Yevamos 39b

יבמות ל״ט ע״ב

Yevamot 39b

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Topic

Which brother does חליצה, whether יבום or חליצה comes first, and the מחלוקת of אבא שאול and the רבנן about intention in יבום.

Overview

The גמרא first brings a second version of the מחלוקת between רבי יוחנן and רבי יהושע בן לוי. In this version, everyone agrees that יבום by a younger brother beats חליצה by the eldest, and they argue only whether the eldest's חליצה is better than a younger brother's. Proofs from the משנה are tried on both sides, but each is pushed off; the court's refusal to wait is explained by the rule that we do not delay a מצוה. Next, a משנה teaches that once יבום came first, but now that people lack pure intentions, חליצה comes first. רב rules that the court does not force a יבם to do חליצה, and רב יהודה's חליצה document shows he agreed; the גמרא also rules that identifying the brother is only גלויי מילתא, so even a relative or a woman is believed. רמי בר חמא reports that later they went back to putting יבום first, and the גמרא explains this as a switch from אבא שאול's view to the רבנן's view. Finally, the גמרא asks which תנא taught a ברייתא calling יבום a 'מצוה'. רבי יצחק בר אבדימי says it is אבא שאול, and רבא reads it to fit the רבנן. The גמרא then starts testing these readings against the ברייתא's first clause about מנחות, which continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (33)

1. StatementA second version: everyone agrees about consummation
2. Statementרבי יוחנן and רבי יהושע בן לוי argue about younger vs. eldest חליצה
3. StatementReason for preferring the eldest: the מצוה is on him
4. RejectionThe other view: 'the מצוה is on the eldest' applies only to יבום
5. ProofProof from the משנה: they go back to the eldest for חליצה
6. RejectionThe younger brothers refused both options
7. ChallengeThen why bother going back to the eldest?
8. ResolutionThe מצוה rests on the eldest first
9. ProofWe do not wait for the eldest who is overseas
10. RejectionYour logic would also force waiting for a minor
11. ConclusionWe do not delay a מצוה
12. StatementWhich comes first: יבום or חליצה
13. Statementרב: the court does not force חליצה
14. Proofרב יהודה agrees, as his חליצה document shows
15. StatementThe rest of the document: how the חליצה was done
16. StatementThe closing line of the document
17. StatementHow do we identify the brother? Two opinions
18. ConclusionThe הלכה: identifying the brother is just revealing a fact
19. StatementThe rule restated: when יבום came first and when חליצה came first
20. StatementLater they went back to putting יבום first
21. ChallengeDid the generations get better?
22. ResolutionThe change came from switching opinions, not from better people
23. Proofאבא שאול: Marrying a יבמה for the wrong reason is like an ערוה
24. StatementThe חכמים: יבום is valid whatever the reason
25. QuestionWho taught the ברייתא that calls יבום a 'מצוה'?
26. Responseרבי יצחק בר אבדימי: It is אבא שאול
27. ResponseReading the ברייתא as אבא שאול: before, any reason was fine
28. ResponseNow יבום is permitted only for the מצוה
29. Responseרבא: the ברייתא can fit the רבנן too
30. Responseרבא continues: the 'might think' of the ברייתא
31. ChallengeCan he really just not marry her?
32. ResolutionCorrect the wording: the choice is between יבום and חליצה
33. QuestionLook at the first clause: מנחות eaten in a holy place