Chullin 130b

חולין ק״ל ע״ב

Learn Chullin 130b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Chullin 130b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

רב חסדא's rule that one who damages or eats מתנות כהונה is פטור, and the challenges to it

Overview

The amud opens by finishing a proof that חזה ושוק cannot apply to חולין, since waving them inside would bring חולין into the עזרה. So the word ״זֶה״ teaches רב חסדא's rule instead: one who damages or eats מתנות כהונה is פטור from paying. The reason is either the word ״זֶה״ or that the gifts are ממון שאין לו תובעים, money no single כהן can claim. Two ברייתות that call the gifts 'דין' seem to challenge this. The גמרא explains that judges decide which כהנים get the gifts, since an עם הארץ gets none. It also explains that a כהן can sue only for gifts that already came into his hands, even before they were separated. A משנה about a traveling homeowner who takes gifts for the poor is answered as מדת חסידות, not a legal debt. A last ברייתא about eating טבל implies that after הרמה one must pay. The גמרא begins its answer with 'הכא נמי', and the rest of the answer continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (24)

1. RejectionWaving inside would bring non-sacred animals into the Temple courtyard
2. QuestionSo why does the verse say 'this'?
3. ResponseThe word teaches רב חסדא's rule
4. Statementרב חסדא's rule examined on its own
5. QuestionWhat is the reason for the exemption?
6. ResponseTwo possible reasons
7. ChallengeA ברייתא calls the gifts a 'judgment'
8. ResolutionJudges only decide how the gifts are divided
9. ProofSupport: gifts are not given to a כהן who is an עם הארץ
10. ChallengeA new ברייתא: only some gifts are called a judgment
11. QuestionWhat does 'judgment' mean here? Not division
12. ChallengeSo 'judgment' must mean taking the gifts through court
13. ResolutionThe gifts were already in the כהן's hands
14. ChallengeThen why say it at all?
15. ResolutionGifts not yet separated count as separated
16. ChallengeThe traveling homeowner who takes gifts for the poor
17. ResolutionPaying back is only an act of piety
18. Rejectionרבא: The משנה clearly says 'he will pay'
19. Rejectionרבי אליעזר is not a good base for a challenge
20. ChallengeThe challenge moves to the חכמים
21. ResolutionAgain: only an act of piety
22. StatementA ברייתא: eating untithed produce is exempt from payment
23. ChallengeAfter separation he pays, which contradicts רב חסדא
24. ResolutionThe answer begins: here too