The masechet so far, chapter by chapter

Masechet Bekhorot details the sanctification, redemption, and consumption of firstborn animals along with associated priestly gifts. The tractate currently focuses on classifying the physical bodily blemishes that permanently permit a consecrated firstborn animal to be slaughtered outside the Temple.

Chapter 1 – הלוקח עובר חמורו: Redemption of the Firstborn Donkey

This chapter outlines the laws of redeeming a firstborn donkey with a lamb, meaning a young sheep or goat. Gentile ownership or priestly descent exempts the offspring from acquiring firstborn sanctity. If an owner refuses to redeem the donkey, he is obligated to break its neck.

Gentile partnership or partial ownership entirely exempts a donkey fetus from firstborn sanctity.
A firstborn donkey is redeemed by giving a lamb, meaning any sheep or goat, to a priest.
If the owner chooses not to redeem the donkey, he must break its neck from behind and bury it.

Chapter 2 – הלוקח עובר פרתו: Firstborn Kosher Animals and Ownership Doubts

A firstborn male kosher animal has intrinsic bodily holiness and must be given to a priest for sacrificial slaughter. Gentile partnership exempts the offspring from sanctity, while pre-existing permanent blemishes limit consecration to mere monetary value. Uncertainties caused by twin births or caesarean extraction determine whether the priest or owner retains the animal.

Gentile ownership or a gentile creditor's lien exempts a newborn kosher calf or lamb from firstborn status.
An animal consecrated with a permanent blemish holds only monetary sanctity, so its redemption permits shearing and work.
When twin male lambs emerge simultaneously, the priest receives the leaner animal due to unresolved doubt.

Chapter 3 – הלוקח בהמה: Presumptions of Prior Birth and Shearing

Purchasing an animal from a gentile requires biological verification, such as an afterbirth or uterine discharge, to confirm whether it previously calved. Animals observed nursing are presumed to have already given birth. Although shearing a firstborn is biblically forbidden, removing minimal neck wool to inspect blemishes or facilitate slaughter is permitted.

A murky uterine discharge indicates a prior miscarriage, exempting any subsequent birth from firstborn sanctity.
A female animal observed nursing is presumed to have already given birth, exempting her future offspring.
Plucking hair by hand to inspect a blemish or prepare the neck for slaughter is permitted on a firstborn.

Chapter 4 – עד כמה: Inspection Experts, Care Periods, and Credibility

An owner must care for a firstborn sheep for thirty days and cattle for fifty days before giving it to a priest. A firstborn can only be slaughtered once an authorized expert certifies a permanent blemish. Witnesses, judges, and inspectors face strict limits on receiving wages and must maintain general reliability.

Owners must care for a firstborn sheep for thirty days and cattle for fifty days before delivery.
Court-authorized expert judges like Rabbi Tarfon are exempt from restitution if they issue an erroneous ruling.
An animal inspector may accept a set wage for his time, regardless of whether he permits the animal.

Chapter 5 – כל פסולי המוקדשין: Disqualified Sacrifices and Inflicted Blemishes

Disqualified sacrificial animals are sold in public markets to benefit the Temple, while blemished firstborn animals are sold privately at home. Intentionally inflicting a blemish on a firstborn forbids slaughtering the animal based on that defect. Laymen and priests possess different levels of credibility regarding whether an animal's injury occurred accidentally.

Blemished firstborn animals and animal tithes must be sold at home rather than weighed publicly in the butcher market.
Intentionally inflicting a blemish prohibits slaughter until an independent, separate blemish develops naturally on the animal.
A butcher who sells meat from an uninspected firstborn must refund all money, and the meat must be buried.

Chapter 6 – על אלו מומין: Bodily Blemishes Permitting Slaughter

This chapter systematically catalogs visible and permanent physical defects that disqualify an animal from the Temple altar and permit non-sacred slaughter. Disqualifying defects include damaged ear cartilage, eyelid tears, ocular growths, dislocated limbs, and broken bones. Temporary conditions, internal organ defects, and concealed flaws do not permit outside slaughter.

Disqualifying ear blemishes must pierce, split, or lack cartilage, whereas superficial skin injuries do not count.
An eye defect called tevallul, meaning a film extending into the pupil, is a blemish only in the black iris.
An internal bone fracture qualifies as an exposed blemish because the resulting limp is clearly visible.
An animal with concealed organs, termed a tumtum, is classified as male or female based on where it urinates.

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