Bechoros 3b

בכורות ג׳ ע״ב

Bekhorot 3b

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

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Topic

Two rulings of רבי יוחנן: a גוי's share in an animal makes it exempt from בכורה even if that share is only a מום קל, and a mixed-looking firstborn (a goat-like lamb) counts as having a מום קבוע. The גמרא accepts the first ruling and asks what new point the second one teaches.

Overview

This amud opens with two rulings of רבי יוחנן. First, a גוי's share in an animal cancels its בכורה even if removing that share would cause only a מום קל. Second, a firstborn that looks like a different species but has some of its mother's features has a מום קבוע and may be slaughtered. The גמרא accepts that the first ruling sides with רב הונא, but asks what the second one adds, since משניות already count a pig-like mouth and uneven eyes as blemishes. It answers that an eye as big as a calf's is a מום because the animal is a שרוע. It tries to support this from the person-only blemishes of a כהן, but rejects that proof: one big eye and one small eye could also be a plain שינוי, since health or weakness would affect both eyes equally. The גמרא then turns to partnership with a גוי. רבא tells a convert that nobody follows רבי יהודה, who says such a partnership is obligated in בכורה. רב מרי בר רחל sold the ears of his firstborns to a גוי, and his flock died. The גמרא gives two reasons: he removed even the כהן's holiness, which goes further than blemishing a fetus; or others might copy him without a proper sale. A new משנה then teaches that כהנים and לוים are exempt from פטר חמור, by a קל וחומר from the מדבר.

Opening lines

The steps (23)

1. Statementרבי יוחנן: even a slight blemish is enough
2. Statementרבי יוחנן on a lamb that looks like a goat
3. QuestionThe first ruling clearly teaches something new
4. ChallengeWhat does the permanent-blemish ruling add?
5. ResolutionA suggested difference: pig versus goat
6. RejectionThat too was already taught: one big eye, one small
7. ProofA calf-sized eye seems to prove that any change counts as a מום
8. RejectionNo — the large eye is a מום because it is a שרוע
9. ProofSupport from the משנה about blemishes found only in a person
10. ProofWhy two equal odd-sized eyes is a מום only for a person
11. ProofSo the one-big-one-small eye must be a שרוע
12. RejectionThe גמרא rejects the proof: the reason could still be change
13. ResolutionWhy two big or two small eyes are not a real change
14. Statementרבא tells a convert she need not worry about firstborn status
15. Statementרב מרי בר רחל transfers the ears to a גוי, and his animals die
16. ChallengeWhy sell the ears if he treated them as firstborns anyway?
17. ResolutionHe wanted to keep the kohanim from sinning
18. ChallengeIf his intent was good, why was he punished?
19. ResolutionHe was punished for removing their holiness
20. ChallengeBut רב יהודה allows blemishing a firstborn before birth
21. ResolutionA blemish removes only altar holiness, but the sale removed the priest's holiness too
22. ResolutionSecond reason: others might copy רב מרי without a proper sale
23. Statementמשנה: כהנים and לוים are exempt, by a קל וחומר