Bechoros 55a

בכורות נ״ה ע״א

Bekhorot 55a

Learn Bechoros 55a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

מעשר בהמה: when distant flocks join, why the יַרְדֵּן divides them, and the 'sources' of rivers, blood and water

Overview

This amud deals with מעשר בהמה and when flocks in different places join together to make a count of ten. A ברייתא seems to refute רב, who needs five animals in the middle, but שמואל reads it in a way that fits רב. רב פפא adds that according to שמואל even the shepherd or his tools in the middle join the flocks, and רב אשי's question about the shepherd's dog ends in תיקו. The גמרא then turns to רבי מאיר's rule that the יַרְדֵּן separates flocks. רבי אמי says this is because the animals cannot cross, so a bridge would join them. רבי חייא בר אבא in the name of רבי יוחנן says instead that a פסוק makes the יַרְדֵּן a border, and רבי אמי's view is left with a קשיא. The גמרא brings a dispute between תנאים on whether the יַרְדֵּן is ארץ כנען, and teaches that the river is only called יַרְדֵּן from בית ירחו southward, a rule that matters for מעשר בהמה. It ends with רב כהנא's three 'sources': פמייס for the יַרְדֵּן, the liver for blood, and the פרת for all water, with a challenge about the פרת that continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (35)

1. ChallengeA ברייתא seems to refute רב
2. Resolutionשמואל explains the ברייתא in a way that fits רב
3. Statementרב פפא: according to שמואל, even the shepherd or his tools join the flocks
4. Questionרב אשי asks about the shepherd's dog
5. ConclusionThe question about the dog is left unresolved
6. Statementרבי מאיר: the Jordan separates flocks
7. Statementרבי אמי: a bridge joins the flocks
8. StatementThe reason seems to be distance
9. ChallengeA ברייתא: different regions do not join
10. ChallengeThe Land's border is like having a bridge
11. Resolutionרבי יוחנן: the Jordan is a border by פסוק
12. ChallengeShould tribal borders also split the flocks?
13. ResolutionAll of ארץ ישראל counts as one border
14. ChallengeThen the יַרְדֵּן should be included too
15. ResolutionThe פסוק says 'land', not river
16. ChallengeWhy only the יַרְדֵּן according to רבי אמי?
17. ConclusionThe challenge on רבי אמי stands
18. StatementSuggesting a dispute of תנאים: the first opinion says the יַרְדֵּן is not ארץ כנען
19. StatementThe second opinion: the יַרְדֵּן is part of ארץ כנען, like ירחו
20. Statementרבי יוחנן: the river is only called יַרְדֵּן from בית ירחו and south
21. QuestionFor which הלכה does this matter?
22. RejectionIt cannot be about vows, since vows follow ordinary speech
23. ResponseRather, it matters for animal tithe
24. ProofA ברייתא traces the river's path and supports רבי יוחנן
25. StatementWhy the river is called יַרְדֵּן
26. ProofAnother school learns it from a verse
27. Proofלשם is פמייס, where the יַרְדֵּן begins
28. StatementA vow on the source forbids the whole river
29. StatementThe liver is the source of blood
30. StatementThe Euphrates is the source of all water
31. QuestionWhat exact vow forbids all water?
32. RejectionSaying 'water of the פרת' only forbids that one river
33. ResponseThe vow must say 'water that comes from the פרת'
34. ProofAll rivers get their water from the פרת
35. ChallengeA challenge begins: 'But there are'