## Bekhorot Daf 8b

###### Bekhorot 8b:1
[Bekhorot 8b:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bekhorot/r/8b:1)

מִי כְּתִיב ״מִכׇּל הַחַיָּה וּמִכׇּל הַבְּהֵמָה״? ״מִכׇּל הַבְּהֵמָה וּמִכֹּל הַחַיָּה״ כְּתִיב! אָרוּר הוּא מִבְּהֵמָה שֶׁנִּתְקַלְּלָה מֵחַיָּה.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara responds: **Is it written:** Cursed are you **from among all beasts, and from among all animals?** No, **it is written: “From among all animals, and from among all beasts,”** meaning that **it is cursed from among the domesticated animals, which were cursed from among the undomesticated animals.**


###### Bekhorot 8b:2
[Bekhorot 8b:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bekhorot/r/8b:2)

וְאֵימָא: כְּשֵׁם שֶׁנִּתְקַלְּלָה בְּהֵמָה מֵחַיָּה אֶחָד לְשָׁלֹשׁ, וּמַאי נִיהוּ? עֵז מֵחָתוּל, כָּךְ נִתְקַלֵּל הוּא מִבְּהֵמָה אֶחָד לְשָׁלֹשׁ, דְּהָוֵה לֵיהּ חֲמֵיסַר יַרְחֵי!

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara challenges: Why must it mean that the snake was cursed more than the donkey in the same proportion that the donkey was cursed more than the cat? **But say** instead that **just as the domesticated animals were cursed** more **than the undomesticated animals** by a measure of **one to three;** the Gemara interjects: **And** in **what** case **is that?** It is in the case of **a goat,** whose gestation period is five months, compared **to a cat,** whose gestation period is fifty-two days. The Gemara continues its challenge: **So too,** the snake **was cursed** more **than the domesticated animals,** i.e., the goat, by a proportion of **one to three, which is fifteen months.**


###### Bekhorot 8b:3
[Bekhorot 8b:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bekhorot/r/8b:3)

אִיבָּעֵית אֵימָא: ״מִכׇּל הַבְּהֵמָה״ כְּתִיב. אִי בָּעֵית אֵימָא: קְלָלָה הוּא, קְלָלָה שְׁדִי עִילָּוֵיהּ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara answers: **If you wish, say** that **it is written:** “Cursed are you **from among all animals,”** including the most accursed of them, i.e., the donkey. **If you wish, say** instead that since **it is a curse** that the snake received here, the verse **imposes upon it** the most extreme **curse** that can be derived from the text.


###### Bekhorot 8b:4
[Bekhorot 8b:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bekhorot/r/8b:4)

אֲמַר לֵיהּ קֵיסָר לְרַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן חֲנַנְיָה: נָחָשׁ לְכַמָּה מִיעַבַּר וּמוֹלֵיד? אֲמַר לֵיהּ: לְשַׁב שְׁנֵי. וְהָא סָבֵי דְּבֵי אַתּוּנָא אַרְבְּעִינְהוּ, וְאוֹלִיד לִתְלָת! הָנְהוּ מִיעַבְּרִי הֲווֹ מֵעִיקָּרָא אַרְבַּע. וְהָא קָמְשַׁמְּשִׁי שַׁמּוֹשֵׁי! אִינְהוּ נָמֵי מְשַׁמְּשִׁי כְּאָדָם.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
§ With regard to the gestation time of a snake, the Gemara relates that **the** Roman **emperor said to Rabbi Yehoshua ben Ḥananya:** In the case of **a snake, after how long** a period of **gestation does it give birth?** Rabbi Yehoshua ben Ḥananya **said to him: After seven years.** The emperor said to him: **But the elders,** i.e., the sages, **of the school of Athens bred** snakes **and they gave birth after three** years. Rabbi Yehoshua ben Ḥananya responded: **Those** snakes **were** already **pregnant from beforehand** for **four** years. The emperor asked: **But they engaged in intercourse,** and animals do so only in order to give birth, not when they are already pregnant. Rabbi Yehoshua responded: Snakes **also engage in intercourse like people,** i.e., they do not do so solely for reproduction.


###### Bekhorot 8b:5
[Bekhorot 8b:5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bekhorot/r/8b:5)

וְהָא חַכִּימֵי אִינְהוּ? אֲנַן חֲכִימִינַן מִינַּיְיהוּ. אִי חֲכִימַתְּ, זִיל זַכִּינְהוּ וְאַיְתִינְהוּ לִי! אֲמַר לֵיהּ: כַּמָּה הָווּ? שִׁיתִּין גַּבְרֵי.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The emperor said to him: **But** how can you disagree with the sages of Athens? **Aren’t they wise?** Rabbi Yehoshua ben Ḥananya responded: **We are wiser than they.** The emperor said: **If you are wiser** than they, then **go defeat them** in debate **and bring them to me.** Rabbi Yehoshua **said to him: How many are there?** The emperor answered: **Sixty men.**


###### Bekhorot 8b:6
[Bekhorot 8b:6](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bekhorot/r/8b:6)

אֲמַר לֵיהּ: עֲבֵיד לִי סְפִינְתָּא דְּאִית בַּהּ שִׁיתִּין בָּתֵּי, וְכֹל בֵּיתָא אִית בַּהּ שִׁיתִּין בִּיסְתַּרְקֵי. עֲבַד לֵיהּ. כִּי מְטָא לְהָתָם לְבֵי טַבָּחָא, אַשְׁכְּחֵיהּ לְהָהוּא גַּבְרָא דְּקָא פָשֵׁיט חֵיוְתָא. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: רֵישָׁךְ לְזַבּוֹנֵי? אֲמַר לֵיהּ: אִין. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: בְּכַמָּה? אֲמַר לֵיהּ: בְּפַלְגָא דְּזוּזָא. יְהַב לֵיהּ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
Rabbi Yehoshua ben Ḥananya **said to him: Construct a ship that has sixty rooms for me, and each room** should **have sixty mattresses [*bistarkei*] in it.** The emperor **constructed** it **for him.** Rabbi Yehoshua then set out on the ship for Athens. **When** he **arrived there,** he entered **a butcher shop** and **found a certain man,** the butcher, **flaying an animal.** Rabbi Yehoshua **said to him: Is your head for sale?** The butcher **said to him: Yes** it is. Rabbi Yehoshua **said to him: For how much** is it being sold? The butcher **said to him: For half a dinar.** Rabbi Yehoshua **gave him** the money.


###### Bekhorot 8b:7
[Bekhorot 8b:7](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bekhorot/r/8b:7)

לְסוֹף, אֲמַר לֵיהּ: אֲנָא רֵישָׁא דְּחֵיוְתָא אֲמַרִי לָךְ? אֲמַר לֵיהּ: אִי בָּעֵית דְּאֶשְׁבְּקָךְ סַגִּי אַחְוִי לִי פִּיתְחָא דְּבֵי אַתּוּנָא. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: מִסְתְּפֵינָא דְּכֹל דְּמַחְוֵי קָטְלִי לֵיהּ. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: דְּרִי כְּרִיכָא דִּקְנֵיא, וְכִי מָטֵית לְהָתָם זִקְפֵהּ כְּמַאן דְּקָא מִתְּפַח.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**After** Rabbi Yehoshua paid the butcher, **he said to him:** Did **I say to you** that I wanted **the head of the animal?** I was referring to your head, and you must now keep your word and give me your head. Rabbi Yehoshua **said to him: If you wish for me to let you be, go** and **show me the entrance to the school of** the sages of **Athens.** The butcher **said to him: I am afraid, as they kill anyone who shows** its location to another. Rabbi Yehoshua **said to him: Carry a bundle of reeds, and when you arrive there, stand it up like one who is resting,** to mark the location. The butcher did this, and Rabbi Yehoshua successfully found the entrance.


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

אַשְׁכַּח דַּרְבְּנָאֵי מִגַּוַּאי וְדַרְבְּנָאֵי מִבָּרַאי, דְּאִי חָזוּ כַּרְעָא דְּעָיְילָא — קָטְלִי לְהוּ לְבָרַאי, וּדְנָפְקָא — קָטְלִי לְהוּ לְגַוַּאי.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
Rabbi Yehoshua **found guards** stationed **on the inside and guards** stationed **on the outside** to ensure that no one could enter or exit. They also spread sand on the ground in the entranceway so that they could detect if anyone entered or left. **If they saw footsteps that were entering** they would **kill the outer** guards for allowing people to enter, **and** if they saw footsteps **that were exiting** they would **kill the inner** guards for allowing people to leave.


###### Bekhorot 8b:9
[Bekhorot 8b:9](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bekhorot/r/8b:9)

אַפְכֵהּ לְסַנְדָּלֵיהּ — קָטְלִי לְהוּ לְגַוָּאֵי, אַפְכֵהּ לְסַנְדָּלֵיהּ — קָטְלִי לְהוּ לְכוּלְּהוּ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
Rabbi Yehoshua **reversed his sandal** so it was facing away from the entrance, walked on the sand, and snuck away, thereby creating the appearance of someone who had left the building. When the authorities saw the footsteps, **they killed the inner** guards. Rabbi Yehoshua then returned, **reversed his sandal,** and made footsteps in the sand indicating that someone had entered the building. They then **killed all** the guards, including the outer ones, and Rabbi Yehoshua succeeded in entering the building.


###### Bekhorot 8b:10
[Bekhorot 8b:10](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bekhorot/r/8b:10)

אַשְׁכַּח יָנוֹקֵי מִלְּעֵיל, סָבֵי מִלְּתַחַת. אֲמַר: אִי יָהֵיבְנָא שְׁלָמָא לְהָנֵי, קָטְלִי לִי הָנֵי, סָבְרִי: אֲנַן עֲדִיפִינַן, דַּאֲנַן קַשִּׁינַן טְפֵי וְאִינְהוּ דַּרְדַּקֵּי.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
Rabbi Yehoshua **found the younger** sages sitting in the **upper,** more prominent section, and **the elder** ones in the **lower** section. **He said** to himself: I must first greet the younger sages, as they are sitting in the upper section, prior to the elder sages; but **if I greet these** younger sages first, **those** elder sages will **kill me,** as **they maintain: We are better, because we are older and they are children.**


###### Bekhorot 8b:11
[Bekhorot 8b:11](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bekhorot/r/8b:11)

אֲמַר: שְׁלָמָא לְכוּ. אֲמַרוּ לֵיהּ: מַאי עֲבִידְתָּיךְ? אֲמַר לְהוּ: אֲנָא חַכִּימָא דִיהוּדָאֵי אֲנָא, בָּעֵינָא לְמִיגְמַר חֻכְמְתָא מִינַּיְיכוּ. אִי הָכִי, נִיבְעֵי לָךְ! אֲמַר לְהוּ: לְחַיֵּי, אִי זָכֵיתוּ — כֹּל דְּבָעֵיתוּ עֲבִידוּ בִּי, וְאִי זָכֵינָא בְּכוּ — אִיכְלוּ גַּבַּאי בִּסְפִינְתָּא.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
Rabbi Yehoshua **said: Greetings to you,** but did not directly address either group. **They said to him: What are you doing** here? Rabbi Yehoshua **said to them: I am a Sage of the Jews,** and **I desire to learn wisdom from you.** They said to him: **If so, we will ask you** questions and see if you are worthy of this privilege. Rabbi Yehoshua **said to them: Very well. If you win, you may do to me anything you wish, and if I defeat you,** then **eat with me on my ship.**


###### Bekhorot 8b:12
[Bekhorot 8b:12](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bekhorot/r/8b:12)

אֲמַרוּ לֵיהּ: הַהוּא גַּבְרָא דְּאָזֵיל וּבָעֵי אִתְּתָא וְלָא יָהֲבוּ לֵיהּ, מַאי חֲזֵי לֵיהּ דְּאָזֵיל הֵיכָא דְּמִדְּלוּ מִינָּיהּ? שְׁקַל סִיכְּתָא, דָּצַהּ לְתַתַּאי — לָא עָאל, לְעִילַּאי — עָאל. אֲמַר: הַאי נָמֵי מִיתְרְמֵי בַּת מַזָּלֵיהּ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The sages of Athens **said to him:** In the case of **a certain man who goes and asks** to marry **a woman and** her family **does not give** her **to him, why would he see** fit **to go to** a family **that is greater than** the first? Rabbi Yehoshua **took a peg** and **stuck it** into the **lower** part of the wall, but it did **not go in.** He then stuck it **into the upper** portion of the wall where there was a hole, and it **went in. He said** to them: In **this** case **too,** where he goes to a more distinguished family than the first, perhaps he will **find the girl destined** for him.


###### Bekhorot 8b:13
[Bekhorot 8b:13](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bekhorot/r/8b:13)

גַּבְרָא דְּאוֹזֵיף וְטָרֵיף, מַאי חֲזָא דַּהֲדַר אוֹזֵיף? אֲמַר לְהוּ: גַּבְרָא אֲזַל לְאַגְמָא, קְטַל קַמָּא טוּנָא וְלָא מָצֵי בֵּיהּ, קָטֵיל וּמַנַּח עִילָּוֵיהּ, עַד (דְּאִיתְרְמִי) [דְּמִיתְרְמֵי] אִינִישׁ מַדְלֵי לֵיהּ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The sages of Athens asked him another question: In the case of **a man who lends** money to an individual and the borrower does not repay the loan, **and** the lender **repossesses** the borrower’s property as payment instead, **why would** he **see** fit **to lend** to others **again?** Rabbi Yehoshua **said to them:** This is what people do: If **a man goes to the pond, initially cuts a bundle** of reeds, **but** finds that he **cannot** lift **it,** he does not stop cutting wood. Instead, he **cuts** more wood **and places** it **upon** the first, **until a person happens** to pass by and helps him **raise it** upon his shoulders, so that he can carry it home. So too, a person continues to lend based on the assumption that he will eventually find an appropriate borrower.


###### Bekhorot 8b:14
[Bekhorot 8b:14](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bekhorot/r/8b:14)

אֲמַרוּ לֵיהּ: אֵימָא לַן מִילֵּי דִּבְדִיאִי! אֲמַר לְהוּ: הֲוָה הַהִוא כּוּדַנְיְתָא דִּילִידָא, וַהֲוָה תְּלֵי לֵיהּ פִּיתְקָא, וּכְתַב בֵּיהּ דְּמַסֵּיק בְּבֵי אַבָּא מְאָה אַלְפָּא זוּזֵי. אֲמַרוּ לֵיהּ: וְכוּדַנְיְתָא מִי יָלְדָה? אֲמַר לְהוּ: (הֵי נִיהוּ) [הָנֵי נִינְהוּ] מִילֵּי דִבְדִיאִי.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The sages of Athens **said to him: Say to us a matter of nonsense.** Rabbi Yehoshua **said to them: There was a certain mule that gave birth, and a note was hanging on** the newborn mule’s neck **and on it was written that it is owed 100,000 dinars by its father’s household. They said to him: But can a mule give birth?** Rabbi Yehoshua **said to them: This is** why it is **a matter of nonsense,** as it is impossible for a mule to give birth.


###### Bekhorot 8b:15
[Bekhorot 8b:15](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bekhorot/r/8b:15)

מִילְחָא כִּי סָרְיָא, בְּמַאי מָלְחִי לַהּ? אֲמַר לְהוּ: בְּסִילְתָּא דְכוּדַנְיְתָא. וּמִי אִיכָּא סִילְתָּא לְכוּדַנְתָּא? וּמִילְחָא מִי סְרֵי?

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The sages of Athens then asked another question: **When salt is spoiling, with what does one salt it** to preserve it? Rabbi Yehoshua **said to them: With the placenta of a mule.** They said to him: **But is there a placenta of a mule?** Rabbi Yehoshua said to them: **And does salt spoil?**


###### Bekhorot 8b:16
[Bekhorot 8b:16](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bekhorot/r/8b:16)

בְּנִי לַן בֵּיתָא בַּאֲוִירָא דְּעָלְמָא! אָמַר שֵׁם, תְּלָא בֵּין רְקִיעָא לְאַרְעָא. אֲמַר לְהוּ: אַסִּיקוּ לִי לִיבְנֵי וְטִינָא. מְצִיעֲתֵיהּ דְּעָלְמָא הֵיכָא? זַקְפַהּ לְאֶצְבַּעְתֵּיהּ, אֲמַר לְהוּ: הָכָא. אֲמַרוּ לֵיהּ: וּמִי יֵימַר? אַיְיתוֹ אַשְׁלֵי וּמְשַׁחוּ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
They said to him: **Build us a house in the air of the world.** Rabbi Yehoshua **uttered a Name** of God and **hovered between the sky and the earth. He said to them: Bring up to me bricks and mortar** and I will build you a house here. They asked him: **Where is the center of the world?** Rabbi Yehoshua **raised his finger** and **said to them: Here. They said to him: And who says** that you are correct? He said to them: **Bring ropes and measure.**


###### Bekhorot 8b:17
[Bekhorot 8b:17](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bekhorot/r/8b:17)

אִית לַן בֵּירָא בְּדַבְרָא, עַיְילֵאּ לְמָתָא! אֲמַר לְהוּ: אַפְשִׁילוּ לִי חַבְלֵי מִפָּארֵי וַאֲעַיְּילֵיהּ. אִית לַן רִיחְיָא דִּתְבִירָא, חַיְּיטַיהּ. אֲמַר: כְּרוּכוּ לִי מִינַּיהּ גַּרְדֵי וְאִיחַיְּיטַיהּ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
They said to him: **We have a pit in the field; bring it to the city.** Rabbi Yehoshua **said to them: Braid ropes** made **of bran for me and I will bring it** to the city with them. They then said to him: **We have a mill that broke; sew it** back together. Rabbi Yehoshua **said** to them: **Pull out threads from** the mill **for me and I will sew them** together.


###### Bekhorot 8b:18
[Bekhorot 8b:18](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bekhorot/r/8b:18)

מְשָׁרָא דְּסַכִּינֵי בְּמַאי קָטְלִי? בְּקַרְנָא דַּחֲמָרָא. וּמִי אִיכָּא קַרְנָא לַחֲמָרָא? וּמִי אִיכָּא מְשָׁרָא דְּסַכִּינֵי?

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
They asked him another question: **With what does one harvest a field of knives?** Rabbi Yehoshua answered: **With the horn of a donkey.** They said to him: **But is there** such an item as **a horn of a donkey?** He said to them: **But is there** such a thing as **a field of knives?**


###### Bekhorot 8b:19
[Bekhorot 8b:19](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bekhorot/r/8b:19)

אַיְיתוֹ לֵיהּ תְּרֵי בֵּיעֵי, אֲמַרוּ לֵיהּ: הֵי דְּזַגְתָּא אוּכַּמְתִּי וְהֵי דְּזַגְתָּא חִיוַּורְתִּי? אַיְיתִי לְהוּ אִיהוּ תְּרֵי גְּבִינֵי, אֲמַר לְהוּ: הֵי דְּעִיזָּא אוּכַּמְתִּי וְהֵי דְּעִיזָּא חִיוַּורְתִּי?

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**They brought him two eggs** and **said to him: Which is** the egg **of a black hen and which is** the egg **of a white hen?** Rabbi Yehoshua **brought them two cheeses,** and **said to them: Which** is the cheese **from the black goat and which** is **from the white goat?**


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

וַרְצוּצָא דְּמִית, מֵהֵיכָא נָפֵיק רוּחֵיהּ? מֵהֵיכָא דְּעָל נְפַק. אַחְוִי לַן מָנָא דְּלָא שָׁוֵי חֲבִילֵיהּ! אַיְיתִי (כֹּל חַד וְחַד) בּוּדְיָא, פַּשְׁטֵיהּ. לָא הֲוָה עָיֵיל בְּתַרְעָא. אֲמַר לְהוּ: אַיְיתוֹ מָרֵי סִיתְרוּהּ. הַיְינוּ מָנָא דְּלָא שָׁוֵי חֲבִילֵיהּ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
They asked him: **And** in the case of **a chick that dies** inside the egg, **from where does its spirit exit?** Rabbi Yehoshua said to them: **From where it enters, it departs.** They said to him: **Show us a utensil that is not worth the damage** that it causes. Rabbi Yehoshua said to them: **Each one of you bring a mat** and **spread it out.** When they did so, each mat **did not enter the gate** due to its size. Rabbi Yehoshua **said to them: Bring axes** and **break** the gate so that you can bring it inside. **This is a utensil that is not worth its damage.**


###### Bekhorot 8b:21
[Bekhorot 8b:21](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bekhorot/r/8b:21)

אַיְתִינְהוּ כֹּל חַד וְחַד, כִּי חָזֵי שִׁיתִּין בִּיסְתַּרְקֵי, אָמַר: כּוּלְּהוּ חַבְרַאי לְהָכָא אָתוּ. אֲמַר לֵיהּ לְסָפוֹנָא: שְׁרִי סְפִינְתָּךְ. בַּהֲדֵי דְּקָאָתוּ שְׁקַל עַפְרָא מֵעַפְרַיְיהוּ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
§ After Rabbi Yehoshua defeated the sages of Athens in debate, **he brought them** to his ship as they had agreed. He then brought each one to a different room. **When each one saw the sixty mattresses** in his room, **he said** to himself: **All of my colleagues are coming here,** and waited for them without attempting to leave. Rabbi Yehoshua **said to the sailor: Release your ship,** i.e., begin sailing. **While they were coming** to the emperor in Rome, **he took** out some **dirt** that he had taken **from the dirt of** Athens.