Bekhorot 51 – בכורות נ״א | Daf Yomi with Rashi, Tosafot, the Rambam and halacha

What Bekhorot 51 teaches

A father cannot redeem a firstborn with land, slaves, or promissory notes, and paying a written note never validates the redemption.
A priest may gift back redemption money, but the redemption fails if the father gave the coins expecting a return.
A firstborn receives a double portion only in assets the father actually possessed at death, excluding uncollected debts and maternal estates.

The sugyot

The Gemara illustrates the half-zuz value of a rabbinic sela through the insolent act of Ḥanan the Wicked.
The Gemara explains that the Mishnah repeats the Tyrian standard to teach that fines lacking the word "shekel" still require Sanctuary shekels.
The Gemara identifies three obligations that must be paid in minted coin rather than commodities: the half-shekel, second tithe, and the appearance offering.
The Mishnah defines valid redemption media for a firstborn and rules that designated redemption funds remain the father's responsibility until delivered.
The Gemara examines whether firstborn redemption excludes only promissory notes or also land and slaves, depending on how adjacent generalizations are expounded.
The Gemara reinterprets the mishna to teach that consecrated items cannot be redeemed with land, slaves, or promissory notes.
A promissory note for pidyon haben does not redeem the son even after payment, due to a rabbinic decree.
A priest may return redemption money, but if the father gives it expecting a return rather than with wholehearted intent, the redemption is invalid.
The Gemara identifies the scriptural sources establishing responsibility for redemption money and liability after a firstborn son's death.
The Mishnah restricts the firstborn's double portion to assets possessed by the father at death, excluding maternal estate, posthumous enhancement, and uncollected claims.

Halachot from the daf

Redeeming second tithe produce with coins rather than commodities or bullion
Bringing commodities of equivalent value for the pilgrimage burnt-offering
Items invalid for redeeming a firstborn son
Writing a debt note to the priest for redemption
Liability for designated redemption coins that are lost
Valid items for redeeming a firstborn son
Valid items for redeeming consecrated property
Redeeming consecrated items with land, slaves, or promissory notes
Redeeming a firstborn son with a promissory note
Dividing the redemption payment among multiple priests
A priest returning redemption money and gifts conditioned on return
Financial responsibility for designated redemption money that was lost
Obligation of heirs to bring a festival burnt offering
Whether a firstborn receives a double portion in his mother's estate
Whether a firstborn receives a double portion in post-mortem property enhancement
Whether a firstborn receives a double portion in contingent or due property

Gems from the Daf

Learn Bekhorot 51 sugya by sugya on Super Daf: the Gemara in Hebrew and English with Rashi, Tosafot, the Rishonim, the Rambam and the Shulchan Arukh woven in. Free.