Bechoros 8a

בכורות ח׳ ע״א

Bekhorot 8a

Learn Bechoros 8a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Animal reproduction in a ברייתא: live birth versus eggs, timing of birth, the יום טוב egg, mating and pregnancy lengths, and the snake's seven years

Overview

This amud continues a ברייתא about how creatures reproduce. It first says the דולפנין (sea creatures) reproduce like people. It then gives a sign for which animals give live birth and which lay eggs. The goose case forces the גמרא to correct that sign: what counts is whether the male organ is external, not the testicles. Next the ברייתא says animals give birth at the same time of day they mate. That rule is used to permit an egg found before daylight on יום טוב, together with רבי יוחנן's rule that an egg counts as laid once most of it has come out. The ברייתא then teaches that two species can breed together only if they mate the same way and carry their young for the same length of time. It lists the ways of mating and the pregnancy lengths of many animals, each matched to a tree. רב יהודה derives the snake's seven-year pregnancy from its curse in בראשית using a one-to-seven ratio. The גמרא then challenges this with a one-to-three ratio that would give nine years, and the discussion continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (32)

1. StatementThe דולפנין reproduce like humans
2. QuestionWhat are דולפנין?
3. Responseרב יהודה: They are 'sons of the sea'
4. StatementThe ברייתא's sign: where the male's testicles are
5. ChallengeChallenge from the two kinds of geese
6. ResolutionCorrected sign: the male organ, not the testicles
7. StatementAnimals give birth at the same time of day they mate
8. StatementExamples: chicken, bat, and human
9. QuestionWhat practical difference does this make?
10. ResponseAn egg found early on יום טוב morning is permitted
11. ChallengeBut he did check carefully
12. ResolutionThe egg partly came out and went back in, as רבי יוחנן rules
13. StatementSame mating and pregnancy means two species can breed together
14. StatementMost creatures mate face-to-back, three mate face-to-face
15. QuestionWhy are these three different?
16. ResponseBecause the שכינה spoke with them
17. StatementA camel mates back-to-back
18. StatementHow long animals carry their young, with matching trees
19. StatementMore animals and their matching trees
20. StatementThe viper and the carob tree
21. StatementThe snake has no matching tree
22. QuestionWhere do we know the snake's seven years from?
23. ResponseThe source is the curse of the snake
24. ChallengeWhy mention the wild animals at all?
25. ResolutionThe extra words teach a ratio of one to seven
26. QuestionWhich animals show the one-to-seven ratio?
27. ResponseThe donkey compared with the cat
28. ConclusionSo the snake carries for seven years
29. ChallengeMaybe the ratio is one to three instead
30. QuestionWhich animals have this one-to-three ratio?
31. ResponseThe lion compared with the donkey
32. ChallengeThen the snake should carry for nine years