[Piska 124]
"Every firstling (bechor)": Scripture apprises us that a bechor is to be eaten (by the Cohein) all of its (first) year. This tells me only of an unblemished bechor. Whence do I derive (the same for) a blemished one (that cannot be sacrificed)? From "every bechor." From "You shall not work with the bechor of your bullock, etc." we are taught that it is forbidden to shear or to work with a bechor. This tells me only of an unblemished bechor. Whence do I derive (the same for) a blemished one? From "every bechor."
"which is born": to exclude a Caesarian birth.
"in your cattle and in your sheep": From "You shall not work with the bechor of your bullock, and you shall not shear the bechor or your flock," we learn that it is forbidden to shear and to work with a bechor. This tells me only of a bechor. Whence do I derive (the same for) other offerings? It follows a fortiori, viz.: If a bechor, which does not obtain with all births, and which becomes chullin (non-consecrated) without redemption, may not be shorn or worked with, then all other offerings, which do obtain with all births, and which do not become chullin without redemption — how much more so should it be forbidden to shear them or to work with them!— No, (this can be refuted, viz.:) this may be true of a bechor, whose holiness is from the womb, and whose holiness is upon it (even) if it is permanently blemished. Would you say the same for other offerings, where the above do not obtain? It must, therefore, be written "in your cattle and in your sheep you shall consecrate" (i.e., you shall not shear or work with other offerings).
R. Yishmael says: One verse (ours) says: "You shall consecrate," and another,
(Vayikra 27:26) "you shall not consecrate"! You can consecrate it (a
bechor) for its valuation to Temple maintenance; but you cannot consecrate it (as a different offering) to the altar. This tells me only of a
bechor. Whence do I derive (the same for) all the offerings? From "in your cattle and in your sheep … you shall consecrate." Or, something which you learn as obtaining with one thing, you may learn as obtaining with all (similar) things, viz.: Just as a
bechor is distinct in being a lower-order offering, and it is eaten for two days, and applies to cattle and sheep — so, (this obtains with) all that are thus characterized (i.e., with lower-order offerings). And whence do I derive (the same [i.e., that it is forbidden to shear or work with them]) for (other offerings which also obtain with cattle and sheep, such as) holy of holies, and individual and communal lower-order offerings? From "in your cattle and in your sheep … you shall consecrate." I might think that this (that they may not be shorn or worked with) applies also to consecrations for Temple maintenance; it is, therefore, written
(Devarim 15:19) "the
bechor." Was
bechor not included in all offerings? Why was it thus singled out? To teach: Just as
bechor is distinct in being an altar offering, etc. — to exclude Temple maintenance consecrations, which are not altar offerings.
"You shall not work with the bechor of your bullock, and you shall not shear the bechor of your flock": R. Yehudah says: You may not work with the bechor of your bullock, but you may work with one (held in partnership) by you and others (i.e., gentiles, such animals not being subject to the law of the first-born.) "and you shall not shear the bechor of your flock": But you may shear one (held in partnership) by you and others. R. Shimon says: "You shall not work with the bechor of your bullock," but you may work with the first-born of a human being. "and you shall not shear the bechor of your flock," but you may shear the firstling of an ass.
This tells me only of the bechor of a bullock (as being forbidden) for work, and the bechor of a sheep, for shearing. Whence do I derive (the same for) the reverse? It is derived a fortiori: If a blemished bullock, which is not equivalent to an unblemished bullock to be sacrificed on the altar, is equivalent to it (to be forbidden) for work, then an unblemished sheep, which is equivalent to an unblemished bullock to be sacrificed on the altar, how much more so should it be equivalent to it (to be forbidden) for work! And the same for shearing, viz.: If a blemished sheep, which is not equivalent to an unblemished sheep to be sacrificed on the altar, is equivalent to it (to be forbidden) for shearing, then an unblemished bullock, which is equivalent to an unblemished sheep to be sacrificed on the altar, how much more so should it be equivalent to it (to be forbidden) for shearing! But, still, we have derived the rule for unblemished (animals). Whence do we derive the same for blemished ones? It follows a fortiori, viz.: If an unblemished sheep, which is not equivalent to a blemished sheep, to be eaten outside of Jerusalem, is equivalent to it (to be forbidden) for shearing, then a blemished bullock, which is equivalent to a blemished sheep to be eaten outside of Jerusalem, how much more so should it be equivalent to it (to be forbidden) for shearing!
[End of Piska]