Bechoros 4b

בכורות ד׳ ע״ב

Bekhorot 4b

Learn Bechoros 4b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Bechoros 4b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

How we know the לויים keep their exemption from בכורה for all generations, and how we know the wilderness redemption of firstborn donkeys was done with a שה (lamb).

Overview

The גמרא first learns from the word ״וְהָיוּ״ that the לויים stay exempt from בכורה in every generation. Next it asks how we know the firstborn donkeys of ישראל in the מדבר were redeemed with the לויים's lambs. A comparison to כסף is rejected, and a פסוק that joins בכור אדם with בכור בהמה טמאה proves it instead. רבי חנינא teaches that one לוי's lamb exempted several donkeys. אביי and a careful reading of ״בֶּהֱמַת הַלְוִיִּם תַּחַת בְּהֶמְתָּם״ prove this, and רבא shows it is the reason behind the משנה that lets one lamb be reused. Then רבי יוחנן and ריש לקיש argue whether firstborn born in the מדבר were holy. They trade proofs from a משנה about the firstborn doing the עבודה, a ברייתא about the day the משכן was set up, and a ברייתא about three places of holiness. רב פפא's question about the counting of the firstborn in the מדבר forces a new version of the dispute: both agree they became holy, and the question is whether that holiness stopped. ריש לקיש's side of this new version continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (39)

1. QuestionWhere do we learn the exemption lasts for later generations?
2. ResponseThe word 'shall be' means they stay as they are
3. QuestionHow do we know the redemption was done with a lamb?
4. Responseרב חסדא notes that both silver and lamb appear for later generations
5. ProofJust as silver was used then too, so was the lamb
6. ChallengeSilver is stronger because it redeems other holy things too
7. ProofA new source: the פסוק links firstborn people and firstborn non-kosher animals
8. StatementOne לוי's lamb redeemed several donkeys
9. Proofאביי's proof: the תורה counts extra people but not extra animals
10. ChallengeMaybe ישראל simply had few animals
11. ResolutionNo: בני ראובן and בני גד had huge flocks
12. ChallengeMaybe the לויים's ordinary animals matched ישראל's firstborn
13. ResolutionThe singular word בהמת shows one animal for many
14. ChallengeMaybe the singular word means a large group
15. ResolutionThe mismatched wording proves one redeemed many
16. ProofA משנה also supports redeeming many with one lamb
17. Conclusionרבי חנינא was explaining the reason for the משנה
18. StatementWere firstborn in the מדבר holy?
19. Proofרבי יוחנן's source: Sanctify to Me every firstborn
20. Proofריש לקיש's verse: firstborn sanctity begins only in the Land
21. Challengeרבי יוחנן objects: the firstborn did the service before the משכן
22. Resolutionריש לקיש answers: the משנה means the firstborn who left מצרים
23. ProofSupport: a baby under a year old cannot do the service
24. ChallengeWhy did רבי יוחנן ask at all?
25. Resolutionרבי יוחנן's real difficulty
26. ResolutionThose already holy stayed holy
27. ChallengeFirstborn animals were offered when the Mishkan was set up
28. ResolutionThose animals came out of Egypt
29. ProofThe wording 'that day' supports ריש לקיש
30. ChallengeSecond version: ריש לקיש uses the ברייתא against רבי יוחנן
31. ResolutionRead it as 'from that day onward'
32. QuestionWhat is the ברייתא teaching us?
33. ResponseObligatory offerings were not brought on a private altar
34. ProofA ברייתא: firstborn became holy in three places
35. RejectionThey were only commanded, not made holy
36. ChallengeBut in מצרים they surely were holy
37. ResolutionIn some places they became holy, in others not
38. Challengeרב פפא: the firstborn were counted in the מדבר
39. StatementRestating the dispute: did the holiness stop?