Ki Seitzei 21:15 · unit 13

TT #42 · Parashas Ki Seitzei · First aliya · Passuk 21:15

The Complete Passuk

כִּֽי־תִהְיֶ֨יןָ לְאִ֜ישׁ שְׁתֵּ֣י נָשִׁ֗ים הָאַחַ֤ת אֲהוּבָה֙ וְהָאַחַ֣ת שְׂנוּאָ֔ה וְיָֽלְדוּ־ל֣וֹ בָנִ֔ים הָאֲהוּבָ֖ה וְהַשְּׂנוּאָ֑ה וְהָיָ֛ה הַבֵּ֥ן הַבְּכֹ֖ר לַשְּׂנִיאָֽה׃

If a man has two wives, the one beloved and the one hated, and they bear him sons, the beloved and the hated, and the firstborn son is the hated one’s—

Chabad.org — 21:15

Source Citation

Torah Temimah points to Bava Basra 127b.

Sefaria — Bava Basra 127b

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
הַבֵּן הַבְּכוֹר – הַבֵּן וְלֹא טֻמְטוּם [וְאַנְדְּרוֹגִינוֹס], הַבְּכוֹר וְלֹא הַסָּפֵק.

English: “The firstborn son” — the son, and not a tumtum or androginos; the firstborn, and not a case of doubt.

On the daf / in context: When two wives give birth at the same time and it is unknown which child emerged first, neither is treated as the firstborn for the double portion. If the children were later mixed, they write mutual authorizations and claim the bechorah together from the ordinary heirs.

Type of Learning

Mi’ut excluding tumtum, androginos, and cases of safek.

What Is Learned

Neither a tumtum/androginos nor a child of doubtful priority receives the double portion of the firstborn.