Gemara Clarity

Bechoros 41b

בכורות מ״א ע״ב

Bekhorot 41b

Learn Bechoros 41b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Bechoros 41b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Whether רבי ישמעאל is certain that an אנדרוגינוס is a בכור, and רב חסדא's view that a טומטום is a doubtful male or female

Overview

In the משנה, רבי ישמעאל rules that a firstborn אנדרוגינוס (an animal with both male and female organs) may be slaughtered, because there is no greater מום than this. רבא asks whether רבי ישמעאל is sure that an אנדרוגינוס is a male בכור, or whether he is only unsure and means 'even if it is a בכור, it has a מום.' The גמרא explains that the answer matters for מלקות for shearing or working the animal, and for whether a כהן can demand it. A ברייתא of רבי אילעאי is brought as proof, but it is pushed off. A second ברייתא learns from an extra 'זכר' by the עולה that a טומטום and an אנדרוגינוס are excluded. The גמרא argues that this ברייתא must be רבי ישמעאל's, which would prove he was certain. That proof falls when the גמרא shows that the רבנן בתראי also have two 'זכר' words by בכור. Next, רב חסדא says the חכמים argue only about an אנדרוגינוס, while everyone agrees a טומטום is a doubtful male or female and is holy out of doubt. רבא challenges him: if so, a טומטום should be valued in ערכין.

Opening lines

בָּעֵי רָבָא: מַאי טַעְמָא דְּרַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל?

Rava asked: What is the reason of Rabbi Yishmael?

מִיפְשָׁט פְּשִׁיטָא לֵיהּ

Is it completely obvious to him

אַנְדְּרוֹגִינוֹס בְּכוֹר הוּא וּמוּמוֹ עִמּוֹ,

that a hermaphrodite is a firstborn, and its blemish comes with it,

אוֹ דִילְמָא סַפּוֹקֵי מְסַפְּקָא לֵיהּ,

or perhaps he is unsure about it,

The steps (12)

  1. Questionרבא asks what רבי ישמעאל's reasoning is
  2. QuestionWhat difference does it make?
  3. ResponseThe difference: lashes, and giving it to the priest
  4. ProofProof from רבי אילעאי's report of רבי ישמעאל
  5. RejectionRejection: he may still mean 'if you say'
  6. ProofA new source: the extra 'male' in the burnt offering
  7. QuestionWhose opinion is the ברייתא? Not the first תנא
  8. ChallengeNot the latter Rabbis either, since they use only one verse
  9. ProofIt must be רבי ישמעאל, which proves he was certain
  10. RejectionReally the latter Rabbis, since בכור also has two verses
  11. StatementThe argument is only about the hermaphrodite
  12. ChallengeThen a טומטום should be valued in ערכין