Bechoros 6b

בכורות ו׳ ע״ב

Bekhorot 6b

Learn Bechoros 6b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

An animal born unlike its mother, the prohibition of non-kosher milk, and the sources that kosher milk is permitted

Overview

The גמרא first explains the ברייתא: the verse "גמל... טמא הוא" teaches that a non-kosher-looking animal born from a kosher mother is permitted. רבי שמעון disagrees, learning from the double "גמל" that even a camel born from a cow is forbidden. The רבנן use the double "גמל" to forbid camel's milk. רבי שמעון learns the milk from "את", which the רבנן do not expound, as the story of שמעון העמסוני and רבי עקיבא illustrates. The גמרא then explains why a special verse is needed to forbid non-kosher milk at all: kosher milk is itself a surprising permission, so one might have extended it. Next it searches for the source that kosher milk is permitted, rejecting some proofs and accepting others, such as ישי's cheeses and "a land flowing with milk and honey". It also defends expounding the doubled "גמל", even though the list of animals was repeated to add the שסועה. Finally, a ברייתא about a sheep born looking like a goat leads to a question about רבי שמעון's view, which continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (35)

1. ResolutionExplaining the ברייתא: only a camel born from a camel is forbidden
2. Statementרבי שמעון: the double 'camel' forbids even a camel born from a cow
3. QuestionWhat do the רבנן do with the double "גמל"?
4. ResponseOne verse forbids the camel, the other forbids its milk
5. QuestionWhere does רבי שמעון learn that camel's milk is forbidden?
6. Responseרבי שמעון learns the milk from the word "את"
7. ResponseThe רבנן do not expound the word "את"
8. Proofשמעון העמסוני expounded every "את" until he withdrew
9. QuestionThe students ask about all his earlier teachings
10. ResponseReward for expounding and reward for withdrawing
11. Conclusionרבי עקיבא explains the "את" in fearing God
12. ChallengeWould milk of a non-kosher animal otherwise be permitted?
13. ChallengeA ברייתא already forbids all liquids of impure creatures
14. ResolutionA verse is needed because milk itself is a novelty
15. ChallengeThe spoiled-blood answer does not fit everyone
16. ResolutionMilk is still a novelty, because it is like a limb from a living animal
17. QuestionWhat is the source that kosher milk is permitted?
18. RejectionEven for רבי שמעון the proof does not work
19. ProofA new proof from the law of disqualified sacrificial animals
20. RejectionThe difference might only be about benefit, not eating
21. ProofA proof from the verse about goats' milk as food
22. RejectionMaybe the milk was sold, not drunk
23. ProofA proof from the ten cheeses ישי sent with דוד
24. RejectionMaybe the cheese was for selling
25. ResolutionNobody does business in the middle of a war
26. ProofA land flowing with milk and honey
27. ProofCome, buy wine and milk
28. ChallengeDo the other doubled animal names also teach new laws?
29. ResolutionThe animals were repeated for the שסועה and the ראה
30. ChallengeThen the doubled word for camel should also just be adding the שסועה
31. ResolutionWherever a repetition can be expounded, we expound it
32. StatementA ewe that bore a goat-like animal, or a goat that bore a ewe-like animal
33. Statementרבי שמעון requires the head and most of the body to resemble the mother
34. QuestionDoes רבי שמעון need the head and most of the body for eating too?
35. QuestionWhy eating might be different from בכורה