Ki Seitzei 21:17 · unit 7

TT #57 · Parashas Ki Seitzei · First aliya · Passuk 21:17

The Complete Passuk

כִּי֩ אֶת־הַבְּכֹ֨ר בֶּן־הַשְּׂנוּאָ֜ה יַכִּ֗יר לָ֤תֶת לוֹ֙ פִּ֣י שְׁנַ֔יִם בְּכֹ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־יִמָּצֵ֖א ל֑וֹ כִּי־הוּא֙ רֵאשִׁ֣ית אֹנ֔וֹ ל֖וֹ מִשְׁפַּ֥ט הַבְּכֹרָֽה׃

But he shall acknowledge the firstborn, the son of the hated, by giving him a double portion of all that is found with him; for he is the first of his strength, the right of the firstborn is his.

Chabad.org — 21:17

Source Citation

Torah Temimah points to Sifrei / Bava Basra.

Sefaria — Bava Basra 125b

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
בְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר יִמָּצֵא לוֹ – בְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר יִמָּצֵא, וְלֹא בָּרָאוּי לְהִמָּצֵא.

English: “Of all that is found with him” — of all that is found, and not of that which is only due to be found.

On the daf / in context: The firstborn’s double portion is limited to assets already in the father’s possession at death (muchzak). Assets that were only owed to the father (ra’uy) are divided equally among all the sons.

Type of Learning

Mi’ut from “yimatze lo” excluding ra’uy assets.

What Is Learned

The firstborn receives a double portion only in property already held by the father at the time of death, not in property that was merely due.