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חולין 64
Soncino English Talmud · Berean Standard Bible
fish roe.) And these are the characteristics which distinguish the eggs [of clean birds]: All that are arched and rounded, with one end broad and the other end narrow, are clean. Those that are broad at both ends or narrow at both ends are unclean. Those with the white outside and the yolk in the center are clean, those with the yolk outside and the white in the center are unclean; if the white and the yolk are mixed up, one may be certain that it is a reptile's egg? — This must be resorted to only where the eggs were broken. But they can still be examined by the position of the yolk and white? — They were beaten up in a dish. But is it then permissible to purchase such from them [gentiles]? Surely it has been taught: One may not sell to a gentile the egg of a bird that was trefah, unless it was beaten up in a dish. For this reason one may not buy from them eggs beaten up in a dish! — Rather, said R. Zera: The distinguishing characteristics [of the eggs of clean birds] do not rest on Biblical authority. For should you not hold this, then when R. Assi stated ‘There are eight birds about which there is a doubt’, it could rightly be asked: Why not examine their eggs; you must therefore say that the characteristics do not rest on Biblical authority. To what purpose then were they stated above? To teach the following: If both ends [of the egg] were broad, or both narrow, or if the yolk was outside and the white in the center, it is certainly unclean; if, however, one end was broad and the other narrow, and the white outside and the yolk in the center, and if, in addition, the gentile says. ‘It is of such and such a bird’, which is clean, he may be relied upon, but without this express statement he may not be relied upon, for there is the raven's egg which resembles that of a dove. The Master said: ‘If the white and the yolk are mixed up, one may be certain that it is a reptile's egg’. For what reason is this stated so? — R. ‘Ukba b. Hama answered: To teach that if [the embryo within was] developed and [the shell] perforated, then a lentil's bulk thereof would convey uncleanness. Rabina demurred, saying: Perhaps it is a serpent's egg! — Rather, said Raba, It is to teach that if [the embryo within was] developed, whosoever eats it would incur stripes for [eating] creeping things that crawl upon the earth. If so, why [do we argue about the egg] of an unclean bird? Even of a clean bird [there is also this prohibition]! For it has been taught: [The verse,] And every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth, 12
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includes [in its prohibition] chicks that have not yet opened their eyes! — This [latter] prohibition is only Rabbinic and the verse adduced is merely a support. Our Rabbis taught: The exudation of eggs is permitted. Addled eggs may be eaten by those who are not squeamish. If there was found on it a spot of blood, the blood must be thrown away and rest [of the egg] may be eaten. R. Jeremiah said: This is so, provided it was found upon the knot. Dosthai, the father of Aptoriki, taught: This rule applies only if [the spot of blood was] found on the white, but if found on the yolk the whole egg is forbidden, for the decay has spread over the entire [egg]. R. Gebiha of Be-Kathil said to R. Ashi, A Tanna once recited this statement before Abaye in just the reverse form, but Abaye corrected him so as to make it agree with the above. Hezekiah said: Whence do we know that the egg of an unclean bird is prohibited by the Torah? Because it is written: And the bath ha-ya'anah. Now has the ya'anah a daughter? It can only mean the egg of an unclean bird. But perhaps this is its actual name? — This cannot be, for it is written: The daughter of my people is become cruel, like the ye'enim [ostriches] in the wilderness. But on the other hand it is written: I will make a wailing like the jackals, and a mourning like the benoth ya'anah [ostriches]. — There it means, as the ya'anah mourns for its young. But there is also written: And benoth ya'anah [ostriches] shall dwell there! — It means as the ya'anah dwells with its young. But there is also written: The beasts of the field shall honour Me, the jackals and the benoth ya'anah [ostriches], and if you were to say that it refers to the egg, [it will be asked.] Can an egg sing hymns [unto the Lord]? — Indeed both ya'anah and bath ya'anah are [found] written, but in this particular instance it is different, since the scribe has divided the word into two; (and since the scribe has divided it
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