Chullin

If pigeons which are disqualified for sacrifice when fully grown are nevertheless qualified when small, turtle doves which are qualified when fully grown should surely be qualified when small! It is, therefore, written: ‘turtle doves’, to indicate that only the fully grown are qualified for sacrifice, but not the small. Young pigeons implies small birds, but not fully grown. For [without the Biblical direction] I would have argued by an a fortiori argument thus: If turtle doves which are disqualified for sacrifice when small are nevertheless qualified when fully grown, pigeons which are qualified for sacrifice when small should surely be qualified when fully grown! It is, therefore, written, young pigeons, to indicate that only the small are qualified for sacrifice, but not the fully grown. Where is this indicated in the verse? — Raba explained: Because Scripture should not have omitted to state at least once [the expression], ‘Of young turtle doves or of pigeons’.1 But I will now say that pigeons, inasmuch as in the Divine Law they are always preceded by the epithet ‘young’, are qualified for sacrifice only when small, and not when fully grown; whereas turtle doves [I submit] may be offered either when fully grown or even when small! — [Turtle doves must be placed under conditions] similar to pigeons; thus, just as pigeons are qualified [for sacrifice] only when small and not when fully grown, so turtle doves are qualified [for sacrifice] only when fully grown and not when small.2 Our Rabbis taught: One might conclude that all turtle doves [that are not small] and all pigeons [that are not fully grown] are qualified for sacrifice; it is, therefore, written: Of the turtle doves,3 implying that some, but not all, turtle doves are qualified. [Similarly, it is written.] Of the young pigeons,3 implying that some, but not all, pigeons are qualified. Hence, there is excluded [from either kind] those whose neck feathers begin to glisten.4 When do turtle doves first become qualified for sacrifice?5 When their wing plumage becomes golden. And when do pigeons become disqualified?6 When their neck feathers begin to glisten. Jacob Karha learnt: When do pigeons first become qualified?7 As soon as the limbs have absorbed [ye'ale'u]8 the blood. He reported this passage and also explained [the word ye'ale'u by reference to the verse.] Her young ones also suck up [ye'ale'u] blood.9 When is this?10 — Abaye answered: If when a feather is plucked out there flows blood [it is an indication that the limbs have absorbed the blood]. R. Zera put the following question: What is the law if a man said: ‘Behold, I undertake to offer for a burnt-offering either [a pair] of turtle doves or [a pair] of pigeons’, and he brought a pair of each kind, both pairs, however, being at the stage when the neck feathers were beginning to glisten?11 If this stage is a period of doubt,12 then in this case he at all events fulfils his obligation; but if it is a distinct intermediate stage,13 then he does not fulfil his obligation. — Raba said: Come and hear: ‘Hence there is excluded14 from either kind those whose neck feathers begin to glisten?’ Now if you say that it is an intermediate stage, it is well.15 But if you say that it is a period of doubt, [it will be asked]: Surely a verse cannot serve to exclude a condition of doubt! 16 — only when small. obligation by offering the pair of pigeons; and if the latter, by offering the pair of turtle doves. Therefore, by offering a pair of each kind he certainly fulfils his obligation.