Bechoros 42b

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Bekhorot 42b

Learn Bechoros 42b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Is a טומטום a doubtful male or female? Telling the gender of a טומטום animal, the principle 'since it has changed, it has changed,' and יבום with the wife of a טומטום.

Overview

The גמרא first shows that everyone agrees a טומטום is really male or female, not a separate creature. The real argument is about a טומטום animal that urinates from the female place. The רבנן worry its male organ may be turned inward, while רבי שמעון בן יהודה does not, matching רבי אלעזר's ruling that such an animal is חולין. רבי יוחנן objects that רבי אלעזר follows one opinion, the רבנן בתראי, against two. The גמרא explains that רבי אלעזר relies on ריש לקיש: in an animal, unlike a person, the place of urination shows whether it is male or female. רב אושעיא asks whether we should worry the organ was flipped. One answer ties that worry to רבי מאיר. Another says even the רבנן might worry, because 'since it has changed, it has changed.' The גמרא then tests whether two ברייתות about יבום with a טומטום's wife argue about this principle. It concludes that they really follow רבי אליעזר and רבי עקיבא, with the רבי עקיבא ברייתא matching רבי יוסי ברבי יהודה, who treats a טומטום as only a possible סריס חמה. The amud ends by asking how רבי יהודה and his son differ in practice, and רבא's answer comes on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (26)

1. QuestionDoes רבי שמעון בן יהודה say a טומטום is a separate creature?
2. ResponseEveryone agrees the only doubt is male or female
3. ResponseThe real argument: urinating from the female place
4. Proofרבי אלעזר rules like the side that does not worry
5. Challengeרבי יוחנן is puzzled by רבי אלעזר's ruling
6. ChallengeWhy not mention the later Sages too, based on רב חסדא?
7. Resolutionרבי יוחנן does not agree with רב חסדא
8. ChallengeThen רבי אלעזר simply follows the later Sages
9. ResolutionHow can you leave two opinions and follow one?
10. QuestionWhat is רבי אלעזר's reasoning?
11. Responseריש לקיש: a טומטום is only a doubt in humans
12. Challengeרב אושעיא: maybe the organ was flipped
13. ResolutionThat worry follows רבי מאיר, who worries about rare cases
14. RejectionEven the רבנן might worry: once it has changed, it has changed
15. QuestionIs 'it has changed' a dispute between תנאים?
16. ProofThe ברייתא: a טומטום's קידושין
17. ProofTwo teachings that disagree about the wife of a טומטום
18. StatementAssuming both teachings follow רבי עקיבא
19. ProofThe suggestion that the teachings argue about 'since it changed, it changed'
20. RejectionBoth ברייתות agree; the dispute is רבי אליעזר versus רבי עקיבא
21. QuestionWhich תנא follows רבי עקיבא here?
22. ChallengeIt cannot be רבי יהודה, who treats a טומטום as a definite סריס
23. ResponseThe ברייתא follows רבי יוסי ברבי יהודה
24. ChallengeCouldn't the opened טומטום turn out to be female?
25. Resolution'Perhaps' covers two doubts
26. QuestionWhat is the practical difference between them?