## Bekhorot Daf 20a

###### Bekhorot 20a:1
[Bekhorot 20a:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bekhorot/r/20a:1)

מְחַוַּורְתָּא רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל כְּרַבִּי מֵאִיר סְבִירָא לֵיהּ, דְּחָיֵישׁ לְמִיעוּטָא.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**It is clear,** as was suggested initially, that **Rabbi Yishmael** holds **in accordance with** the opinion of **Rabbi Meir, who** says that **one must be concerned for the minority.**


###### Bekhorot 20a:2
[Bekhorot 20a:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bekhorot/r/20a:2)

רָבִינָא אָמַר: אֲפִילּוּ תֵּימָא רַבָּנַן, כִּי אָזְלִי רַבָּנַן בָּתַר רוּבָּא — בְּרוּבָּא דְּלָא תְּלֵי בְּמַעֲשֶׂה, אֲבָל רוּבָּא דִּתְלֵי בְּמַעֲשֶׂה — לָא.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Ravina says: You** may **even say** that Rabbi Yishmael holds in accordance with the opinion of **the Rabbis. When the Rabbis follow the majority,** it is **with regard to a majority that is not dependent upon an action** but is simply the nature of reality. **But** in the case of **a majority that is dependent upon an action,** such as the pregnancy of a young goat, which depends upon whether or not it had copulated with a male, the Rabbis do **not** follow the majority.


###### Bekhorot 20a:3
[Bekhorot 20a:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bekhorot/r/20a:3)

תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: עֵז בַּת שְׁנָתָהּ — וַדַּאי לַכֹּהֵן, מִיכָּן וּלְהַלָּן — סָפֵק. רָחֵל בַּת שְׁתַּיִם — וַדַּאי לַכֹּהֵן, מִיכָּן וּלְהַלָּן — סָפֵק. פָּרָה בַּת שָׁלֹשׁ — וַדַּאי לַכֹּהֵן, מִיכָּן וּלְהַלָּן — סָפֵק. חֲמוֹרָה — כְּפָרָה. רַבִּי יוֹסֵי בְּרַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר: חֲמוֹרָה בַּת אַרְבַּע שָׁנִים. עַד כָּאן דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
§ **The Sages taught** in a *baraita*: If one purchased **a goat within its first year** from a gentile and does not know whether or not it had previously given birth, the subsequent male offspring **certainly** is given **to the priest; from that** point **forward** an offspring’s status as a firstborn is **uncertain.** If it was **a ewe within its second year** the offspring **certainly** is given **to the priest; from that** point **forward** an offspring’s status as a firstborn is **uncertain.** If it was **a cow within its third year** the offspring **certainly** is given **to the priest; from that** point **forward** an offspring’s status as a firstborn is **uncertain.** If it was **a donkey** it is subject to the same *halakha* **as a cow. Rabbi Yosei, son of Rabbi Yehuda, says:** The offspring of **a donkey within its fourth year** also has the status of a firstborn. **Until here is the statement of Rabbi Yishmael.**


###### Bekhorot 20a:4
[Bekhorot 20a:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bekhorot/r/20a:4)

כְּשֶׁנֶּאְמְרוּ דְּבָרִים לִפְנֵי רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ, אָמַר לָהֶן: צְאוּ אִמְרוּ לוֹ לְרַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל: טָעִיתָ! אִילּוּ בְּוָולָד בִּלְבַד הַבְּהֵמָה נִפְטֶרֶת — הָיָה כִּדְבָרֶיךָ, אֶלָּא סִימַן הַוָּולָד בִּבְהֵמָה דַּקָּה — טִינּוּף, וּבַגַּסָּה — שִׁלְיָא, וּבָאִשָּׁה — שָׁפִיר וְשִׁלְיָא.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The *baraita* continues: **When these matters were stated** by the students **before Rabbi Yehoshua, he said to them: Go out** and **say to Rabbi Yishmael: You erred. Were an animal exempted only by** giving birth to **an offspring** and in no other manner the *halakha* would be **in accordance with your statement. But** the Rabbis said: **An indication of the offspring in a small animal** is **a murky discharge** from the womb, which exempts subsequent births from the mitzva of the firstborn. **And** the indication **in a large** animal is the emergence of **an afterbirth, and** the indication **in a woman** is **a fetal sac or an afterbirth.**


###### Bekhorot 20a:5
[Bekhorot 20a:5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bekhorot/r/20a:5)

וַאֲנִי אֵין אֲנִי אוֹמֵר כֵּן, אֶלָּא: עֵז שֶׁטִּינְּפָה בַּת שִׁשָּׁה — יוֹלֶדֶת בְּתוֹךְ שְׁנָתָהּ, רָחֵל שֶׁטִּינְּפָה בַּת שְׁנָתָהּ — יוֹלֶדֶת בְּתוֹךְ שְׁתַּיִם. אָמַר רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא: אֲנִי לֹא בָּאתִי לִידֵי מִדָּה זוֹ, אֶלָּא: כֹּל שֶׁיָּדוּעַ שֶׁבִּיכְּרָה — אֵין כָּאן לַכֹּהֵן כְּלוּם, וְכֹל שֶׁלֹּא בִּיכְּרָה — הֲרֵי זוֹ לַכֹּהֵן, סָפֵק — יֵאָכֵל בְּמוּמוֹ לַבְּעָלִים.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
Rabbi Yehoshua added: That is the opinion of the Rabbis, **but I myself do not say so. Rather,** I hold that **a goat that expelled a murky discharge** from the womb **at** the age of **six** months can **give birth within its first year,** and **a ewe that expelled a murky discharge in its first year** can **give birth within its second year.** The Gemara will later discuss the practical difference between his opinion and the ruling that he ascribes to the Rabbis. **Rabbi Akiva says: I have not arrived at this method** of determining firstborn status. **Rather,** in **any** case **where it is known that** the animal **had** previously **given birth, the priest has nothing here. And** in **any** case **where it is known that** the animal **had not** previously **given birth, that** is given **to the priest. And if it is uncertain, it may be eaten in its blemished** state **by the owner.**


###### Bekhorot 20a:6
[Bekhorot 20a:6](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bekhorot/r/20a:6)

בְּמַאי קָמִיפַּלְגִי רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל וְרַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ? לֵימָא בְּטִינּוּף פּוֹטֵר קָמִיפַּלְגִי, רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל סָבַר טִינּוּף אֵינוֹ פּוֹטֵר, וְרַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ סָבַר טִינּוּף פּוֹטֵר?

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara analyzes the *baraita*. **With regard to what** matter **do Rabbi Yishmael and Rabbi Yehoshua disagree? Shall we say they disagree with regard to** whether or not **a murky discharge** from the womb **exempts** an animal from the mitzva of the firstborn; as **Rabbi Yishmael holds** that **a murky discharge does not exempt** an animal because it is not a sign of a birth, **and Rabbi Yehoshua holds** that **a murky discharge exempts** an animal?


###### Bekhorot 20a:7
[Bekhorot 20a:7](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bekhorot/r/20a:7)

אִי דַּחֲזֵינָא דְּטַינִּוף — דְּכוּלֵּי עָלְמָא לָא פְּלִיגִי דְּטִינּוּף פּוֹטֵר, וְהָכָא בְּחוֹשְׁשִׁין לְטִינּוּף קָא מִיפַּלְגִי: רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל סָבַר: אֵין חוֹשְׁשִׁין לְטִינּוּף, וְרַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ סָבַר: חוֹשְׁשִׁין לְטִינּוּף.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara rejects this suggestion: **If we** actually **see a murky discharge, everyone agrees that** the **murky discharge exempts** an animal. **And here, it is** with regard to whether **one is concerned** about the possibility that an animal might have expelled **a murky discharge that they disagree. Rabbi Yishmael holds** that **we are not concerned about a murky discharge,** and it can therefore be assumed that the first offspring born after its purchase from the gentile is firstborn; **and Rabbi Yehoshua holds** that **one is concerned about a murky discharge,** and due to the uncertainty the next offspring remains with its owner.


###### Bekhorot 20a:8
[Bekhorot 20a:8](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bekhorot/r/20a:8)

וְלָא חָיֵישׁ? וְהָאָמַר רָבָא: מְחַוַּורְתָּא רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל כְּרַבִּי מֵאִיר סְבִירָא לֵיהּ, דְּחָיֵישׁ לְמִיעוּט! כִּי חָיֵישׁ — לְחוּמְרָא, לְקוּלָּא — לָא חָיֵישׁ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara objects: **And** is it correct that Rabbi Yishmael is **not concerned** about the possibility that the mother might have expelled a murky discharge before giving birth to a live offspring? **But doesn’t Rava say: It is clear** that **Rabbi Yishmael holds in accordance with** the opinion of **Rabbi Meir, who** says **one must be concerned for the minority?** If so, Rabbi Yishmael should be concerned for a murky discharge as well. The Gemara explains: **Where** Rabbi Yishmael **is concerned** is when the concern leads **to a stringency.** But if the concern would lead **to a leniency,** as in this case, where it would mean that the animal born after a year is only an uncertain firstborn, he is **not concerned.**


###### Bekhorot 20a:9
[Bekhorot 20a:9](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bekhorot/r/20a:9)

וְאִיבָּעֵית אֵימָא: בֵּין לְקוּלָּא בֵּין לְחוּמְרָא חָיֵישׁ, וְהָכָא בִּמְטַנֶּפֶת וְחוֹזֶרֶת וְיוֹלֶדֶת בְּתוֹךְ שְׁנָתָהּ קָמִיפַּלְגִי, דְּרַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל סָבַר: מְטַנֶּפֶת אֵינָהּ חוֹזֶרֶת וְיוֹלֶדֶת בְּתוֹךְ שְׁנָתָהּ, וְהָא מִדְּאוֹלִיד — וַדַּאי לָא טַנִּיף. וְרַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ סָבַר: מְטַנֶּפֶת חוֹזֶרֶת וְיוֹלֶדֶת בְּתוֹךְ שְׁנָתָהּ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**And if you wish, say** instead: **Whether** it leads **to a leniency** or **whether** it leads **to a stringency** Rabbi Yishmael **is concerned, and here they disagree with regard to** whether or not an animal can **expel a murky discharge and** then **return** to its fertile state **and give birth within its first year. As Rabbi Yishmael holds:** An animal that **expels a murky discharge does not return** to its fertile state **and give birth within its first year, and** accordingly, **from** the fact **that this** animal **gave birth** it can be concluded that it **certainly did not expel a murky discharge** beforehand. **And Rabbi Yehoshua holds:** An animal that **expels a murky discharge returns** to its fertile state **and** can **give birth within its first year.**


###### Bekhorot 20a:10
[Bekhorot 20a:10](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bekhorot/r/20a:10)

וַאֲנִי אֵינִי אוֹמֵר כֵּן, אֶלָּא עֵז שֶׁטִּינְּפָה בַּת שִׁשָּׁה — יוֹלֶדֶת תּוֹךְ שְׁנָתָהּ, רָחֵל שֶׁטִּינְּפָה בַּת שְׁנָתָהּ — יוֹלֶדֶת בְּתוֹךְ שְׁתַּיִם. מַאי אִיכָּא בֵּין גְּמָרֵיהּ לִסְבָרֵיהּ?

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
§ The *baraita* teaches that Rabbi Yehoshua said: That is the opinion of the Rabbis, **but I myself do not say so. Rather,** I hold that **a goat that expelled a murky discharge** from the womb **at** the age of **six** months still **gives birth within its first year,** while **a ewe that expelled a murky discharge in its first year** still **gives birth within its second year.** The Gemara asks: Since according to both opinions an animal that expelled a murky discharge can still give birth within a year, **what** difference **is there between** Rabbi Yehoshua’s **tradition** of the opinion of the Rabbis **and his** own **reasoning?**


###### Bekhorot 20a:11
[Bekhorot 20a:11](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bekhorot/r/20a:11)

שֶׁטִּינְּפָה בְּסוֹף שִׁשָּׁה, וְאִיכָּא בֵּינַיְיהוּ דִּזְעֵירִי, דְּאָמַר זְעֵירִי: אֵין טִינּוּף פָּחוֹת מִשְּׁלֹשִׁים יוֹם.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara answers: The difference between their opinions is in a case **where** a goat **expelled a murky discharge at the end of** its first **six** months of life, when the seventh month began, and then gave birth before the end of its first year. **And there is** a difference **between** them with regard to the statement **of Ze’eiri, as Ze’eiri says:** The expulsion of **a murky discharge,** which is sufficient to exempt an animal from having its future offspring counted a firstborn, prevents it from being impregnated for **no less than thirty days.** If an animal becomes pregnant within thirty days of expelling a murky discharge, evidently that discharge was not the sign of a fetus, and therefore the offspring will have firstborn status.


###### Bekhorot 20a:12
[Bekhorot 20a:12](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bekhorot/r/20a:12)

לִגְמָרֵיהּ — אִית לֵיהּ דִּזְעֵירִי, לִסְבָרֵיהּ — לֵית לֵיהּ דִּזְעֵירִי.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
In this case, as the pregnancy of a goat lasts five months and a murky discharge was expelled at the end of the sixth month, a goat that gave birth by the end of the year, i.e., twelve months, must have become pregnant within a month of the discharge. The Rabbis, whose opinion Rabbi Yehoshua cited by **tradition, accept** the statement **of Ze’eiri,** and therefore they rule that this goat, which became pregnant within a month of the discharge, is not exempt from the mitzva of the firstborn. **According to** Rabbi Yehoshua’s own **reasoning, he does not accept** the statement **of Ze’eiri,** which means that although this animal became pregnant within a month of the discharge, it was nevertheless exempt from the mitzva of the firstborn.


###### Bekhorot 20a:13
[Bekhorot 20a:13](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bekhorot/r/20a:13)

וְאִיבָּעֵית אֵימָא: דְּכוּלֵּי עָלְמָא אִית לְהוּ דִּזְעֵירִי, וְהָכָא — בְּיוֹלֶדֶת לִמְקוּטָּעִין קָמִיפַּלְגִי;

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara suggests another answer: **And if you wish, say that everyone accepts** the statement **of Ze’eiri; and here,** in the case of a goat that gave birth within its first year after having expelled a murky discharge at the end of its sixth month, **they disagree** with regard to whether or not an animal **gives birth after incomplete** months, i.e., prematurely.