Gemara Clarity

Bechoros 9b

בכורות ט׳ ע״ב

Bekhorot 9b

Learn Bechoros 9b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Bechoros 9b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

The womb and בכורה for twins, and whether a פטר חמור is אסור בהנאה before redemption and after עריפה

Overview

This amud starts by asking whether the חכמים must hold that touching only part of the רחם makes an animal a בכור. רב answers that one newborn does not block another, because מין במינו אינו חוצץ. The גמרא then asks why the owner of a doubtful פטר חמור sets aside a lamb he keeps for himself. The answer is that the lamb removes the איסור, which shows our משנה follows רבי יהודה: an unredeemed פטר חמור is אסור בהנאה, while רבי שמעון permits it. עולא explains each side with a logical rule, and the גמרא defends each rule against challenges from מעשר שני, קידושין, and שביעית. A second explanation ties the dispute to how each תנא reads 'שורך' and 'צאנך'. That reading ends with a קשיא against רבי שמעון. Finally, רבה says even רבי שמעון forbids the donkey after its neck is broken, learning it from עגלה ערופה. רבא proves this from a ברייתא about which forbidden items count as food for impurity.

Opening lines

וְרַבָּנַן, לֵימָא קָסָבְרִי רַבָּנַן

And the Rabbis: shall we say the Rabbis hold

מִקְצָת רֶחֶם מַקְדֵּישׁ?

that part of the womb sanctifies?

דְּאִי כּוּלֵּיהּ רֶחֶם מַקְדֵּישׁ —

For if only the whole womb sanctifies,

נְהִי דְּאִי אֶפְשָׁר לְצַמְצֵם,

granted that it is impossible to be exactly precise,

The steps (32)

  1. QuestionDo the Rabbis hold that part of the womb is enough to sanctify?
  2. ResolutionSame kind does not block same kind
  3. QuestionWhy set aside a lamb he keeps anyway?
  4. ResponseThe lamb removes the prohibition from the donkey
  5. StatementSo an unredeemed firstborn donkey is forbidden for benefit
  6. ResponseThe משנה follows רבי יהודה
  7. QuestionWhat is רבי יהודה's reason?
  8. Responseעולא: anything that needs redemption is forbidden
  9. ChallengeBut a firstborn son needs redemption and is permitted
  10. Resolutionעולא means something the Torah insists be redeemed with a lamb
  11. ChallengeBut רב נחמיה redeemed a פטר חמור with vegetables
  12. ResolutionThe strictness applies only when redeeming for less than its value
  13. ChallengeBut רבי יהודה lets מעשר שני work for קידושין
  14. Resolutionקידושין works even with a פטר חמור, following רבי אלעזר
  15. ResolutionHow a woman is betrothed with a פטר חמור
  16. QuestionWhat is רבי שמעון's reason?
  17. Responseעולא: a redemption item cannot be permitted while the original is forbidden
  18. ChallengeChallenge from שביעית produce
  19. ResolutionThe item received for שביעית produce is also forbidden
  20. ResponseA second explanation: the dispute depends on a verse, as taught in a ברייתא
  21. Statementרבי שמעון's reading: a firstborn son and a firstborn donkey are permitted
  22. ChallengeWhy would רבי יהודה need two phrases for one idea?
  23. ChallengeWould רבי יהודה forbid work with a firstborn son?
  24. ResolutionEveryone agrees on 'your ox'; they argue only about 'your flock'
  25. ResolutionWhy רבי שמעון uses the verse for a firstborn donkey
  26. ChallengeWhy does רבי שמעון need the words 'your ox' and 'your flock'?
  27. Statementרבה: רבי שמעון agrees a פטר חמור is forbidden after its neck is broken
  28. QuestionWhat is the reason for רבה's rule?
  29. ResponseA גזירה שוה from עגלה ערופה
  30. Proofרבא opens a proof from a ברייתא about food impurity
  31. Proofרבי שמעון says none of the items count as food, except meat with milk
  32. StatementFood counts only if you could give it to others to eat