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Daf prep · Bekhorot 19 · בכורות י״ט
Before you learn Bekhorot 19
Where we left off
The previous daf analyzed disputes between Rabbi Tarfon and Rabbi Akiva over ambiguous twin births. That sugya finishes on the first line, before turning to caesarean births.
The question going in
Does a newborn attain sanctity if it qualifies as a firstborn in only one aspect? Does an animal bought from a gentile have firstborn status based on age alone?
Know before you start
- יוֹצֵא דּוֹפֶן (caesarean section): An offspring delivered through the flank does not open the womb naturally. The offspring born after it opens the womb, but is not the firstborn offspring.
- בְּכוֹר לְדָבָר אֶחָד (firstborn in one aspect): An offspring might be first in chronological birth, or first to open the womb. The Sages debate whether partial qualification can confer firstborn sanctity.
- רוּבָּא דְּאִיתֵיהּ קַמַּן (a majority extant before us): This is a visible majority physically present before us, like nine kosher shops out of ten. It contrasts with an unobservable general majority based on natural statistical tendencies.
Who's who
- Rabbi Tarfon (רַבִּי טַרְפוֹן, Tanna): He rules that both a caesarean offspring and the next sibling are doubtful firstborns.
- Rabbi Akiva (רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא, Tanna): He rules that neither caesarean-related offspring is sanctified, and that discharges exempt future births.
- Abaye (אַבָּיֵי, Amora): He explains that Scripture requires an offspring to be a firstborn in all respects.
- Rabbi Yishmael (רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל, Tanna): He sets age thresholds to determine if an animal from a gentile has previously delivered.