The masechet so far, chapter by chapter

Masechet Bekhorot details the sanctification, redemption, and inspection of firstborn donkeys, kosher animals, and humans. Through daf 31, the tractate has analyzed non-kosher and kosher firstborn births, prohibitions on shearing, expert blemish inspections, and market regulations for disqualified sacrifices.

Chapter 1 – הלוקח עובר חמורו: Redeeming the firstborn of a donkey

This chapter establishes the obligation to redeem a firstborn male donkey with a sheep or goat. Partnership with a gentile or being a priest or Levite exempts the donkey from sanctity. If the owner refuses redemption, he must break the donkey's neck and bury it.

Gentile partnership in a donkey or its fetus completely exempts the animal from firstborn sanctity.
A firstborn donkey must be redeemed with a male or female sheep or goat, unblemished or blemished.
If an owner refuses to redeem the donkey with a lamb, he must break its neck and bury it.

Chapter 2 – הלוקח עובר פרתו: Firstborn status of kosher animals

This chapter addresses the male firstborn of cattle, sheep, and goats given to the priest. It differentiates animals with permanent blemishes preceding consecration from those blemished afterward. The text also resolves cases of doubtful births, simultaneous twins, and caesarean deliveries.

Gentile partnership in a kosher animal exempts its offspring from bekhor, meaning firstborn, sanctity.
Offspring of an animal dedicated after developing a permanent blemish hold monetary holiness and may be redeemed.
When twin male lambs emerge simultaneously, Rabbi Akiva awards the leaner lamb to the priest.
An animal born by caesarean section has no firstborn sanctity, nor does a sibling born naturally after it.

Chapter 3 – הלוקח בהמה: Determining previous births and shearing restrictions

This chapter provides physical signs to determine whether a newly purchased animal has previously calved. It strictly forbids shearing or benefiting from the fleece of a sacred firstborn. Plucking small amounts of hair is permitted only to inspect blemishes or facilitate slaughter.

A murky uterine discharge or expelled afterbirth confirms prior pregnancy, exempting subsequent births from firstborn status.
A nursing animal bought from a gentile is presumed to have calved, exempting future births from bekhor status.
One may pluck wool from a firstborn's neck to inspect a blemish or make space for slaughter.
Wool shed from a blemished firstborn remains forbidden for use unless it remained compressed within the fleece.

Chapter 4 – עד כמה: Holding periods, expert inspectors, and trustworthiness

This chapter specifies the minimum time owners must raise a firstborn before delivering it to a priest. It mandates that only authorized experts may validate blemishes to permit slaughtering outside the Temple. Strict bans are established against judges and inspectors taking unauthorized wages or relying on untrustworthy vendors.

Owners must care for firstborn sheep for thirty days and cattle for fifty days before delivery.
A court-authorized expert judge is entirely exempt from paying personal restitution if he mistakenly causes a loss.
Animal inspectors may accept fixed compensation for their time, but judicial rulings issued for wages are void.
Vendors suspected of illegally selling firstborn animals may not sell untanned hides, raw wool, or deer meat.

Chapter 5 – כל פסולי המוקדשין: Selling disqualified sacrifices and blemish inspection

This chapter distinguishes the sale of disqualified Temple sacrifices from that of blemished firstborns and tithe offerings. Disqualified offerings are sold in public markets to maximize funds for hekdesh, meaning consecrated property. Firstborns and tithes must be sold privately at home without standard commercial weighing.

Blemished firstborns and tithe offerings must be sold and slaughtered privately at home, never in public markets.
Disqualified Temple sacrifices may be weighed by the pound, whereas firstborn meat cannot be sold by weight.
A single expert cannot examine his own firstborn due to bias, but may inspect his own tithes.

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