Bekhorot

Rab Judah reported in the name of R. Assi: Every silver coinage mentioned in the Pentateuch without any qualification means in Tyrian currency;1 in the teaching of the Rabbis, it means in the currency of the province [an eighth of the silver coinage of the Pentateuch]. And is this a general rule? Have we not the case of one making a claim,2 for it is written: If a man shall deliver unto his neighbour silver [coinage] or stuff to keep,3 and we have learnt: For an oath to be imposed by the judges,4 the claim must amount to not less than two [silver] ma'ah?5 — There6 the reason is because the Torah says: Silver [coinage] or stuff;7 just as stuff means two,8 so silver [coinage] also means two coins;9 and again, as silver [coinage] means something of value,10 so stuff means also something of value.11 But is there not the case of tithing, for it is written: And bind up the silver [coinage] in thine hand,12 and we have learnt: If one changes13 [at the banker's] a sela's [worth] from the monies of second tithes?14 — [The three-fold] repetition of the word ‘silver’ intimates an amplification.15 But is there not the case of hekdesh,16 of which it is written: And he shall give the silver [coinage] and it shall be assured to him,17 and Samuel ruled: If hekdesh worth a maneh has been redeemed against a perutah, it is a valid redemption?18 — In the case of hekdesh too we draw an analogy between the expres sion ‘holy’ used in this connection19 and ‘holy’ used in connection with the second tithes. 20 But is there not the case of a woman's betrothal, for it is written Then she shall go out free without silver [coinage],21 and we have learnt [in a Mishnah]: Beth Shammai say: [Betrothal must take place] with a denar and the worth of a denar, whereas Beth Hillel say with a perutah and the worth of a perutah? Must it then be said that R. Assi agrees with the opinion of Beth Shammai?22 — Rather we must say that if it23 has been stated, it was stated thus: Rab Judah reported in the name of R. Assi: Every silver [coinage] mentioned in the Pentateuch in connection with defined payments24 means in the Tyrian currency, and that mentioned in the teaching of the Rabbis means In the currency of the province.25 What does he teach us thereby? Have we not learnt this already: FIVE SELA'S OF A FIRST-BORN etc.? He needed to teach us that the silver [coinage] mentioned by the Rabbis meant according to the provincial standard. For we have learnt: If one boxes his neighbour's ear,26 he must compensate him with a sela’. Think not therefore that it means a sela’ of four zuz, but it means half a zuz,27 for people call half a zuz a sela’. The ruffian Hanan boxed a man's ear.28 He was brought before R. Huna. The latter said to him: Give him half a zuz as com pensation. He possessed but kesef (silver coinage) it means a Tyrian denar. In B.K. 36b the author of this passage is given as Rab. declares, for if the Torah meant two denars, then it should read: Two kesef. to Jerusalem, v. M. Sh., II, 8. We see from this that originally he exchanged the second tithes for perutahs, although Scripture here uses the expression ‘silver’. shalt turn it into silver (kesef). (Deut. XIV, 25). And bind up the silver (kesef). (Ibid.). And thou shalt bestow that silver. (Ibid. verse 26). the context, but does not immediately precede And he shall etc., v. B.M., Sonc. ed., p. 321, n. 1. Lord (Lev. XXVII, 30). master who employed a Hebrew maid-servant receives no money on her leaving him. But where she leaves another master, i.e., her father, the latter acquires the betrothal money. the view of Beth Shammai, and usually the halachah is not according to Beth Shammai. which we questioned Rab's teaching are not of this character.