Chullin

the colias, scomber, swordfish, athrias and tunny, it is permitted. We have learnt elsewhere:1 All [fishes] that have scales have also fins, but there are some that have fins but no scales. Those that have fins and scales are clean, but those that have fins and no scales are unclean. But consider, we rely upon scales, the Divine Law then should have stated scales only [as the distinguishing mark] and not fins! — Had the Divine Law only stated scales and not fins I might have said that the word for scales [Kaskasim]2 meant fins, and even unclean fishes [would have been permitted]; the Divine Law therefore stated fins as well as scales. But even now that the Divine Law states fins as well as scales, whence do we know that the term Kaskasim means [the scales that cover the fish like] a garment? — Because it is written: And he was clad with kaskasim [a coat of mail].3 This being so, the Divine Law need not have stated fins at all but only scales4 [kaskasim]! — R. Abbahu said, and so it was taught in the school of R. Ishmael, [It is stated in order] to make the teaching great and glorious.5 Our Rabbis taught: Since the verse6 stated that you may eat that which has fins and scales, I would have inferred that you may not eat that which has not; and since the verse7 stated that you may not eat that which has not fins and scales, I would have inferred that you may eat that which has. Why then are both verses stated? To teach that he8 infringes a positive as well as a negative command.9 Why does Scripture state, These ye may eat of all that are in the waters?10 Because [without this verse] I should have argued thus: since Scripture has permitted [to eat the creeping things of the water11 in two verses], in one verse expressly and in the other impliedly,12 then just as when it expressly permitted them it referred only to those that were in [the water of] vessels, so, too, when it impliedly permitted them it permitted only those that were in vessels. Whence should I have known that one may bend down and swallow without any hesitation even those found in cisterns, ditches, or caverns? It is therefore written: These ye may eat of all that are in the waters. Where does Scripture permit those [creeping things] found in [the water of] vessels?11 In the verse: These ye may eat of all that are in the waters . . . [in the seas and in the rivers], which signifies that [those creeping things found] in the seas and in the rivers, if they have [fins and scales) you may eat, and if they have not [fins and scales] you may not eat, whereas all those found in [the water of] vessels you may eat, even though they have not [fins and scales]. But perhaps [I ought to say that] those found in vessels you may not eat at all, even though they have [fins and scales]! — You cannot say so, for it is written: And all that have not fins and scales in the seas and in the rivers, of all that swarm in the waters . . . [they are a detestable thing unto you!],13 which signifies that [those found] in the seas and in the rivers, if they have not [fins and scales], you may not eat, whereas [those found] in vessels, even though they have not [fins and scales], you may eat. Perhaps [I ought to argue thus], ‘In the waters’14 is a general proposition15 ‘in the seas and in the rivers’ is a specification; we thus have a general proposition followed by a specification, in which case the scope of the general proposition is limited to the particulars specified; hence only with regard to those found in the seas and in the rivers [are the distinguishing marks of fins and scales essential], but not with regard to those found in gutters and trenches!16 — ‘In the waters’, is repeated thus stating another general proposition. But here these two general propositions follow one another!17 — Rabina said, [It is to be interpreted] as said in the West, viz., Wherever you find two general propositions that follow one another plates of metal. kaskasim, namely scales. any possible doubt or misunderstanding regarding kaskasim. precept. cisterns, are permitted. This being so, the previous exposition of v. 9 which establishes that all creeping things found in cisterns etc. are permitted is rendered superfluous.