Study Bekhorot folio 32A with parallel Hebrew-English text, traditional commentary, and modern study tools. Free access to Babylonian Talmud online.
Text Excerpt
דבר שאינו נישום מחיים — לא גזור רבנן, וביתמי אוקמוה רבנן אדאורייתא.
But with regard to an item that is not appraised when an animal is sold when alive, e.g., the hide and sinews, as these are not primary contributing factors to the animal’s value, the rabbis did not decree that one may not sell such items after the animal’s slaughter. Consequently, the meat of an animal tithe offering may be sold by means of inclusion in the animal’s hide, fat, sinews, and horns. And with regard to a case of young orphans, the rabbis established the halakha as if by Torah law, and therefore the meat may be sold in its usual manner.
ואף רב שמואל בר רב יצחק סבר לה להא דרבא, דאמר רב שמואל בר רב יצחק: מנין למעשר בהמה של יתומים שמוכרים אותו כדרכו?
The Talmud notes: And even Rav Shmuel bar Rav Yitzḥak holds in accordance with that opinion of Rava, that by Torah law, the meat of a blemished animal-tithe offering may be sold in the normal manner. As Rav Shmuel bar Rav Yitzḥak says: From where is it derived that one may sell the meat of a blemished animal-tithe offering of young orphans in its usual manner, without having to resort to the method of inclusion?
שנאמר: ״רק בכל אות נפשך תזבח ואכלת בשר״, איזהו דבר שאין בו ברכה מחיים אלא לאחר שחיטה? הוי אומר: זה מעשר בהמה.
It is derived from a verse, as it is stated in a verse discussing consecrated animals that became blemished: “Notwithstanding, after all the desire of your soul, you may slaughter and eat flesh, according to the blessing of YHWH your God” (Deuteronomy 12:15). Now which is the item that has no blessing when it is alive, i.e., it is prohibited to derive benefit from it, but it does have a blessing after its slaughter, as indicated by the verse “You may slaughter…according to the blessing of YHWH your God”? You must say that this is the meat of the animal tithe offering.