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Bechoros 54a

בכורות נ״ד ע״א

Bekhorot 54a

Learn Bechoros 54a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Bechoros 54a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Why one may not tithe one kind of produce to cover another: wine and grain, all other species, and the start of a challenge from מעשר בהמה.

Overview

The גמרא already has a verse showing that you cannot tithe wine to cover oil. It asks how we know the same rule for wine and grain, or for two kinds of grain. It answers with a קל וחומר based on כלאים. That קל וחומר seems to fail according to רבי יאשיה's view of כלאים, so the גמרא rewords it to work for him too, using כלאים that happen 'through something else.' Next it asks about other species, like beans and lentils. It answers that their tithing is only דרבנן, and the רבנן made their rules match the Torah's rules. Finally, רבא בר רב חנן begins a challenge to אביי from מעשר בהמה, where the verse writes 'tithe' only once for both cattle and sheep. The challenge is completed on the next amud.

Opening lines

אַשְׁכְּחַן תִּירוֹשׁ וְיִצְהָר,

We found a source for wine and oil;

תִּירוֹשׁ וְדָגָן

wine and grain,

דָּגָן וְדָגָן מִנַּיִן?

or grain and a different grain: from where do we know?

קַל וָחוֹמֶר:

It is learned by an a fortiori argument:

The steps (7)

  1. QuestionWe have a source for wine and oil, but what about grain?
  2. ResponseA קל וחומר from the laws of כלאים
  3. ChallengeThis argument does not work for רבי יאשיה
  4. ResolutionRebuilding the קל וחומר: כלאים 'through something else'
  5. QuestionWhat about other species in general?
  6. ResponseRabbinic tithes follow the Torah's pattern
  7. Challengeרבא בר רב חנן begins a challenge from מעשר בהמה