Bechoros 54b

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Bekhorot 54b

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

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Topic

Which animals and grains may be tithed together for מעשר, and how far apart flocks can be and still join for מעשר בהמה

Overview

The amud opens at the end of a challenge: why can't בקר and צאן be tithed one for the other? אביי answers from the word העשירי that each group gives its own tenth. Sheep and goats, though, are tithed together, because the one word צאן makes them a single group. The גמרא then asks why the word דגן does not likewise make all grains one group. אביי answers from the plural ראשיתם. רבא answers that the words בקר וצאן are extra, because חיה is already excluded by the גזירה שוה of תחת תחת and the separation of species comes from a קל וחומר. The word דגן, by contrast, is needed to exclude other crops. After a challenge from רב הונא בריה דרב נחמן and a second version of רבא's answer based on a היקש to מעשר דגן, the גמרא resolves an apparent contradiction in רבא's statements in two ways. Then a new משנה teaches that flocks join for מעשר בהמה within 16 מיל, that a middle flock can link flocks up to 32 מיל apart, and that according to רבי מאיר the ירדן divides them. The גמרא brings a source from ירמיהו and explains why the משנה mentions 32 מיל. It ends with רב and שמואל disputing how many animals the middle flock needs.

Opening lines

The steps (27)

1. ChallengeChallenge: let cattle and flock be tithed together
2. ResolutionThe word העשירי means each group gives its own tenth
3. ChallengeThen sheep and goats should also be separate
4. ResolutionThe word צאן makes all sheep and goats one group
5. ChallengeThen all grain should be one group too
6. Resolutionאביי: the plural ראשיתם separates the grains
7. Resolutionרבא: even without ראשיתם, grain is not one group
8. ProofWhy the word צאן really does unite sheep and goats
9. ChallengeObjection: the general phrase would include wild animals
10. ResolutionWild animals are already excluded by תחת תחת
11. ProofThe extra words בקר וצאן teach that sheep and goats are one kind
12. ConclusionThe word דגן is needed to exclude other crops
13. ChallengePerhaps cattle and sheep should be mixed together
14. Resolutionרבא also learns the separation from העשירי
15. ResolutionA second version: a היקש to grain tithe keeps cattle and sheep apart
16. Challengeרבא seems to contradict himself about the comparison
17. Resolutionרבא changed his mind
18. ResolutionOne of the statements was really said by רב פפא
19. StatementFlocks join for animal tithe within sixteen mil
20. Statementרבי מאיר: the Jordan River separates flocks
21. QuestionWhat is the source for the sixteen-mil rule?
22. ResponseA verse about one counter and the shepherd's sixteen-mil view
23. ChallengeDoes the 32 מיל line contradict the 16 מיל rule?
24. Resolution32 is mentioned only to set up the middle-flock case
25. QuestionHow many animals are needed to link the flocks?
26. Responseרב requires five in each group
27. Responseשמואל says even one in the middle is enough