prove that a Jew may not sell an animal's future offspring to a גוי. The proof is rejected, because the ברייתא is about a fetus that already exists, as the masculine word בדמיו shows. The גמרא then discusses the קנס for selling a בהמה גסה to a גוי. In one version ריש לקיש says the fine is up to ten times the value. In another version he says up to one hundred, and the גמרא compares this with רבי יהושע בן לוי's fine for selling an עבד. Next the גמרא returns to an animal owned jointly with a גוי. רבי יהודה and חכמים both learn their views from the words ״כל בכור״, and the גמרא gives two ways to explain how each side reads them. רב הונא says even a share in the ear exempts the animal. רב חסדא and רבא say the share must be in a vital part, and their dispute depends on whether a טריפה can live. רב פפא rules that a share in the animal and a share in its mother are treated the same. The amud ends as רבי אלעזר asks רבי אסי what was taught in the בית מדרש, and the answer continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (30)

1. ProofSuggesting the ברייתא refers to the mother animal
2. RejectionNo, the ברייתא refers to an existing fetus
3. ProofThe ברייתא's wording backs up the fetus reading
4. ProofThe ברייתא supports ריש לקיש's ten-times fine
5. QuestionIs 'ten times' an exact limit?
6. Proofרבי יהושע בן לוי's fine of up to one hundred for an עבד
7. RejectionA slave is different because he loses מצוות every day
8. StatementSecond version: ריש לקיש fines up to one hundred times
9. ChallengeThe ברייתא says only ten for receivership
10. ResolutionA sale cuts the animal off completely, receivership does not
11. QuestionIs 'one hundred' an exact maximum?
12. Proofרבי יהושע בן לוי fines the seller of a slave only ten
13. RejectionA slave is different: he does not come back
14. ChallengeThen the animal should cost only one more
15. ResolutionSelling a slave is rare, so חז"ל did not fully decree
16. StatementBoth sides learn from the same verse
17. StatementHow each side reads the word 'all'
18. StatementA second explanation: both agree on 'majority'
19. QuestionHow small can the gentile's share be?
20. ResponseEven owning just the ear is enough
21. ChallengeWhy not just give the gentile his ear?
22. StatementThe גוי's share must be in a vital part of the animal
23. QuestionWhat is the root of their disagreement?
24. ResponseCan a טריפה survive?
25. ResolutionA proposal that רב הונא does not argue with רב חסדא and רבא
26. Rejectionרב פפא: the mother also needs 'כל'
27. ConclusionThere is no difference between the two cases
28. ChallengeWhy should a vital part matter if non-viable newborns are still holy?
29. ResolutionThe real issue is a non-holy part mixed in, not viability
30. Questionרבי אלעזר asks רבי אסי what was taught in the study hall