Study Bekhorot folio 24B with parallel Hebrew-English text, traditional commentary, and modern study tools. Free access to Babylonian Talmud online.
Text Excerpt
אחאי בריבי: ראה חזיר שכרוך אחר רחל, מהו? מאי קמיבעיא ליה? אילימא לבכורה, וקמיבעיא ליה אי הלכתא כרבן שמעון בן גמליאל אי הלכתא כרבנן, תיבעי ליה טלה!
by Aḥai the Distinguished [beribbi]: If one saw an animal with the appearance of a pig that was trailing after a ewe, what is the halakha? The Talmud asks: What is the dilemma he is raising? If we say he is inquiring with regard to the firstborn status of the future offspring, and he is therefore essentially asking if the halakha is in accordance with the opinion of Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel or if the halakha is in accordance with the opinion of the Rabbis, then let the dilemma be raised with respect to the more common case of a lamb, rather than the irregular case of a pig-like animal.
כי קמיבעיא ליה, לבכורה ואליבא דרבנן, לאכילה ואליבא דרבן שמעון בן גמליאל.
The Talmud answers: Actually, when Aḥai the Distinguished raised the dilemma it was with respect to the ramifications of each opinion: He inquired with regard to the future offspring’s firstborn status, and this aspect of the dilemma was raised under the assumption that the halakha is in accordance with the opinion of the Rabbis. He also inquired with regard to whether or not the pig-like animal is permitted for consumption, and this aspect of the dilemma was raised under the assumption that the halakha is in accordance with the opinion of Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel.
לבכורה, ואפילו לרבנן דאמרי מרחמא, כי מרחמא דמינה, דלא מינה — לא, או דלמא דלא מינה נמי מרחמא?
The Talmud elaborates: He inquired with regard to the offspring’s firstborn status, and this question applies even according to the opinion of the Rabbis, who say that an animal might be merciful toward other young animals. The Talmud explains the dilemma: One can say that when an animal is merciful this applies only toward an animal that is of its own species, but to a young animal that is not of its own species a mother animal certainly does not show mercy. Therefore, the fact that it nursed proves that it is its offspring. Or perhaps an animal might also be merciful toward an offspring that is not of its own species. If it is merciful only to its own species, the ewe is exempt from having its future offspring counted a firstborn; if its mercy extends to other species then it is not exempt.