Bava Batra 127B

Study Bava Batra folio 127B with parallel Hebrew-English text, traditional commentary, and modern study tools. Free access to Babylonian Talmud online.

Text Excerpt

each to the other.

The Talmud questions this ruling: Whichever way you look at it, Shmuel’s opinion is difficult. If he holds in accordance with the opinion of the Rabbis with regard to this issue, he should have sent them a response in accordance with the opinion of the Rabbis, and if he holds in accordance with the

The Talmud answers: He is uncertain whether the halakha is in accordance with the opinion of R' Yehuda or in accordance with the opinion of the Rabbis. Therefore he sent them a response that incorporates both opinions.

The Talmud explains: What is the dispute between R' Yehuda and the Rabbis? As it is taught in a baraita: Expounding the verse: “He shall acknowledge the firstborn” (Deuteronomy 21:17), the rabbis said: He shall acknowledge him to others. In other words, a father is deemed credible to tell others th

From here, R' Yehuda says that a man is deemed credible to say: This is my firstborn son, even if he has sons presumed to be older. And just as a man is deemed credible to say: This is my firstborn son, so too, a man who is a priest is deemed credible to say about his son: This is a son of a divorc