Chullin 23a

חולין כ״ג ע״א

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Topic

Why the Torah needs a special source to disqualify birds used for bestiality or idol worship, and רבי זירא's question about bringing a פלגס

Overview

The גמרא pushes back on an earlier proof. It says the words of the פסוק about bird offerings, 'of doves or of young pigeons,' are needed for something else: to disqualify a bird used for bestiality (נרבע) or worshipped as an idol (נעבד). Why would we need a פסוק for that? The school of רבי ישמעאל taught that 'corruption' (השחתה) in the Torah means sexual immorality and idol worship, and that word sits next to 'blemish' (מום) in the פסוק about disqualified offerings. So we might have linked them and said that birds, which a מום does not disqualify, are also not disqualified by נרבע or נעבד. The פסוק teaches that they are disqualified. Then רבי זירא asks a new question: someone vowed a burnt offering from a ram or a lamb and brought a פלגס, a sheep in between the two ages. What is the law? According to רבי יוחנן there is no question. He holds a פלגס is a separate creature (בריה), which is proven from a משנה and from his reading of 'או לאיל'. So the גמרא says the question only applies according to בר פדא, and it explains his view on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (7)

1. RejectionThe verse is needed for something else
2. StatementCorruption means immorality and idol worship
3. ResolutionBirds have no blemish rule, so the verse is needed
4. Questionרבי זירא asks about bringing a פלגס
5. StatementAccording to רבי יוחנן there is no question
6. ProofThe source for רבי יוחנן's view
7. StatementThe question is only according to בר פדא