Bechoros 58a

בכורות נ״ח ע״א

Bekhorot 58a

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Topic

The fixed tithing times for מעשר בהמה, the disputes over their dates and the new year, and בן עזאי's rule for אלול-born animals

Overview

The amud opens by finishing an answer. The fixed tithing times (גרנות) for מעשר בהמה exist so that animals will be available for עולי רגלים, because owners like to do the מצוה first and sell afterward. The גמרא explains that the time is called a גורן because it makes the animals טבל, like grain on a threshing floor. It then defines רבי עקיבא's word פרס as fifteen days, which is half of the thirty days of studying הלכות פסח. Next it explains the dates of בן עזאי (כ״ט אדר, א׳ סיון, כ״ט אב) and of רבי אלעזר and רבי שמעון (א׳ ניסן, א׳ סיון, כ״ט אלול), with a reason for each. The dispute about whether the year for animal tithe begins in אלול (רבי מאיר) or תשרי leads בן עזאי to tithe אלול-born animals as their own group. רבי יוחנן explains that בן עזאי could not settle the dispute by logic, because both sides relied on traditions from חגי, זכריה, and מלאכי. A ברייתא and a משנה teach that only a new year separates animals, while the tithing seasons do not. The amud ends as רבא begins a case of animals born in אב, אלול, and תשרי, which continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (35)

1. ResponseFixed tithing times keep animals available for pilgrims
2. ChallengeBut the משנה allows selling before the tithing time
3. ResolutionPeople prefer to do the מצוה first
4. QuestionWhy is the tithing time called a threshing floor
5. ResponseThe tithing time creates obligation like a threshing floor
6. QuestionHow long is פרס
7. Responseפרס is no less than fifteen days
8. QuestionHow do we know a פרס is fifteen days?
9. Responseפרס means half
10. QuestionHalf of what?
11. ResponseHalf of the thirty days of studying הלכות פסח
12. StatementQuoting בן עזאי's dates from the משנה
13. QuestionWhat is the dispute about?
14. Responseרבי עקיבא: אדר varies in length
15. Responseבן עזאי: אדר is always short
16. ResponseWhy בן עזאי tithes only on the first of סיון
17. Responseכ״ט אב: בן עזאי follows his own view about אלול
18. ChallengeWhy not tithe on the thirtieth of אב?
19. Resolutionאב is sometimes short, and new and old animals must be kept apart
20. StatementThe משנה quotes the dates of רבי אלעזר and רבי שמעון
21. ResponseExplaining א׳ ניסן and א׳ סיון
22. ResponseExplaining כ״ט אלול
23. StatementThe משנה: not א׳ תשרי because it is יום טוב
24. ChallengeWhy not use the need to separate new and old animals?
25. ResolutionThe משנה gives one reason and then adds another
26. StatementThe משנה's opinions of רבי מאיר and בן עזאי
27. StatementA ברייתא explains בן עזאי's reason
28. ChallengeWhy doesn't בן עזאי just decide who is right?
29. Proofבן עזאי was sharp enough to decide
30. ResolutionThe dispute comes from tradition, not from logic
31. StatementA ברייתא shows how בן עזאי's rule works
32. ChallengeIsn't this obvious?
33. ResolutionThe tithing seasons do not split the animals
34. ProofA משנה supports this answer
35. Statementרבא starts a case with animals born in three months