Bechoros 60a

בכורות ס׳ ע״א

Bekhorot 60a

Learn Bechoros 60a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

מעשר בהמה: leftover animals, counting mistakes in the משנה, and whether the owner's count or the real order of the animals decides which one is holy

Overview

This amud opens with a ברייתא that says you may not hand-pick ten animals for מעשר בהמה. You must run the flock through the pen, take the tenth, and let the leftovers join a later גורן. A second ברייתא about nineteen lambs says the leftovers are exempt. רב הונא בר סחורה resolves this with a pen that has two doors, where the last lamb could complete the ten at either door. He could not use simpler miscounting cases, because he holds that the real tenth animal becomes holy by itself. A new משנה then deals with counting mistakes: two animals coming out together, and an owner who mixes up the names of the ninth, tenth, and eleventh. In that משנה, רבי מאיר and רבי יהודה argue about whether the eleventh can make a תמורה. The גמרא then brings רבי יוחנן's rule about counting in pairs. רב מארי says the owner's count decides, and רב כהנא says the real number of animals decides. Each view is challenged and defended: רב כהנא by limiting the rule to deliberate pairs, and רב מארי by רבא's point that in Persian counting ten is called 'one'.

Opening lines

The steps (21)

1. StatementNo hand-picking ten; leftovers join a later round
2. ChallengeA second ברייתא says the leftovers are exempt
3. ResolutionA pen with two openings
4. ChallengeWhy not a simpler case of miscounting?
5. ResolutionThe real tenth becomes holy by itself
6. ChallengeWhy not explain it as counting in pairs?
7. ResolutionThe actual tenth animal by count is holy
8. ConclusionPraise for רב הונא בר סחורה
9. Statementמשנה: Two animals coming out together, and miscounting
10. StatementMixing up the ninth, tenth, and eleventh: רבי מאיר's ruling
11. Challengeרבי יהודה asks: can a substitute make a substitute?
12. ResolutionAnswer in רבי מאיר's name: it is offered, so it is not a real substitute
13. StatementWhen the real tenth keeps its name, the eleventh is not holy
14. Statementרבי יוחנן: counting in pairs or in groups
15. QuestionWhat does 'according to its count' mean?
16. Responseרב מארי and רב כהנא explain 'its count' differently
17. ProofQuoting the משנה about two animals coming out together
18. ChallengeThe משנה fits רב מארי but seems to challenge רב כהנא
19. Resolutionרבי יוחנן only meant a case of deliberate pairs
20. ChallengeCounting backward seems to challenge רב מארי
21. Resolutionרבא: in Persian counting, ten is called 'one'