Bekhorot 88

Chapter 88

א <big><strong>מתני׳</strong></big> דדין שוכבין כשל אשה כריסו צבה טיבורו יוצא נכפה אפילו אחת לימים רוח קצרה באה עליו המאושבן ובעל גבר:
1 <big><b>MISHNAH: </b></big>IF ONE HAS LARGE<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'lying' on his body, hanging downwards.');"><sup>1</sup></span>
ב <big><strong>גמ׳</strong></big> אמר רבי אבא בריה דרבי חייא בר אבא משתינין מים בפני רבים ואין שותין מים בפני רבים ותניא נמי הכי משתינין מים בפני רבים ואין שותין מים בפני רבים ומעשה באחד שביקש להשתין מים ולא השתין ונמצא כריסו צבה
2 BREASTS LIKE THOSE OF A WOMAN, ONE WHOSE BELLY IS SWOLLEN, ONE WHOSE NAVEL PROJECTS, [OWING TO ILLNESS], ONE WHO IS SUBJECT TO EPILEPTIC SPELLS EVEN AT INFREQUENT INTERVALS,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'Even once in many days', although at fixed periods.');"><sup>2</sup></span> ONE WHO IS SUBJECT TO ASTHMATIC SPELLS,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'a short breath causes departure'. Aliter: 'a spirit of Kazrah (Al. Kazruth or Kazrith) comes on him'; a demon believed to be responsible for this ailment.');"><sup>3</sup></span> A ME'USHBAN AND A BA'AL GEBER [ALL THESE ARE UNFIT FOR THE PRIESTHOOD]. <big><b>GEMARA: </b></big>R'Abba B'R'Hiyya B'Abba reported in the name of R'Johanan: It is permitted to urinate in public,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'in the presence of many', because a delay may endanger health.');"><sup>4</sup></span> whereas it is not permitted to drink water in public.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Because it is customary for a scholar to exercise privacy in his eating and drinking.');"><sup>5</sup></span>
ג שמואל איצטריך ליה בשבתא דרגלא נגדו ליה גלימא אתא לקמיה דאבוה א"ל אתן לך ד' מאה זוזי וזיל אהדר עובדא את דאפשר לך דלא אפשר ליה ליסתכן
3 So indeed it has been taught: It is permitted to urinate in public, whereas it is not permitted to drink water in public. And it once happened that someone wanted to urinate and forewent it, and it was found that his belly was swollen. Samuel needed to urinate on a Sabbath preceding a Festival.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' It being the usual practice for a period of thirty days before a Festival to discourse on the rules and regulations appertaining to the forthcoming Festival; v. Meg. 4a.');"><sup>6</sup></span> He spread his cloak [as a screen between his audience and himself].
ד מר בר רב אשי איצטריך אגודא גמלא אשתין אמרו ליה חמתך קאתיא אמר להו באודנה
4 He came before his father [and reported this to him]. He [the latter] then said to him: 'I will give you four hundred zuz to retract this ruling,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' To urinate in their presence and thus proclaim that it was not necessary to exercise privacy when requiring to urinate.');"><sup>7</sup></span> for you were able to spread a cloak,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Owing to your honoured position. R. Gershom explains this as follows: You possess a cloak but what about those who do not own one?');"><sup>8</sup></span> but one who is not able to do so, shall he delay and expose himself to the danger? ' Mar son of R'Ashi was walking on the junction of a landing bridge when he needed [to ease himself].
ה ותיפוק לי משום עלקא בשותת
5 They said to him.' Your mother-in-law comes'.
ו ת"ר שני נקבים יש בו באדם אחד מוציא שתן ואחד מוציא שכבת זרע ואין בין זה לזה אלא כקליפת השום בשעה שאדם נצרך אם נקבו זה לתוך זה נמצא עקר
6 He replied to then,: 'Even in her ear'.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' 'I would have urinated if I had no other spot, rather than wait, and certainly in her presence'.');"><sup>9</sup></span> But may I not assume<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' In the incident reported above.');"><sup>10</sup></span> that the swelling of his belly arose from swallowing a leech?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' And not because of the delay in making water.');"><sup>11</sup></span>
ז אמר ר"ל מאי דכתיב (דברים ז, יד) לא יהיה בך עקר ועקרה ובבהמתך אימתי לא יהיה בך עקר בזמן שבבהמתך
7 - [We are dealing here in a case] when he discharged urine [laxly].<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Which proves that his belly swelled owing to the delay.');"><sup>12</sup></span> Our Rabbis taught: Two channels are in the membrum of a human being, one of which discharges urine and the other semen, and the distance between them is no more than the peel of garlic. If then a person needs to ease himself, and one channel interferes with the other, he is found to be impotent.
ח אמר רבי יהושע בן לוי לא יהיה בך עקר מן התלמידים ועקרה שלא תהא תפלתך עקורה לפני המקום אימתי בזמן שאתה משים עצמך כבהמה
8 Said Resh Lakish: What is the interpretation of the Scriptural text: There shall not be male and female barren among you or among your cattle?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Deut. VII, 14.');"><sup>13</sup></span> [It is as follows]: When will there not be a male barren among you?
ט אמר רב פפא לא ישתין אדם מים לא על כלי חרס ולא על מקום קשה דאמר רב הני מדורי דבבל מהדרי מיא לעין עיטם אמר אביי הא איתתא לא תקום להדיא באנפי ינוקא אגיסא לית לן בה
9 If you put yourself on a level with an animal.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' As regards urinating in any place, even in public, like the animal which does not possess a sense of decency.');"><sup>14</sup></span> Said R'Joshua B'Levi: The words 'There shall not be male barren' mean that your house shall not be deprived of scholars. The words 'Or female barren' mean that your prayers shall not be fruitless before the Lord.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' When praying for children, you will be answered.');"><sup>15</sup></span> And when will this be the case? If you place yourself on a level with an animal.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Prayer in general must be offered up in a humble spirit. One must therefore put himself on a level with an animal regarding himself as an insignificant creature (Tosaf.) .');"><sup>16</sup></span> Said R'Papa: One must not urinate in an earthen tub<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Because the urine is thrown into the nearest river and the rivers of Babylon proceed to mingle with En Etam, a fountain in which the high priest used to bathe himself on the Day of Atonement, v. Shab. ');"><sup>17</sup></span>
י תניא רשב"ג אומר עמוד החוזר מביא אדם לידי הדרוקן סילון החוזר מביא אדם לידי ירקון אמר רבה בר רב הונא אמר רב קטינא אמר ריש לקיש דם רבה שחין רבה שכבת זרע רבה צרעת רבה צואה רבה הדרוקן רבה מי רגלים רבין ירקון רבה:
10 nor in a hard spot.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Because since that spot does not absorb the urine, it flows on the ground until it reaches a declivity, whence it runs into the river.');"><sup>18</sup></span> For Rab said: The drains of Babylon carry water to En Etam. Said Abaye: A woman must not stand actually before a child and urinate.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Even if she does not expose herself, it is an act of brazenness (Tosaf.) .');"><sup>19</sup></span> [If she urinates] sideways, however,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Without any intention of doing so before the child.');"><sup>20</sup></span>
יא רוח קצרית באה עליו מאי ניהו תנא רוח בן נפלים באה עליו:
11 there is no objection. We have learnt [in a Baraitha]: R'Simeon B'Gamaliel says, A suppressed discharge produces dropsy. To force back the urine in the urinary duct produces jaundices. R'Kattina reported in the name of Resh Lakish: If blood is allowed to increase,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' If bleeding is neglected.');"><sup>21</sup></span>
יב המאושבן ובעל גבר: תנא משובן בביצים ובעל גבר בגיד תנא משובן זה הקיין הגרבתן זה בעל קיק קיין בביצים גרבתא בגיד
12 skin disease will develop. If semen is allowed to increase,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Neglecting sexual intercourse when married.');"><sup>22</sup></span> leprosy develops.
יג ועד כמה מחוי רב יהודה עד רכובה תניא רבי אליעזר בן יעקב אומר עד רכובה פסול למעלה מן רכובה כשר איכא דאמרי עד רכובה כשר למטה מן הרכובה פסול:
13 If excrement is allowed to increase, dropsy increases. If one allows the urine to increase [through neglect], jaundice develops. ONE WHO IS SUBJECT TO ASTHMATIC SPELLS. What is this?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' What is the spirit which is believed to cause this ailment?');"><sup>23</sup></span> - Nala.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' A spirit of stupidity brought about by a demon.');"><sup>24</sup></span> A Tanna taught: The spirit of ben nefalim<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The name of a demon which causes nervous prostration.');"><sup>25</sup></span> comes upon him.
יד <big><strong>מתני׳</strong></big> אין לו ביצים או אין לו אלא ביצה אחת הרי זה (ויקרא כא, כ) מרוח אשך האמור בתורה רבי ישמעאל אומר כל שנימוחו אשכיו ר"ע אומר כל שרוח באשכיו רבי חנינא בן אנטיגנוס אומר כל שמראיו חשוכין:
14 A ME'USHBAN AND A BA'AL GEBER'A Tanna taught: ME'USHBAN is in the stones and BA'AL GEBER is in the membrum. It has been taught: Me'ushban is the kayyan, and arbatha is the ba'al kik. Kayyan means stones [which are abnormally large] and arbatha means the membrum [which is abnormally large]. And of what size? Rab Judah indicated this as up to the knee. It has been taught: R'Eliezer B'Jacob says: The membrum which reaches up to the knee makes the priest unfit, but if it is above the knee, he is fit. Some there are who say: If the membrum reaches up to the knee the priest is fit, whereas if it comes below the knee he is unfit [for the priesthood].
טו <big><strong>גמ׳</strong></big> קשיא ליה לרבי ישמעאל הא חסר אשך מיבעי ליה תני שנמרחו אשכיו קשיא ליה לרבי עקיבא האי ממרוח אשך מיבעי ליה תני שהרוח באשכיו
15 <big><b>MISHNAH: </b></big>IF HE HAS NO STONES AT ALL OR ONLY ONE STONE, THIS IS THE BIBLICAL MEROAH ASHEK.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lev. XXI, 20; E.V. 'he that hath his stones broken'.');"><sup>26</sup></span> R'ISHMAEL SAYS: IF HE HAS HIS TESTICLES CRUSHED.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' This is the biblical meroah.');"><sup>27</sup></span> R'AKIBA SAYS: IF HE HAS WIND IN HIS TESTICLES. R'HANINA B. ANTIGONUS SAYS: [MEROAH ASHEK MEANS]: IF HE HAS A BLACK COMPLEXION.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The blemishes mentioned in the Mishnah disqualify a priest from the priesthood according to all the Tannaim, and the difference of opinion is only with reference to the precise interpretation of the words meroah ashek.');"><sup>28</sup></span> <big><b>GEMARA: </b></big>R'Ishmael [who differs from the opinion of the first Tanna in the Mishnah] found this opinion difficult to accept, [for if so], 'it ought to read: Hasar ashek.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' If the first Tanna were correct, that the Bible means that the testicles were absent, then it should have said hasar etc., i.e., deficient in testicles. jrunn jrunn');"><sup>29</sup></span> Therefore he teaches: IF HE HAS HIS TESTICLES CRUSHED. R'Akiba also [who in turn differs from R'Ishmael] found this opinion difficult to accept, [for if so], it ought to read: Memarah ashek.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' If R. Ishmael's interpretation were correct. participle passive is required, v. Jast. cur. edd. , is difficult to explain grammatically. jur');"><sup>30</sup></span> He therefore teaches: IF ONE HAS WIND IN HIS TESTICLES.
טז קשיא ליה לרבי חנינא בן אנטיגנוס האי רוח אשך מיבעי ליה תני שמראיו חשוכין קסבר גורעין ומוסיפין ודורשין
16 R'Hanina also [who differs from the opinion of R'Akiba] found this opinion difficult to accept, [for if so], it ought to read: ruah ashek.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' If R. Akiba's opinion were correct, that meroah means he who has wind in his testicles, then the word for wind , ought to be used. j jurn t lat j t');"><sup>31</sup></span> He therefore teaches: IF HE HAS A BLACK COMPLEXION. For he maintains: We may take away one letter from one word of the text and add to another and thus interpret [the Law].<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' And here too we take away the from and the from adding the to the latter word and to the former, thus making laj utrn viz., black-complexioned.');"><sup>32</sup></span> But then is this not [according to R'Hanina] the case of one who is like an Ethiopian?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' A blemish explicitly mentioned below in the Mishnah infra ');"><sup>33</sup></span> - R'Hanina B'Antigonus does not teach the case of one abnormally dark-complexioned.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' He omits 'Ethiopian' from the Mishnah below and thus there is no repetition.');"><sup>34</sup></span> <big><b>MISHNAH: </b></big>IF ONE KNOCKS HIS ANKLES [AGAINST EACH OTHER, IN WALKING]<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Because his legs are bent outwards.');"><sup>35</sup></span>
יז היינו כושי רבי חנינא בן אנטיגנוס לא תני כושי:
17 OR RUBS HIS LEGS [AGAINST EACH OTHER]<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' His feet being bent outward.');"><sup>36</sup></span>
יח <big><strong>מתני׳</strong></big> מקיש בקרסוליו ובארכבותיו
18 
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