Chullin

— R. Oshaia said: This [firstling] had already been received by the priest but when it suffered a blemish he sold it to an Israelite.1 IF A MAN SLAUGHTERED AN ANIMAL FOR A PRIEST OR A GENTILE HE IS EXEMPT FROM THE DUES. Why does not the Mishnah teach simply. ‘Priests and gentiles are exempt from giving the dues’?2 — Raba said: This proves that the claim is made against the slaughterer.3 Raba stated in his discourse, Scripture says: From the people,4 but not from the priests; but when it further says. From them that slaughter a slaughtering,4 I say, this includes even a slaughterer who is a priest.5 R. Tabla's host was a priest and in sore need. When he came to R. Tabla the latter said to him, ‘Go and take a share [in the animals] of the Israelite butchers, for since they will thereby be exempt from giving the dues6 they will give you a share with them’. R. Nahman, however, declared him7 liable to give the dues. Said he,7 ‘But R. Tabla has exempted me’. ‘Go at once’, ordered [R. Nahman.] ‘and give up the dues, or else I will put R. Tabla out of your mind’.8 Thereupon R. Tabla came before R. Nahman and said to him, ‘Why has the Master done so?’ He replied. ‘When R. Aha b. Hanina came from the schools in the South he reported that R. Joshua b. Levi and the elders of the South ruled that a priest who became a slaughterer was exempt from giving the dues for the first two or three weeks,9 but thereafter he was liable to give the dues’. ‘Then’, said the other, ‘why does not the Master at least deal with him7 in accordance with R. Aha b. Hanina’?10 He replied. ‘That is the ruling only when he has not set up a butcher's stall; but here he has set up a stall’. 11 R. Hisda said: A priest [a butcher] who does not give the dues [to another priest] is to be put under the ban of the Lord God of Israel. Rabbah son of R. Shila, said: The butchers of Huzal have been under the ban of R. Hisda for the last twenty-two years. Now what is the point of this?12 Does it mean to say that we do not continue the ban? But it has been taught: This13 applies only to negative precepts, but in the case of positive precepts as, for instance, when a man is told, ‘Make a sukkah’,14 and he does not make it, or ‘Perform the commandment of the lulab’.15 and he does not perform it, he is flogged until his soul departs!16 — It means that we may penalize them [now] without warning;17 as when Raba penalized a man [by taking away from him] a side of meat,18 and R. Nahman b. Isaac penalized a man [by taking away from him] his cloak. R. Hisda also said: The [entire] shoulder is to be given to one [priest], the maw to another, and the two cheeks to two [priests]. But surely this is not so, for when R. Isaac b. Joseph came [from Palestine] he reported that in the West they even divide every bone [amongst a number of priests]! — That is only in the case of an ox.19 Rabbah b. Bar Hana said in the name of R. Johanan: It is forbidden to eat from an animal from which the priestly dues have not been taken. Rabbah b. Bar Hana also said in the name of R. Johanan: Whosoever eats from an animal from which the priestly dues have not been taken is as one who eats untithed produce.20 — The law, however, is not in accordance with him. R. Hisda said: The priestly dues may be eaten only roasted and with mustard. What is the reason? Because Scripture says: For a consecrated portion,21 that is, as a mark of eminence,22 [and must therefore be eaten] as kings take their food. R. Hisda also said: A priest who is not conversant with the twenty-four priestly endowments23 should not be given any gifts at all. This however is not right; for it has been taught:24 R. Simeon says. A priest who does not believe in the [Temple] service25 has no portion in the priesthood,26 for it is written: He among the sons of Aaron, that offereth the blood of the peace-offerings, and the fat, shall have the right thigh for a portion.27 I only know it with regard to this28 service; whence do I know it with regard to the fifteen other services in the Temple, viz., the rites of pouring,29 mingling,30 breaking into pieces,31 seasoning with salt,32 waving,33 bringing near,34 taking out the handful,35 and burning it,35 the rite of nipping off.36 own use, however, is exempt from the dues. you in any way. of a commandment which does not involve great outlay or expense-Rashi) is to be coerced by whatever means the Rabbis have in their power and they will not relax it until he does perform it. In the previous case therefore the ban would be continued unremittingly until the precept is performed. priest. substantial.