## Bekhorot Daf 43b

###### Bekhorot 43b:1
[Bekhorot 43b:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bekhorot/r/43b:1)

מַאי אִיכָּא בֵּין מוּמָא לְשֶׁאֵינוֹ שָׁוֶה בְּזַרְעוֹ שֶׁל אַהֲרֹן? אִיכָּא מִשּׁוּם אַחוֹלֵי עֲבוֹדָה: מוּמָא מַחֵיל עֲבוֹדָה, דִּכְתִיב: ״מוּם בּוֹ וְלֹא יְחַלֵּל״, שֶׁאֵינוֹ שָׁוֶה בְּזַרְעוֹ שֶׁל אַהֲרֹן לָא מַחֵיל עֲבוֹדָה.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara asks: **What** difference **is there between** a priest disqualified from performing the Temple service due to a full-fledged **blemish** that disqualifies both people and animals, and a priest disqualified from performing the Temple service because **he is not equal among the seed of Aaron?** The Gemara responds: **There is** a difference between them **with regard to profaning** the Temple **service.** A priest with a full-fledged **blemish** who performs rites in the Temple **profanes** the **service** he has performed, **as it is written: “He has a blemish; that he not profane** My Sanctuaries” (Leviticus 21:23). A priest **who is not equal among the seed of Aaron** does **not profane** the **service** he performs.


###### Bekhorot 43b:2
[Bekhorot 43b:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bekhorot/r/43b:2)

מַאי אִיכָּא בֵּין שֶׁאֵינוֹ שָׁוֶה בְּזַרְעוֹ שֶׁל אַהֲרֹן, וּמִשּׁוּם מַרְאִית הָעַיִן? אִיכָּא בֵּינַיְיהוּ עֲשֵׂה.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara further asks: **What** difference **is there between** a priest disqualified from performing the Temple service because **he is not equal among the seed of Aaron,** e.g., one whose head is pointed, **and** a priest disqualified from performing the Temple service **due to the** mere **appearance of** a blemish, such as one whose eyelashes have fallen out, as stated in the *mishnayot* further on in this chapter? The Gemara responds: **There is** a difference **between them** with regard to the violation of the prohibition, which is stated as **a positive mitzva,** i.e., that priests who are equal shall serve in the Temple. A priest who is not equal among the seed of Aaron who performs the Temple service transgresses this prohibition. By contrast, a priest who is disqualified due to the appearance of a blemish is disqualified by rabbinic law, and he does not transgress a Torah prohibition by performing the Temple service.


###### Bekhorot 43b:3
[Bekhorot 43b:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bekhorot/r/43b:3)

כִּילוֹן — דְּדָמֵי רֵישֵׁיהּ לְאַכְלָא, ״לַפְתָּא״ — דְּדָמֵי רֵישֵׁיהּ לְגַדְגָּלִידָא דְּלִיפְתָּא, תָּנָא: וְצַוָּארוֹ עוֹמֵד בְּאֶמְצַע רֹאשׁוֹ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
§ The Gemara clarifies the blemishes that the mishna lists as disqualifying a priest: **One whose** head **is pointed [*kilon*],** this is one **whose head resembles the cover of a barrel,** narrow above and wide below. **One whose** head **is turnip-like,** this is one **whose head resembles the top of a turnip,** wide above and narrow below. The Sages **taught** in a *baraita* another detail relating to this blemish: **And his neck stands in the middle of his head,** i.e., his head protrudes equally in all directions around his neck, whereas a typical person’s neck is situated at the back of his head.


###### Bekhorot 43b:4
[Bekhorot 43b:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bekhorot/r/43b:4)

מַקָּבָן — דְּדָמֵי רֵישֵׁיהּ לְמַקָּבָן, ״וְשֶׁרֹאשׁוֹ שָׁקוּט״ — מִלְּפָנָיו, ״וּסְקִיפָת״ — מֵאֲחוֹרָיו, כִּדְאָמְרִי אִינָשֵׁי: שְׁקִיל פִּיסָּא. תָּנָא: וְצַוָּארוֹ שָׁקוּט וְשָׁמוּט. ״שָׁקוּט״ — דַּחֲבִיס מִחְבָּס, ״שָׁמוּט״ — דַּאֲרִיךְ וּשְׁמִיט.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**One whose** head **is hammer-like [*makkavan*],** this is one **whose head resembles a hammer,** with his forehead protruding. **And** one **whose** head is **indented [*shakut*],** this is one with a depression **in the front of his** head. **And** one **wherein the back of his head protrudes [*sekifat*]** is someone for whom it appears a piece **from the back of his** head has been removed, **as people say: A piece has been taken [*shakil pisa*].** *Sekifat* is understood to be an abbreviation of that term. The Sages **taught** in a *baraita*: **And** a priest **whose neck is short, or** one whose neck **is narrow,** is disqualified from performing the Temple service as well. A priest with **a short** neck is one **whose** neck **is hidden** and is not visible between his shoulders. A priest with **a narrow** neck is one **whose** neck **is long and narrow.**


###### Bekhorot 43b:5
[Bekhorot 43b:5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bekhorot/r/43b:5)

וּבַעֲלֵי חֲטָרוֹת רַבִּי יְהוּדָה כּוּ׳. דְּאִית בֵּיהּ עֶצֶם, כּוּלֵּי עָלְמָא לָא פְּלִיגִי דְּפָסְלָא. כִּי פְּלִיגִי — דְּלֵית בֵּיהּ עֶצֶם: מָר סָבַר — הָא אֵינוֹ שָׁוֶה בְּזַרְעוֹ שֶׁל אַהֲרֹן, וּמָר סָבַר — קִרְקוּרָא דְּבִישְׂרָא בְּעָלְמָא הוּא.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The mishna teaches: **And** with regard to **those with humped** backs, **Rabbi Yehuda** deems them fit for service and the Rabbis deem them disqualified. The Gemara elaborates: In a case **where there is a bone in** his hump, **everyone agrees that** the priest is **disqualified** for Temple service. **They disagree when there is no bone.** One **Sage,** i.e., the Rabbis, **holds** that **this** person **is not equal among the seed of Aaron** and is therefore disqualified from performing the Temple service; **and** one **Sage,** Rabbi Yehuda, **holds** that **it is merely a piece of flesh** and is not considered a blemish.


###### Bekhorot 43b:6
[Bekhorot 43b:6](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bekhorot/r/43b:6)

הַקֵּרֵחַ פָּסוּל. אָמַר רָבָא: לֹא שָׁנוּ אֶלָּא שֶׁאֵין לוֹ לְאַחֲרָיו וְיֵשׁ לוֹ לְפָנָיו, אֲבָל יֵשׁ לוֹ לְאַחֲרָיו — כָּשֵׁר, וְכׇל שֶׁכֵּן שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ לְאַחֲרָיו וְאֵין לוֹ לְפָנָיו.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
§ The mishna teaches that **the *kere’aḥ*,** i.e., anyone who does not have a row of hair encircling his head from ear to ear, **is disqualified** from performing the Temple service. **Rava says:** The Sages **taught** that a *kere’aḥ* is disqualified **only if he does not have** a row of hair **in the back** of **his** head **but he has** a row of hair **in the front. But** if **he has** a row of hair both in the front and **in the back,** he is **fit** for performing the Temple service. **And all the more so, when he has** hair **in the back but he does not have in the front** he is fit for performing the Temple service, as this is typical of older men.


###### Bekhorot 43b:7
[Bekhorot 43b:7](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bekhorot/r/43b:7)

וְאִיכָּא דְּמַתְנֵי אַסֵּיפָא, וְאִם יֵשׁ לוֹ — הֲרֵי זֶה כָּשֵׁר. אָמַר רָבָא: לֹא שָׁנוּ אֶלָּא שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ לְאַחֲרָיו וְאֵין לוֹ לְפָנָיו, אֲבָל יֵשׁ לוֹ בֵּין לְאַחֲרָיו בֵּין לְפָנָיו — פָּסוּל, וְכׇל שֶׁכֵּן שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ לְפָנָיו וְאֵין לוֹ לְאַחֲרָיו, וּדְאֵין לוֹ כְּלָל — דְּפָסוּל.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**And there are those who teach** the statement of Rava **with regard to the latter clause** of the mishna: **And if he has** a row of hair, **that** person is **fit** for performing the Temple service. **Rava says:** The Sages **taught** that such a person is fit **only when he has** a row of hair **in the back but he does not have in the front. But** if **he has** a row of hair **both in the back and in the front,** he is **disqualified** from performing the Temple service. **And all the more so,** one **who has** a row of hair **in the front and does not have in the back, or** one **who does not have** any hair **at all,** is **disqualified.**


###### Bekhorot 43b:8
[Bekhorot 43b:8](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bekhorot/r/43b:8)

אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: הַקַּרְחָנִין וְהַנַּנָּסִין וְהַזַּבְלְגָנִין — פְּסוּלִין, לְפִי שֶׁאֵינָן שָׁוֶה בְּזַרְעוֹ שֶׁל אַהֲרֹן. קַרְחָנִין — תְּנֵינָא! נַנָּסִין — תְּנֵינָא!

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
§ **Rabbi Yoḥanan says: The bald** priests, **and the** priests who are **dwarves, and the** priests with **leaky** eyes, are **disqualified** from performing the Temple service, **since they are not equal among the seed of Aaron.** The Gemara asks: Why is it necessary for Rabbi Yoḥanan to state this? With regard to **bald** priests, **we learn** in the mishna that they are disqualified. Similarly, with regard to priests who are **dwarves, we learn** in a mishna (45b) that they are disqualified.


###### Bekhorot 43b:9
[Bekhorot 43b:9](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bekhorot/r/43b:9)

זַבְלְגָנִין אִיצְטְרִיךְ לֵיהּ לְאַשְׁמוֹעִינַן, וּמַהוּ דְּתֵימָא מִשּׁוּם מַרְאִית הָעַיִן.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara responds: **It was necessary for him to teach us** this statement with regard to priests with **leaky** eyes, as the *halakha* with regard to them does not appear in any mishna. **And** furthermore, it was necessary for him to reiterate the *halakha* with regard to bald priests and dwarves **lest you say** they are disqualified only by rabbinic law, **due to the appearance** of a blemish. Rabbi Yoḥanan therefore teaches that they are disqualified by Torah law, as they are not equal among the seed of Aaron.


###### Bekhorot 43b:10
[Bekhorot 43b:10](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bekhorot/r/43b:10)

וְהָא כֹּל הֵיכָא דְּאִיכָּא מִשּׁוּם מַרְאִית הָעַיִן (אִיתְנָא) [מִיתְנָא] קָתָנֵי, וְשֶׁנָּשְׁרוּ רִיסֵי עֵינָיו פָּסוּל מִפְּנֵי מַרְאִית הָעַיִן! מַהוּ דְּתֵימָא: תָּנֵי חֲדָא, וְהוּא הַדִּין לְכוּלְּהוּ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara raises a difficulty: **But anywhere that** a priest is deemed disqualified **due to the appearance** of a blemish, the ***tanna* teaches** this explicitly, e.g., in the mishna on this *amud*: **And one whose eyelashes have fallen out is disqualified** from performing the Temple service, **due to the appearance** of a blemish. The Gemara responds: Rabbi Yoḥanan’s statement is necessary, **lest you say** the *tanna* **taught** explicitly in **one** instance that a priest is disqualified due to the appearance of a blemish **but the same is true with regard to all of** those listed after the first clause of the mishna, starting from the case of priests with humped backs. Therefore, Rabbi Yoḥanan teaches that this is not the *halakha*.


###### Bekhorot 43b:11
[Bekhorot 43b:11](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bekhorot/r/43b:11)

וְהָא כֹּל הֵיכָא דְּאִיכָּא מִיהְדָּר וּמִיתְנָא, קָא הָדַר וְתָנֵי: וְשֶׁנִּיטְּלוּ שִׁינָּיו פָּסוּל מִשּׁוּם מַרְאִית הָעַיִן! אֶלָּא, לְאַפּוֹקֵי מֵהָא דְּתַנְיָא, דְּתַנְיָא: הַקַּרְחָנִין וְהַנַּנָּסִין וְהַזַּבְלְגָנִין כְּשֵׁרִים, וְלֹא אָמְרוּ פָּסוּל אֶלָּא מִשּׁוּם מַרְאִית הָעַיִן.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara persists: **But anywhere that there is** a priest disqualified due to the appearance of a blemish, the *tanna* **repeats and teaches** explicitly that this is the reason. As the *tanna* **repeats and teaches** (44a): **And one whose teeth fell out is disqualified due to the appearance** of a blemish. **Rather,** the reason Rabbi Yoḥanan reiterates the *halakha* with regard to a bald priest and a dwarf is **to exclude that which is taught** in a *baraita*, **as it is taught** in a *baraita*: **The bald** priests, **the dwarves, and the** priests with **leaky** eyes **are fit** for performing the Temple service by Torah law, **and** the Sages **said** they are **disqualified only due to the appearance** of a blemish. Rabbi Yoḥanan therefore teaches that they are disqualified by Torah law, as they are not equal among the seed of Aaron.


###### Bekhorot 43b:12
[Bekhorot 43b:12](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bekhorot/r/43b:12)

מַאן הַאי תַּנָּא? רַבִּי יְהוּדָה הִיא, דְּתַנְיָא: רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר: ״הַכֹּהֲנִים״ — לְרַבּוֹת הַקַּרְחָנִין.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara notes: **Who is this *tanna*** who says that such priests are fit by Torah law? **It is Rabbi Yehuda, as it is taught** in a *baraita* that **Rabbi Yehuda says:** When the verse states: “And Aaron’s sons, **the priests,** shall lay the pieces” (Leviticus 1:8), this serves **to include the bald** priests in the performance of the Temple service.


###### Bekhorot 43b:13
[Bekhorot 43b:13](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bekhorot/r/43b:13)

**מַתְנִי׳** אֵין לוֹ גְּבִינִין, אוֹ אֵין לוֹ אֶלָּא גְּבִין אֶחָד — זֶהוּ גִּבֵּן הָאָמוּר בְּתוֹרָה. רַבִּי דּוֹסָא אוֹמֵר: (שֶׁגְּבִינִין) [שֶׁגְּבִינָיו] שׁוֹכְבִין. רַבִּי חֲנִינָא בֶּן אַנְטִיגְנוֹס אוֹמֵר: שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ שְׁנֵי גַּבִּין וּשְׁתֵּי שִׁדְרָאוֹת.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**MISHNA:** If a priest **has no eyebrows, or** if **he has only one eyebrow, that is the *gibben* that is stated in the Torah** in the list of blemished priests (see Leviticus 21:20). **Rabbi Dosa says:** A *gibben* is one **whose eyebrows** are so long that they **lie** flat and cover his eyes. **Rabbi Ḥanina ben Antigonus says:** A *gibben* is one **who has two backs and two spines.**


###### Bekhorot 43b:14
[Bekhorot 43b:14](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bekhorot/r/43b:14)

**גְּמָ׳** וְגִבֵּן — דְּאֵין לוֹ מַשְׁמַע? וּרְמִינְהוּ: ״גִּבֵּן״ — שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ גְּבִינִין הַרְבֵּה, אֵין לוֹ גְּבִינִין, אוֹ אֵין לוֹ אֶלָּא גְּבִין אַחַד — מִנַּיִן? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: ״אוֹ גִבֵּן״. אָמַר רָבָא: זֶהוּ מִדְרָשׁ ״אוֹ גִּבֵּן״.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**GEMARA:** The mishna teaches that the *gibben* stated in the Torah is one who lacks eyebrows. The Gemara asks: **But** does ***gibben* mean** one **who does not have** eyebrows? **And** the Gemara **raises a contradiction** from a *baraita*: When it is stated that a priest who is **a *gibben*** is disqualified from performing the Temple service (see Leviticus 21:20), this is referring to one **who has many eyebrows.** With regard to one **who has no eyebrows or who has only one eyebrow, from where** is it derived that he is disqualified as well? **The** same **verse states: “Or a *gibben*.”** Clearly, the disqualification of one lacking eyebrows is not derived from the mention of a *gibben*, but from the term “or.” **Rava said** the mishna should be understood as follows: One who has no eyebrows is disqualified, and **this is** derived from **the exposition** of the phrase **“or a *gibben*.”**


###### Bekhorot 43b:15
[Bekhorot 43b:15](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bekhorot/r/43b:15)

רַבִּי דּוֹסָא אוֹמֵר כּוּ׳. לְמֵימְרָא דְּחָיֵי? וְהָא אִיתְּמַר: הַמַּפֶּלֶת בְּרִיָּה שֶׁיֵּשׁ לָהּ שְׁנֵי גַּבִּין וּשְׁתֵּי שִׁדְרָאוֹת, וְאָמַר רַב: בָּאִשָּׁה — אֵינוֹ וָולָד, בַּבְּהֵמָה — אָסוּר בַּאֲכִילָה!

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
§ The mishna teaches that **Rabbi Dosa says** a *gibben* is one whose eyebrows are so long that they lie flat and cover his eyes, and Rabbi Ḥanina ben Antigonus says that a *gibben* is one who has two backs and two spines. The Gemara asks: Is this **to say that** a person with two backs and two spines is capable of **living? But it was stated** that the Sages discussed the case of **one who miscarries an entity that has two backs and two spines, and Rav said** that **in** the case of **a woman** who miscarries such an entity, it **is not** considered **an offspring,** as it cannot survive, and therefore she does not have the ritual impurity caused by childbirth, and **in** the case of **an animal** who miscarries, the entity is **prohibited for consumption.**


###### Bekhorot 43b:16
[Bekhorot 43b:16](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bekhorot/r/43b:16)

כְּבָר רְמָא נִיהֲלֵיהּ רַב שִׁימִי בַּר חִיָּיא לְרַב, וַאֲמַר לֵיהּ: שִׁימִי אֶת! אֶלָּא בְּשֶׁשִּׁדְרָתוֹ עֲקוּמָּה.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara responds: **Rav Shimi bar Ḥiyya already raised this contradiction to Rav,** his grandfather, **and** Rav **said to him:** Are **you** really **Shimi?** Rabbi Ḥanina ben Antigonus is not referring literally to someone with two backs and two spines, **but to** a person **whose spine is crooked,** causing it to appear as though he has two spines. Such a person can survive but is disqualified from performing the Temple service.


###### Bekhorot 43b:17
[Bekhorot 43b:17](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bekhorot/r/43b:17)

**מַתְנִי׳** הֶחָרוּם פָּסוּל. אֵיזֶהוּ חָרוּם? הַכּוֹחֵל שְׁתֵּי עֵינָיו כְּאַחַת. שְׁתֵּי עֵינָיו לְמַעְלָה, וּשְׁתֵּי עֵינָיו לְמַטָּה, עֵינוֹ אַחַת לְמַעְלָה וְעֵינוֹ אַחַת לְמַטָּה, רוֹאֶה אֶת הַחֶדֶר וְאֶת הָעֲלִיָּיה כְּאֶחָד, סָכֵי שֶׁמֶשׁ, וְהַזַּגְדָּן, וְהַצַּיְרָן, וְשֶׁנָּשְׁרוּ רִיסֵי עֵינָיו — פָּסוּל מִפְּנֵי מַרְאִית הָעַיִן.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**MISHNA:** **The *ḥarum* is disqualified** from performing the Temple service. **What is a *ḥarum*?** It is **one who** can **paint both of his eyes as one,** with one brushstroke, because he has a sunken nose. If **both of one’s eyes** are **above or both of his eyes** are **below;** or if **one of his eyes** is **above and one of his eyes** is **below;** or if both eyes are in the proper place but **he sees** both **the room** on the ground floor **and the upper story as one,** at the same time; and likewise those unable to **look at the sun; and one whose eyes are different; and one whose eyes tear constantly,** these are disqualified from performing the Temple service. **And one whose eyelashes have fallen out** is **disqualified** from performing the Temple service **due to the appearance** of a blemish. Unlike the others listed in this mishna, who are disqualified by Torah law, one with this condition is not disqualified by Torah law. Rather, the Sages issued a decree prohibiting a priest with such a condition to perform the Temple service.


###### Bekhorot 43b:18
[Bekhorot 43b:18](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bekhorot/r/43b:18)

**גְּמָ׳** תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: ״חָרוּם״ — שֶׁחוֹטְמוֹ שָׁקוּעַ, חוֹטְמוֹ סוֹלֵד, חוֹטְמוֹ בּוֹלֵם, חוֹטְמוֹ נוֹטֵף, מִנַּיִן? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: ״אוֹ חָרוּם״. רַבִּי יוֹסֵי אוֹמֵר: אֵין ״חָרוּם״ אֶלָּא הַכּוֹחֵל שְׁתֵּי עֵינָיו כְּאַחַת. אָמְרוּ לוֹ: הִפְלַגְתָּ,

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**GEMARA:** **The Sages taught** in a *baraita*: When it is stated that **a *ḥarum*** is considered a blemished priest (Leviticus 21:18), this is referring to a priest **whose nose is sunk.** If **his nose retreats,** i.e., it is very short and contracted upward, or if **his nose** is **blocked,** or if **his nose** is so long that it **droops, from where** is it derived that he is considered blemished? **The** same **verse states: “Or a *ḥarum*.”** The term “or” serves to include all blemishes of the nose. **Rabbi Yosei says: A *ḥarum* is only one who** can **paint both of his eyes as one. They said to him: You have gone** too **far** in limiting your definition of a *ḥarum*.