Bechoros 55b

בכורות נ״ה ע״ב

Bekhorot 55b

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

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Topic

The פרת as a source of water and its use for immersion; the משנה exempting bought or gifted animals from מעשר בהמה

Overview

This amud opens in the middle of a discussion about whether the פרת (Euphrates) is the source of other waters. The גמרא challenges this from springs that sit higher than the river, and רב משרשיא answers that the water climbs up underground like 'ladders.' A second challenge comes from a פסוק that calls the פרת the 'fourth river,' and רב נחמן בר יצחק answers that it is really the original river that came out of עדן. A ברייתא from רבי מאיר adds that the river's first name is יובל, and that it is called פרת because its waters multiply. This supports שמואל, who says a river grows from its own bed, and it goes against רב, who says the פרת rises from rain in ארץ ישראל. The גמרא then tells how שמואל's father made a מקוה for his daughters in ניסן, because the river might be mostly rainwater, but let them use the river itself in תשרי. The גמרא notes that one of שמואל's rulings seems to contradict his own view. A new משנה then teaches that bought or gifted animals are exempt from מעשר בהמה. רב כהנא begins to give the source from a פסוק about firstborn sons and animals, and his explanation continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (14)

1. ChallengeChallenge from springs that are higher than the Euphrates
2. ResolutionThe higher springs are fed by 'ladders' of the Euphrates
3. ChallengeChallenge from the verse calling the Euphrates the 'fourth river'
4. ResolutionThe Euphrates is the original river that came out of עדן
5. Statementרבי מאיר: the river's name is יובל, and why it is called פרת
6. ProofThe name פרת supports שמואל
7. StatementThis disagrees with רב, who says the פרת rises from rain
8. StatementThe practice of שמואל's father for his daughters
9. StatementWhy a מקוה in ניסן: he held like רב
10. StatementWhy only mats in תשרי
11. Challengeשמואל seems to contradict himself
12. StatementBought or gifted animals are exempt from מעשר בהמה
13. QuestionWhat is the source for this exemption?
14. Responseרב כהנא begins with the verse about firstborn sons and animals