Gemara Clarity

Bechoros 49b

בכורות מ״ט ע״ב

Bekhorot 49b

Learn Bechoros 49b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Bechoros 49b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Early פדיון הבן, whose redemption comes first (father or son), and the מנה צורי coin standard

Overview

This עמוד finishes the מחלוקת between רב and שמואל about a father who redeems his בכור before day thirty, after the כהן has already used up the coins. רב compares it to קידושין that take effect later. שמואל answers that a man can betroth a woman right now, but a father cannot redeem his son before day thirty, and the הלכה follows שמואל. Two challenges from the משנה are answered by saying the משנה means a case where the coins still exist on day thirty. Next, the גמרא discusses a man who must redeem both himself and his son: the רבנן put the father first, and רבי יהודה puts the son first. רבי ירמיה explains that with only five סלעים everyone agrees the father comes first. They argue only when there is both sold and free land, which depends on whether a תורה debt is like a loan written in a שטר. Finally, a new משנה teaches that פדיון הבן and other fixed תורה payments use the שקל הקודש by the מנה צורי, and three אמוראים explain what that coin standard is.

Opening lines

הָכָא נָמֵי לָא שְׁנָא.

Here too, it is no different.

וּשְׁמוּאֵל אָמַר לָךְ:

And Shmuel can say to you:

הָתָם — בְּיָדוֹ לְקַדְּשָׁהּ מֵעַכְשָׁיו,

There — it is in his power to betroth her from now,

הָכָא — אֵין בְּיָדוֹ לִפְדּוֹתוֹ מֵעַכְשָׁיו.

here — it is not in his power to redeem him from now.

The steps (25)

  1. Proofרב finishes his comparison to קידושין
  2. Rejectionשמואל shows why קידושין is different
  3. ConclusionThe halacha follows שמואל here
  4. ChallengeChallenge to שמואל from the משנה about a baby who died
  5. ResolutionThe משנה is about money still with the כהן
  6. ChallengeSecond challenge from the משנה about the father's death
  7. ResolutionSame answer: the coins still exist
  8. StatementA תנא recites a ברייתא saying early redemption works
  9. Challengeרב יהודה objects because שמואל said otherwise
  10. ConclusionThe halacha follows שמואל here, even though this is a ritual matter
  11. StatementNew topic: the father's own redemption comes before his son's
  12. Statementרבי יהודה says the son comes first
  13. Statementרבי ירמיה: with only five סלעים, everyone agrees the father comes first
  14. ResponseThe reason: a person's own מצוה takes priority
  15. StatementThe real dispute: sold land and free land
  16. Statementרבי יהודה's principle: a תורה debt is like a written loan
  17. StatementBoth redemptions get done: the father's from sold land, the son's from free land
  18. StatementThe רבנן's reasoning: a תורה debt is not like a written loan
  19. StatementNew משנה: the five סלעים of a בכור are measured by the מנה צורי
  20. StatementOther fixed תורה payments also use the שקל הקודש
  21. StatementAll may be paid with money or goods, except the מחצית השקל
  22. QuestionWhat is a מנה צורי?
  23. Responseרבי אסי: the מנה used in צור
  24. Responseרבי אמי: an Arabian דינר
  25. Responseרבי חנינא: five Syrian coins, eight to a דינר