Bava Batra

— He  called to his attendant: Lead on! This [man] does not desire to learn.  What, then, is the reason?  — Abaye replied: Scripture says: Of all that he hath,  implying he  and not she.  Might it not be suggested that these words  [apply to the case where] a bachelor married a widow;  but [where] a bachelor married a virgin  he  takes [a double portion] also [in the estate of his mother]? — R. Nahman h. Isaac replied: Scripture said: For he  is the first-fruits of his strength.  [from which it is to be inferred that the law applies to the first fruits of] his  strength and not of her strength. [Surely] that [word]  is required for [the law that though one was] born after a miscarriage  he is, [nevertheless, regarded as the] firstborn son [in respect] of inheritance, [the text implying that only] he for whom [a father's] heart grieves  [is included in the law, but that a miscarriage], for which it does not, is excluded!  — If so,  the text should have read, 'For he is the first-fruits of strength';  why his strength?  Two [laws, therefore,] are to be deduced from it. But still, might it not be suggested that these words  [apply only to the case of] a widower  who married a virgin,  but [where] a bachelor married a virgin  the firstborn son takes [a double portion] also [in the estate of his mother]! — But, Raba said, [this is the proper reply]: Scripture states, The right of the firstborn is his,  [and this indicates that] the right of the firstborn [is applicable] to [the estate of] a man and not to [that of] a woman. AND A MAN [INHERITS FROM] HIS WIFE etc. Whence is this derived?  — Our Rabbis taught:  His kinsman,  refers to his wife; [and this] teaches that the husband is heir to his wife. One might [say that] she also is heir to him, it is therefore expressly stated, And he shall inherit her,  meaning he is heir to her  but she is not heir to him. But, surely, the Scriptural verses are not written like that!  — Abaye said: interpret thus, 'Ye shall give his inheritance unto one that is next to him; [as to] his kinswoman, he shall inherit her'. Raba said: A sharp knife is dissecting the Biblical verses!  But, said Raba, this is what the text implies: 'Ye shall give the inheritance of his kinswoman into him';  [Raba] holding the view [that prefixes and suffixes] may he detached from [words] and added to [others], and [a new] interpretation may [then] he given [to the Biblical text]. The following  Tanna derives it  from the following  [text]: For it was taught: And he shall inherit her,  teaches that the husband is heir to his wife; these are the words of R. Akiba. R. Ishmael, [however], said: This is not necessary,  for it is said, And every daughter that possesseth an inheritance in any tribe of the children of Israel, [shall be wife] unto one of the family etc.  This text speaks of a transfer [from one tribe to another that may be occasioned] through the husband.  Furthermore, it is said. So shall no inheritance of the children of Israel remove from tribe to tribe.  Furthermore, it is said. So shall no inheritance remove from one tribe to another tribe.  Furthermore it is said, And Eleazar the son of Aaron died; and they buried him it, the Hill of Phinehas his son.  Whence could Phinehas possess [a hill] which did not belong to Eleazar?  But this  teaches that Phinehas took a wife who died, and he was her heir. Furthermore it is said, And Segub begat Jair, who had three and twenty cities in the land of Gilead.