Pinchas 26:8 · unit 1 — “my sons” can mean a single son

Parashas Pinchas · Passuk 26:8

The Complete Passuk

וּבְנֵ֥י פַלּ֖וּא אֱלִיאָֽב׃

And the sons of Pallu: Eliav.

Chabad.org — 26:8

Source Citation

Torah Temimah: Bava Basra 143b

Sefaria — Bava Basra 143b

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
הָהוּא דַּאֲמַר נִכְסַי לִבְנֵי, וַהֲוָה לֵיהּ בְּרָא וּבְרַתָּא, מִי קָרוּ אִינָשֵׁי לִבְרָא בְּנֵי אוֹ לָא, אָמַר רָבָא, תָּא שְׁמַע, וּבְנֵי פַלּוּא אֱלִיאָב.

English: Someone said “my property to my sons,” and he had a son and a daughter — do people call a single son “sons” or not? Rava said: come and hear — “and the sons of Pallu: Eliav.”

Type of Learning

Usage of plural “sons” for a single heir.

What Is Learned

The verse shows that “banim” can refer to one son, supporting such a bequest.