Bekhorot 35

Chapter 35

א סבר לה כרבי יוסי הגלילי דאמר אפשר לצמצם בידי שמים וכל שכן בידי אדם
1 holds with R'Jose the Galilean who said: It is possible to ascertain simultaneity in natural processes, and how much more so in human actions.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Whereas our enquiry is with reference to the view of the Rabbis.');"><sup>1</sup></span> May we say that Tannaim differ in this matter?
ב נימא כתנאי נמצא מכוון בין שתי עיירות לא היו עורפין ר' אליעזר אומר שתיהן מביאות שתי עגלות מאי לאו בהא קמיפלגי דתנא קמא סבר אי אפשר לצמצם ורבי אליעזר סבר אפשר לצמצם
2 If [a slain body was] found at the same distance between two cities, we do not perform the ceremony of breaking the heifer's neck.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' For each city can maintain that it is not the nearest.');"><sup>2</sup></span> R'Eliezer says: Both cities bring two heifers. Is not the difference of opinion based on this very point? For the first Tanna holds: that it is impossible to be exact,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' And therefore there is no ceremony of breaking the heifer's neck at all.');"><sup>3</sup></span>
ג ותיסברא אי קסבר תנא קמא אי אפשר לצמצם אמאי לא היו עורפים יביאו עגלה אחת בשותפות ויתנו
3 whereas R'Eliezer holds that it is possible to be exact! - But can you really say this? If the first Tanna holds that it is impossible to be exact, why did they not have the ceremony of breaking the heifer's neck? Let the two cities bring one heifer between them and make a stipulation?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' 'If', let each city say, 'I am the nearest then the heifer shall atone for me, and if my neighbour is the nearest, it shall atone for her'.');"><sup>4</sup></span>
ד אלא להני תנאי דכולי עלמא אפשר לצמצם והכא בקרובה ולא קרובות קמיפלגי דתנא קמא סבר קרובה ולא קרובות ורבי אליעזר סבר קרובה ואפי' קרובות
4 Rather, according to these Tannaim quoted above, they all hold that it is possible to be exact.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' For they concur with R. Jose.');"><sup>5</sup></span> The point at issue, however, is whether we hold that the words '[the city] which is nearest', imply 'but not [the cities] which are nearest': The first Tanna holds: The words, 'Which is nearest' imply 'but not [the cities] which are nearest', whereas R'Eliezer holds: '[The city] which is nearest', implies even [the cities] which are nearest. What do we decide?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' According to the Rabbis, is it possible to be precise in human actions or not?');"><sup>6</sup></span> R'Hiyya B'Abin reported in the name of R'Amram: A Tanna taught: If a slain body is found at exactly the same distance between two cities, R'Eliezer says: Both cities bring two heifers, whereas the Sages say: They shall bring one heifer between them and make a stipulation.
ה מאי הוי עלה אמר רב חייא בר אבין אמר רב עמרם תנא נמצא מכוון בין שתי עיירות ר' אליעזר אומר שתיהן מביאות שתי עגלות וחכמים אומרים יביאו עגלה אחת בשותפות ויתנו
5 Now what is the reasoning of the Rabbis [Sages]? If the Rabbis hold that it is possible to be exact and the words '[The city] which is nearest', imply also '[the cities] which are nearest', then let them bring two heifers. And if the words '[The city] which is nearest' imply 'but not [the cities] which are nearest, then they should not bring even one heifer? You can, therefore, deduce from this that the Rabbis hold that it is impossible to be exact even in human actions. This is proved.
ו מאי קסברי רבנן אי קסברי רבנן דאפשר לצמצם וקרובה ואפי' קרובות לייתי תרתי ואי קרובה ולא קרובות אפי' חדא לא לייתי אלא לאו שמע מינה קסברי רבנן אי אפשר לצמצם ואפילו בידי אדם שמע מינה:
6 R'TARFON SAYS: THE PRIEST CHOOSES FOR HIMSELF THE BETTER ONE. What is the reason of R'Tarfon? - He holds that the animal which is stronger came forth first. R'AKIBA SAYS: WE COMPROMISE BETWEEN THEM, etc. R'Hiyya B'Abba reported in the name of R'Johanan: The priest takes the lean one. Said R'Hiyya B'Abba to R'Johanan: But do we not read meshammenin?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' This is taken to be connected with rt. meaning 'fat', indicating that the difference in the value of the fat one is shared between the Israelite and the priest.');"><sup>7</sup></span> - He replied to him: While you were not yet eating date-berries<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., while yet young.');"><sup>8</sup></span>
ז ר' טרפון אומר [הכהן] בורר לו את היפה: מאי טעמא דרבי טרפון קא סבר ההוא דבריא נפק ברישא:
7 in Babylonia, we expounded R'Akiba's statement from the latter part of the<big><b>MISHNAH:</b></big> For the latter part of the Mishnah says: IF ONE OF THEM DIES, R'TARFON SAYS THEY DIVIDE IT. R'AKIBA SAYS: THE CLAIMANT MUST PRODUCE THE EVIDENCE. Now, if we were to assume that the word meshammenin etc. means that they are divided equally, here also let them divide the live animal equally! Rather what is meant by meshammenin is that the fat animal [remains to be divided] between them,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' And the priest takes the lean one, failing the evidence that the fat one was a first-born.');"><sup>9</sup></span>
ח ר' עקיבא אומר משמנין כו': אמר רבי חייא בר אבא אמר ר' יוחנן הכהן נוטל כחושה אמר ליה רבי חייא בר אבא לרבי יוחנן והא אנן משמנין ביניהן תנן אמר ליה עד דאכלת כפנייתא בבבל תרגימנא מסיפא
8 for [the Israelite] says to the priest: Bring a proof that it is a firstling and take it.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' In the same way as in the latter part of the Mishnah according to R. Akiba, for we apply here the principle of money of doubtful ownership.');"><sup>10</sup></span> AND THE SECOND ONE [IN THE POSSESSION OF THE ISRAELITE] IS LEFT TO PASTURE UNTIL IT IS BLEMISHED What is the reason of R'Meir?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., the anonymous Mishnah which always represents the view of R. Meir.');"><sup>11</sup></span> - Said R'Johanan: Because the priest can make a claim upon him from two sides. For he can say to him: If it is a firstling then it belongs to me entirely. And if it is not a firstl give me the priest's gifts therefrom. And R'Jose - what is his reason?
ט דקתני סיפא מת אחד מהן רבי טרפון אומר יחלוקו ר' עקיבא אומר המוציא מחבירו עליו הראיה ואי סלקא דעתך משמנין ביניהן דכי הדדי פליגי הכי נמי ליפלגי גבי הדדי אלא מאי משמנין שומן יהא ביניהן דאמר ליה לכהן אייתי ראיה דבכור הוא ושקיל:
9 Said Raba: [The Rabbis] put one who had not taken possession, in the position of one who had taken possession. So although it had not reached the priest's hands, it is as if it had reached his hands and he had sold it to the Israelite when blemished.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' And then the priest received something in return, i.e the other animal, and a priest who sold a firstling to an Israelite is, according to the ruling (supra 12b) exempt from the priest's gifts.');"><sup>12</sup></span> Said R'Eleazar: All [the authorities concerned] agree that an animal which is a doubtful first-born, since the priest has [a beast] in its stead,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Where for example a female and a male are born and there is a doubt as to the first-birth, since the priest received nothing in its place, the animal grazes until it is blemished and is therefore liable for the priest's gifts, for in such a case you cannot argue that it is as if it had been acquired by the priest and subsequently sold to the Israelite, as the priest received nothing in return.');"><sup>13</sup></span> is liable for the priest's gifts. [You say] all the authorities concerned. No whose view does this represent? R'Jose's! But is not this obvious?
י והשני ירעה עד שיסתאב וחייב במתנות ורבי יוסי פוטר: מאי טעמא דרבי מאיר אמר ר' יוחנן הואיל וכהן בא עליו משני צדדין דאמר ליה אי בכור הוא כוליה דידי הוא אי לא בכור הוא הב לי מתנות מיניה
10 For R'Jose exempts only where the priest has [a beast] in its stead, in which case [the Sages] put one who has not taken possession, in the position of one who had taken possession. But where the priest has nothing In its stead, it is not so? - You might have thought that the reason of R'Jose was because he held that if you make him liable for the priest's gifts he may come to shear and work [the animal], even where the priest has nothing in its stead. He consequently informs us [that we do not fear this]. But how can you say this?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' That the reason of R. Jose was because of the fear of shearing and working the animal.');"><sup>14</sup></span> Have we not learnt [in the subsequent Mishnah]: For R'Jose used to say:
יא ור' יוסי מאי טעמא אמר רבא עשו שאינו זוכה כזוכה ואע"ג דלא מטא לידיה כמאן דמטא לידיה וזבניה לישראל במומיה
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יב א"ר אלעזר הכל מודים בספק בכור שאין חליפין ביד כהן שחייב במתנות
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יג הכל מודים מאן ר' יוסי פשיטא עד כאן לא קא פטר ר' יוסי התם אלא דחליפין ביד כהן דעשו שאינו זוכה כזוכה אבל אין חליפין ביד כהן לא
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יד מהו דתימא טעמא דרבי יוסי דקסבר דאי מחייבת ליה במתנות אתי ליה לידי גיזה ועבודה אע"ג דאין חליפין ביד כהן קא משמע לן
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טו ומי מצית אמרת הכי והתני סיפא שהיה רבי יוסי אומר
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