Arakhin

, in the same manner as it is said: From his head even unto his feet,1 where it means, ‘[from] his head [on]’, but his head is not included; and ‘[unto his] feet’, but his feet are not included;2 therefore it is said: Until the one and twentieth day of the month at even.3 — Rabbi said: This was not necessary: ‘first’ [itself] means the first inclusive, and ‘seventh’ the seventh inclusive! You might even say that our Mishnah is In accord with Rabbi. Here, however, the Scriptural verses are balanced. For it is written: From a month old even unto five years old,4 why then [state] From five years old even unto twenty years old?5 Therefore they are balanced.6 The Master has said: ‘his head’. but his head is not included; ‘his feet’, but the feet are not included. Whence do we know that? — If you like, say: Because the signs [of leprosy] on the body are different from those on the head;7 or, if you like, say: As far as appeareth to the priest. 8 R. ELIEZER SAYS: [THIS RULE HOLDS GOOD] UNTIL THEY ARE A MONTH AND A DAY BEYOND THE YEARS CONCERNED. It was taught: R. Eliezer said, Here it is said, ‘and upward’, and there it is said, ‘and upward’;9 just as there the meaning is ‘from a month and one day’, so here a month and one day. But say perhaps: Just as there ‘one day’ so here, too. ‘one day’?10 — Of what value would the analogy then be? Our Rabbis taught: The year mentioned in connection with consecrated animals, the year stated in connection with dwelling houses in a walled city,11 the two years in connection with the field of possession,12 the six years of the Hebrew slave,13 as well as those of a son or daughter,14 are to be understood as from hour to hour.15 Whence do we know that with regard to consecrated animals? — R. Aha b. Jacob said: Scripture said, A lamb ben shenato [of the first year],16 i.e.. of ‘its own first year’, not that of the calendar.17 As to the year mentioned in connection with dwelling houses in a walled city. Scripture said: Within a whole year mimkaro [after it is sold],18 i.e., of its [own year after the] sale, not of the calendar. With regard to the two years of the field of possession, it is written: According unto the number of years of the crops he shall sell unto thee,19 implying that a man eats [the fruit of] three crops in two years. With regard to the six years of a Hebrew slave, Scripture said: Six years he shall serve, and in the seventh,20 implying that at times in the seventh year, too, he may be working.21 ‘As well as those of a son or daughter’, for what practical purpose is the rule? — R. Giddal in the name of Rab said: With regard to valuations.22 R. Joseph said: With regard to [the subject of] the chapter on the foetus extracted by means of a caesarean section. 23 Said Abaye to R. Joseph: Are you [two] of conflicting opinion? — He replied: No, I say one thing, and he said another. Thus also does it seem logical. For if you should think they are disputing, and he who said [the practical purpose] concerns valuations, should not hold it to be also with regard to the chapter about the foetus extracted by means of a caesarean section, has not Rab said that the decision was with regard to all [cases in that] chapter: that [the years] were to be understood as from hour to hour? Then why does he who said [the practical purpose] concerned valuations not say it concerns the chapter on a caesarean extraction? — Because it24 is to be analogous to those [mentioned previously]:25 Just as these are written [in the Torah], so does this refer to what is written [in the Torah].26 And the other? — If you think [that the reference is to] what is written, then the expression ‘With a son or daughter’ — ought it not to state ‘with male or female’? 27 with the first day in the same verse. the verses are suspended in meaning, indeterminate, and it is only the inference from analogy of expression which establishes the correct meaning. required. day, was included in the counting. day, independent of the calendar year. In a calendar year Tishri would commence the New Year. (lit., ‘an animal its year old’) suggests that it shall be its own year, from hour to hour. may be more than two crops in two years.