Bechoros 40a

בכורות מ׳ ע״א

Bekhorot 40a

Learn Bechoros 40a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

More blemishes of a בכור: the Temple measuring cubits, missing testicles, leg and hoof defects, and אילא's list of blemishes.

Overview

This amud opens in the middle of a משנה about the Temple's measuring cubits. In שושן הבירה there were two long cubits, one half an אצבע and one a full אצבע longer than משה's cubit. Workers were paid by the small measure and delivered work by the large one, so they would never commit מעילה. The גמרא explains that one long cubit was for silver and gold and the other for building. A second view links the ברייתא's אצבע to the flesh between a בכור's tail joints. A new משנה then deals with missing testicles, where רבי ישמעאל counts the sacs and רבי עקיבא presses to check. In the case of the hidden testicle, the גמרא shows that רבי יוחנן בן נורי's complaint was about eating קדשים outside. Further משניות and the גמרא on them cover leg and hoof blemishes, a broken leg bone, אילא's list with its three later-accepted additions, and the case of a lower jaw that sticks out.

Opening lines

The steps (37)

1. StatementThe two long cubits in שושן הבירה
2. StatementWhy the Temple kept a large and a small cubit
3. QuestionWhy were two long cubits needed?
4. ResponseOne cubit for gold and silver, one for building
5. StatementAnother view: the אצבע of flesh between the joints
6. StatementThe משנה lists missing testicles as a blemish
7. Statementרבי ישמעאל: go by the number of sacs
8. Statementרבי עקיבא: press the sac and see
9. StatementThe case of the testicle stuck to the loins
10. ChallengeWhy mention 'no testicles' at all?
11. ResolutionWords are missing: the real cases are about sacs
12. ResolutionThe corrected משנה continues: רבי ישמעאל and רבי עקיבא
13. Statementרבי יוסי's ברייתא: the case in פירן of בית מנחם
14. Statementרבי עקיבא and רבי יוחנן בן נורי trade sharp words
15. ChallengeBut the animal was properly slaughtered
16. ResolutionMaybe he meant טריפות
17. ChallengeBut this has nothing to do with טריפות
18. ResolutionHe really meant eating holy animals outside
19. StatementNew משנה: blemishes of the legs and thighs
20. StatementAn extra or missing hind leg makes the animal a טריפה
21. StatementRound hooves count even if they are split
22. StatementA ברייתא defines שחול and כסול
23. StatementA ברייתא defines the Torah's שרוע and קלוט
24. StatementA broken leg bone, and אילא's list in יבנה
25. Statementאילא adds three blemishes the Sages had not heard of
26. ConclusionA later court accepts the three blemishes
27. ChallengeHow can an unseen break be a blemish?
28. ResolutionYou can tell from how the animal walks
29. QuestionIs a round eye unusual for animals?
30. ChallengeA משנה in נדה suggests animals have round eyes
31. ResolutionBlack part versus white part of the eye
32. StatementA pig-like mouth does not need to be pointed
33. QuestionWhose view is 'the speaking part of the tongue'?
34. ResponseIt follows רבי יהודה
35. StatementNew משנה: an animal whose lower jaw sticks out
36. QuestionWhy does the משנה say 'And there was a story'?
37. ResponseThe story shows the dispute is only about the upper lip