Reeh 15:19 · unit 1

TT #340 · Parashas Reeh · Sixth Aliyah · Passuk 15:19

The Complete Passuk

כׇּל־הַבְּכ֡וֹר אֲשֶׁר֩ יִוָּלֵ֨ד בִּבְקָרְךָ֤ וּבְצֹֽאנְךָ֙ הַזָּכָ֔ר תַּקְדִּ֖ישׁ לַיהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ לֹ֤א תַעֲבֹד֙ בִּבְכֹ֣ר שׁוֹרֶ֔ךָ וְלֹ֥א תָגֹ֖ז בְּכ֥וֹר צֹאנֶֽךָ׃

Every firstborn that is born in your herd and in your flock, the male, you shall consecrate to Hashem your God; you shall not work with the firstborn of your ox, nor shear the firstborn of your flock.

Chabad.org — 15:19

Source Citation

Torah Temimah points to Chullin.

Sefaria — Chullin

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
אֲשֶׁר יִוָּלֵד – הַמְּבַכֶּרֶת הַמַּקְשָׁה לֵילֵד מְחַתֵּךְ אֵבֶר אֵבֶר וּמַשְׁלִיךְ לַכְּלָבִים, וְאִם יָצָא רֻבּוֹ יִקָּבֵר, מַאי טַעְמָא דְּקָרֵינַן בֵּיהּ אֲשֶׁר יִוָּלֵד.

English: "That is born" — A first-calving animal that has difficulty giving birth: one cuts limb by limb and throws the pieces to the dogs; but if the majority has emerged it must be buried. What is the reason? Because we read concerning it "that is born."

On the daf / in context: Once the majority of the fetus has emerged it acquires the status of a firstborn and requires burial if it dies.

Type of Learning

Derash on the verse (Chullin) — the threshold of birth for a firstborn.

What Is Learned

When the majority of a firstborn animal has emerged from the womb it is regarded as born and, if it dies, must be buried.