Bechoros 43b

בכורות מ״ג ע״ב

Bekhorot 43b

Learn Bechoros 43b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Bechoros 43b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Levels of disqualification for a כהן, and the head, back, eyebrow, eye and nose blemishes of the משנה

Overview

The גמרא first sets out three levels of disqualification for a כהן. A real מום profanes the עבודה. A כהן who is שאינו שוה בזרעו של אהרן does not profane it, but he violates a עשה if he serves. A כהן kept out only because of מראית העין breaks no Torah law. Next the גמרא explains the unusual head and neck shapes listed in the משנה, and it narrows the dispute about a hump to a hump with no bone. רבא then gives two versions of which kind of bald כהן is disqualified. רבי יוחנן rules that bald כהנים, dwarves and כהנים with leaky eyes are truly disqualified, and after several challenges the גמרא explains that he is rejecting a ברייתא that follows רבי יהודה. A new משנה defines the גבן, and the גמרא reconciles it with a ברייתא and explains that 'two spines' means a crooked spine. A final משנה lists the חרום and several eye blemishes, and a ברייתא begins a dispute with רבי יוסי about what counts as a חרום. That dispute continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (30)

1. QuestionHow is a real blemish different from being unequal to other כהנים?
2. ResponseA real blemish profanes the service; being unequal does not
3. QuestionHow is being unequal different from a problem of appearance?
4. ResponseBeing unequal violates a positive commandment
5. StatementExplaining the pointed head and the turnip-shaped head
6. StatementExplaining the hammer head, the dent in front, and the missing piece in back
7. StatementA ברייתא about a short neck and a narrow neck
8. StatementWhere exactly the hump dispute lies
9. Statementרבא limits the bald priest rule: first version
10. Statementרבא's limit on the bald priest: second version
11. Statementרבי יוחנן lists three disqualified types
12. ChallengeWhy say bald and dwarf when the משנה already teaches them
13. ResolutionLeaky eyes are new, and the other cases are more than appearance
14. ChallengeThe משנה always says it openly when appearance is the reason
15. ResolutionMaybe one example was meant to cover all of them
16. ChallengeThe משנה repeats the label every time
17. Resolutionרבי יוחנן is rejecting a ברייתא
18. QuestionWho is the author of this ברייתא?
19. ResponseIt is רבי יהודה, who includes bald כהנים
20. StatementThe משנה's first definition of a גבן: no eyebrows
21. StatementTwo other definitions: flat eyebrows or two spines
22. ChallengeA ברייתא says גבן means many eyebrows
23. Resolutionרבא: the משנה means it is learned from 'או גבן'
24. ChallengeA creature with two spines cannot live
25. Resolutionרב: he means a crooked spine
26. StatementThe משנה defines a חרום
27. StatementThe משנה lists eye blemishes
28. StatementA ברייתא learns other nose blemishes from 'או חרום'
29. Statementרבי יוסי limits חרום
30. ChallengeThe חכמים say רבי יוסי went too far