Halacha
הלכה א
מִצְוַת עֲשֵׂה לִפְדּוֹת כָּל אִישׁ מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל בְּנוֹ שֶׁהוּא בְּכוֹר לְאִמּוֹ הַיִּשְׂרְאֵלִית שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות לד יט) "כָּל פֶּטֶר רֶחֶם לִי". וְנֶאֱמַר (במדבר יח טו) "אַךְ פָּדֹה תִפְדֶּה אֵת בְּכוֹר הָאָדָם":
כסף משנה
1.
It is a positive commandment1Sefer HaMitzvot (positive commandment 80) and Sefer HaChinuch (mitzvah 392) include this commandment among the 613 mitzvot of the Torah. This obligation was established in commemoration of the slaying of the Egyptian firstborn before the Exodus. for every Jewish man2I.e., the obligation is incumbent on the baby's father, not his mother, as stated in the following halachah. to redeem his son who is the firstborn of his Jewish mother, as [Exodus 34:19] states: "All first issues of the womb are mine" and [Numbers 18:15] states: "And you shall surely redeem a firstborn man."הלכה ב
וְאֵין הָאִשָּׁה חַיֶּבֶת לִפְדּוֹת אֶת בְּנָהּ. שֶׁהַחַיָּב לִפְדּוֹת אֶת עַצְמוֹ הוּא שֶׁחַיָּב לִפְדּוֹת אֶת בְּנוֹ. עָבַר הָאָב וְלֹא פָּדָהוּ כְּשֶׁיִּגְדַּל יִפְדֶּה אֶת עַצְמוֹ:
כסף משנה
2.
A woman is not obligated to redeem her son,3The P'nei Meivin, Yoreh De'ah, Responsum 226, infers from the wording "a woman is not obligated," that she may do so if she desires. Eidut LiYisrael states that this is the common custom if the child does not have a father. for one who is obligated to redeem himself is obligated to redeem his son.4The Rambam's wording implies that the obligation is incumbent on the son. Nevertheless, as a newborn, the son cannot fulfill it and so, the obligation becomes his father's. See the Minchat Chinuch (mitzvah 392), the Siftei Cohen 305:11, Likkutei Sichot, Vol. XI, p. 44ff., and others who debate whether the mitzvah is primarily the father's or the son's. This difference is not merely theoretical. Among the practical question that result is: If the father did not redeem the son until the son was thirteen, who has the fundamental responsibility to observe the mitzvah, the father or the son? If the father transgressed and did not redeem his son, when he comes of age,513, at which age he is obligated to observe the mitzvot. See Minchat Chinuch, loc. cit., who discusses a situation where the son redeemed himself beforehand. he is obligated to redeem himself.6The Rama (Yoreh De'ah 305:15) states that a silver plaque should be placed around the child's neck as a reminder that he has not been redeemed. See also Halachah 11. The Sifei Cohen 305:20 states that this is not practical. In many instances, the silver plaque will become lost before the child comes of age and he will not be aware of the responsibility incumbent upon him. Instead, it is preferable that the redemption be performed by the Jewish court. Eidut LiYisrael also mentions that if the child's grandfather is alive, there are opinions that he should perform the redemption.הלכה ג
הָיָה הוּא לִפְדּוֹת וּבְנוֹ לִפְדּוֹת יִפְדֶּה עַצְמוֹ תְּחִלָּה וְאַחַר כָּךְ בְּנוֹ. וְאִם אֵין לוֹ אֶלָּא כְּדֵי פִּדְיוֹן אֶחָד יִפְדֶּה עַצְמוֹ:
כסף משנה
3.
If it is necessary to redeem both the person himself and his son, he should redeem himself first and then his son.7For the mitzvah incumbent on his own person takes precedence (Kiddushin 29a,b). If he only has enough [money] for one redemption, he should redeem himself.הלכה ד
הָיָה בְּנוֹ לִפְדּוֹת וְהִגִּיעַ עֵת לַעֲלוֹת לָרֶגֶל וְאֵין לוֹ כְּדֵי לָזֶה וְלָזֶה. פּוֹדֶה אֶת בְּנוֹ וְאַחַר כָּךְ עוֹלֶה לָרֶגֶל שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות לד כ) "כּל בְּכוֹר בָּנֶיךָ תִּפְדֶּה" וְאַחַר כָּךְ (שמות לד כ) "וְלֹא יֵרָאוּ פָנַי רֵיקָם":
כסף משנה
4.
If [a father] had to redeem his son and the time arrived for him to make a festive pilgrimage [to Jerusalem] and he does not have the resources for both, he should redeem his son and then make the pilgrimage. [This is alluded to in Exodus 34:20:] which states: "You shall redeem all your firstborn sons" and afterwards [continues]: "Do not behold My countenance8I.e., make a pilgrimage to the Temple to behold the Divine presence. empty-handed."9Even though he could possibly redeem his son afterwards, and he will not be able to make this pilgrimage again, the redemption of his son takes precedence.הלכה ה
הַפּוֹדֶה אֶת בְּנוֹ מְבָרֵךְ אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ עַל פִּדְיוֹן הַבֵּן. וְחוֹזֵר וּמְבָרֵךְ שֶׁהֶחֱיָינוּ. וְאַחַר כָּךְ נוֹתֵן הַפִּדְיוֹן לַכֹּהֵן. וְאִם פָּדָה עַצְמוֹ מְבָרֵךְ לִפְדּוֹת הַבְּכוֹר וּמְבָרֵךְ שֶׁהֶחֱיָינוּ:
כסף משנה
5.
A person who redeems his son should recite the blessing: "[Blessed are You...] who sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us concerning the redemption of a son."10This follows the Rambam's rulings in Hilchot Berachot 11:11 where he writes that a person who performs a mitzvah involving his own person should praise God who "commanded us to...." If the mitzvah involves others, by contrast, the blessing should conclude "commanded us concerning...." The commentaries, however, note that in ibid.:12 and in Hilchot Milah 3:1, the Rambam writes that one who circumcises his own son should recite the blessing concluding "to circumcise...," for the mitzvah is incumbent on his own person. Seemingly, this should also apply with regard to the redemption of a son.It is possible to resolve the question as follows: The mitzvah of redeeming the son is primarily the child's. Hence, the father uses the form "concerning...." The mitzvah of circumcision, by contrast, is primarily the father's. Hence he uses the form "to...." Afterwards, he recites the blessing Shehechiyanu11This blessing is recited as an expression of thanks whenever one performs a mitzvah infrequently (Hilchot Berachot 12:9). Even though one recited this blessing at the child's circumcision, it should be recited again at his redemption, for the two are separate mitzvot to be performed at separate times (Radbaz). Similarly, as an expression of thanks, it is customary to mark the redemption with a celebratory feast. This feast is considered a seudat mitzvah, a feast associated with a mitzvah. and then gives12For the blessing should precede the observance of the mitzvah. [the money for] the redemption to the priest. If [a son] redeems himself, he should recite the blessing: "[Blessed... who commanded us] to redeem the firstborn"13For he is certainly performing a mitzvah involving himself. The Rambam's ruling is quoted by the Shulchan Aruch (Yoreh De'ah 305:10). The Tur and the Rama rule that even in such a situation, the conclusion of the blessing should be "...concerning the redemption of the firstborn." and he should recite the blessing Shehechiyanu.
הלכה ו
מִצְוָה זוֹ נוֹהֶגֶת בְּכָל מָקוֹם וּבְכָל זְמַן. וּבְכַמָּה פּוֹדֵהוּ בְּחָמֵשׁ סְלָעִים שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (במדבר יח טז) "וּפְדוּיָו מִבֶּן חֹדֶשׁ תִּפְדֶּה". בֵּין בְּכֶסֶף בֵּין בִּשְׁוֵה כֶּסֶף מִן הַמִּטַּלְטְלִין שֶׁגּוּפָן מָמוֹן כְּעִנְיַן הַשְּׁקָלִים. לְפִיכָךְ אֵין פּוֹדִין בְּקַרְקָעוֹת וְלֹא בַּעֲבָדִים מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהֵן כְּקַרְקָעוֹת וְלֹא בִּשְׁטָרוֹת לְפִי שֶׁאֵין גּוּפָן מָמוֹן. וְאִם פָּדָהוּ בָּהֶן אֵינוֹ פָּדוּי:
כסף משנה
6.
This mitzvah is practiced in every place and at all times.14I.e., its observance is not limited to Eretz Yisrael, nor to the time when the Temple is standing. For how much should the son be redeemed? Five selaim,15Shiurei Torah defines this as 101 or 96 grams of pure silver. as [Numbers 18:16] states: "And those to be redeemed: from one month you shall redeem [according to the valuation of five silver shekalim]." [The redemption may be paid] in silver16We have translated kessef as "silver" and not "money" to allude to the concepts stated below. or in articles worth silver, i.e., movable property that is of financial worth like the shekalim are. Therefore one may not redeem [a firstborn] with landed property or with servants. Nor may promissory notes [be used], because they are not of inherent worth.17This includes not only promissory notes given by a particular individual, but also the fiat currencies of the present day, for such currency does not have any inherent value. In practice, silver coins are almost always used for the redemption of the firstborn. If one redeemed a firstborn with these, he is not redeemed.18And he must be redeemed again.הלכה ז
כָּתַב הָאָב לַכֹּהֵן שֶׁהוּא חַיָּב לוֹ חֲמִשָּׁה סְלָעִים חַיָּב לִתֵּן לוֹ וּבְנוֹ אֵינוֹ פָּדוּי. נָתַן לוֹ כְּלִי שֶׁאֵינוֹ שָׁוֶה בַּשּׁוּק חֲמִשָּׁה סְלָעִים וְקִבְּלוֹ הַכֹּהֵן בַּחֲמִשָּׁה סְלָעִים הֲרֵי בְּנוֹ פָּדוּי. נָתַן חֲמִשָּׁה סְלָעִים לַעֲשָׂרָה כֹּהֲנִים בֵּין בְּבַת אַחַת בֵּין בָּזֶה אַחַר זֶה יָצָא:
כסף משנה
7.
When a father writes to a priest that he is obligated to give him five selaim, the obligation takes effect,19As stated in Hilchot Mechirah 11:15, when a person undertakes a financial obligation, even though according to law he was not liable, he is bound by his commitment. but the son is not redeemed.20This applies even if he actually pays him the five selaim, for that money is being paid to satisfy the obligation he voluntarily undertook and not to discharge the obligation the Torah placed upon him (Bechorot 49b).The Turei Zahav 305:2 and the Siftei Cohen 305:3 explain that according to Scriptural Law, the commitment is effective in redeeming the son. Nevertheless, our Sages ruled that it is unacceptable lest a person attempt to redeem his son with promissory notes from other people. If he gives him a utensil that is not worth five selaim in the market, but the priest accepts it as if he was given five selaim, the son is redeemed.21In his Kessef Mishneh, Rav Yosef Caro debates this ruling at length and in his Shulchan Aruch (Yoreh De'ah 305:5), he rules that the utensil must be worth five selaim to a person in a given situation. If, however, there is no way that it would be considered as worth five selaim, the son is not redeemed. The Turei Zahav 305:5 and the Siftei Cohen 305:5, however, maintain that the Rambam's words should be understood simply. If he divides the five selaim among ten priests,22Giving each a half-sela. whether at once or one after the other, he fulfils his obligation.23The Pitchei Teshuvah 305:10 states that it is not desirable to redeem one's son in this manner. As an initial preference, one should give all five selaim to one priest, at one time.
הלכה ח
רָצָה הַכֹּהֵן לְהַחְזִיר לוֹ הַפִּדְיוֹן מַחְזִיר. וְלֹא יִתֵּן לוֹ הוּא וְדַעְתּוֹ שֶׁיַּחְזִיר. וְאִם עָשָׂה כֵּן וְהֶחְזִיר לוֹ אֵין בְּנוֹ פָּדוּי עַד שֶׁיִּגְמֹר בְּלִבּוֹ לִתֵּן לוֹ מַתָּנָה גְּמוּרָה. וְאִם רָצָה הַכֹּהֵן אַחַר כָּךְ לְהַחְזִיר יַחְזִיר. וְכֵן אִם פֵּרֵשׁ וְנָתַן לוֹ עַל מְנָת לְהַחְזִיר הֲרֵי בְּנוֹ פָּדוּי:
כסף משנה
8.
If the priest desires to return [what was given for] the redemption to [the father], he may. He should not, however, give it to him with the intent that he return it. If he did so, and [the priest] returned it, his son is not redeemed.24Since the father expected the present to be returned, it is as if he never really intended to give it to the priest (Bechorot, loc. cit., Radbaz). This applies only when the priest actually returns what he was given, for if he does not return it, we assume that after the fact, the father consents that the priest retain possession and as a result, the son is redeemed. [Instead,] he must give it to him with the resolution that he is giving him a present without any reservations. Afterwards, if the priest desires to return it, he may return it.25When quoting this law, the Shulchan Aruch (Yoreh De'ah 305:8) states that the priest should not frequently return what is given to him for the redemption. It should only be done occasionally, when the father is poor. Similarly, if he gives it to him as a present with the stipulation that it be returned, his son is redeemed.26A present given with the intent that it be returned is considered as a valid present (Kiddushin 6b). Thus the father's gift was within the limits of law. Hence, it is acceptable. In the first instance, by contrast, since the present was not given wholeheartedly, it is as if it was never given. Nevertheless, receiving the redemption as a present with the stipulation that it be returned is frowned upon by our Rabbis. The Shulchan Aruch describes a priest who does so as having "transgressed."הלכה ט
כֹּהֲנִים וּלְוִיִּם פְּטוּרִים מִפִּדְיוֹן הַבֵּן מִקַּל וָחֹמֶר. אִם פָּטְרוּ שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל בַּמִּדְבָּר דִּין הוּא שֶׁיִּפְטְרוּ עַצְמָן:
כסף משנה
9.
The priests and the Levites are exempt from the redemption of their firstborn, as evident from a logical deduction: If they served as the redemption of the Israelites firstborn in the desert,27See Numbers 3:45 which commands "Take the Levites in place of all the firstborn of the children of Israel." certainly, they themselves are exempt.הלכה י
יִשְׂרָאֵל הַבָּא מִן הַכֹּהֶנֶת וּמִן הַלְּוִיָּה פָּטוּר. שֶׁאֵין הַדָּבָר תָּלוּי בָּאָב אֶלָּא בָּאֵם שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר פֶּטֶר רֶחֶם בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל:
כסף משנה
10.
An Israelite who is born to a woman of the priestly or Levite family28I.e., the father is an Israelite and thus the son is an Israelite. is exempt, for this matter is not dependent on the father, but rather on the mother, as [indicated by the phrase]:29The commentaries have noted that there is no exact verse in the Torah that corresponds to the Rambam's wording. Similar phrases are found in Exodus 13:2 and Numbers 3:12. "the first issue of the womb in Israel."הלכה יא
לְוִיָּה הַמְעֻבֶּרֶת מֵעַכּוּ''ם בְּנָהּ פָּטוּר. וְכֹהֶנֶת הַמְעֻבֶּרֶת מֵעַכּוּ''ם בְּנָהּ חַיָּב שֶׁהֲרֵי נִפְסְלָה אִמּוֹ מִן הַכְּהֻנָּה בִּבְעִילַת הָעַכּוּ''ם:
כסף משנה
11.
When a woman of the Levite family was impregnated by a gentile, her son is exempt.30The identity of the father does not change the status of the mother or the child and it is just as if the child was from a Jewish father. See Hilchot Issurei Bi'ah 15:3. If, however, a woman of the priestly family was impregnated by a gentile, her son is obligated,31I.e., he is obligated to redeem himself when he comes of age, for as stated in Halachah 2, there is no obligation for a woman to redeem her son. There are authorities who maintain that, in the present age, the Jewish court should redeem such children, for it is possible that when the child comes of age, he will not be aware of the mitzvah and will fail to observe it. for his mother was disqualified from the priestly family because of relations with the gentile.32Such relations - even if she is raped - caused her to be deemed a zonah and she is disqualified from the priestly family. Her children do not bear its holiness, nor does she have any of the rights granted to its members (Hilchot Issurei Bi'ah 18:1).הלכה יב
כֹּהֵן שֶׁנּוֹלַד לוֹ בֶּן חָלָל. מֵת הָאָב בְּתוֹךְ שְׁלֹשִׁים יוֹם הַבֵּן חַיָּב לִפְדּוֹת אֶת עַצְמוֹ. שֶׁלֹּא זָכָה הָאָב בְּפִדְיוֹנוֹ. מֵת אַחַר שְׁלֹשִׁים יוֹם אֵינוֹ חַיָּב הַבֵּן לִפְדּוֹת אֶת עַצְמוֹ. שֶׁהֲרֵי זָכָה הָאָב בְּפִדְיוֹנוֹ:
כסף משנה
12.
When a priest fathers a son who is a challal33The children born from relations between a priest and a woman forbidden because of the unique prohibitions incumbent upon the priests, as explained in Hilchot Issurei Bi'ah 19:3-6. and the father dies within 30 days [of the son's birth], the son is obligated to redeem himself,34I.e., if the son is the first issue of his mother's womb. because the father did not acquire the redemption.35I.e., were the father to have lived until the son was 30 days old, there would have been an obligation to redeem the child. Nevertheless, since the father was a priest - and the fact that he entered into a forbidden relationship does not disqualify him from the priesthood - it is considered as if he paid himself and the child was redeemed (Turei Zahav 305:17). If [the father] dies after 30 days [have passed], the son is not obligated to redeem himself, because the father acquired the redemption.36Because he died after the obligation took effect, as indicated by Halachah 17.הלכה יג
הַשִּׁפְחָה שֶׁנִּשְׁתַּחְרְרָה וְכוּתִית שֶׁנִּתְגַּיְּרָה כְּשֶׁהֵן מְעֻבָּרוֹת וְיָלְדוּ. אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהוֹרָתוֹ שֶׁלֹּא בִּקְדֻשָּׁה הוֹאִיל וְנוֹלַד בִּקְדֻשָּׁה חַיָּב. שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר פֶּטֶר רֶחֶם בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל וַהֲרֵי פֶּטֶר וְרֶחֶם בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל. אֵין יָדוּעַ אִם קֹדֶם שֶׁנִּתְגַּיְּרָה יָלְדָה אוֹ אַחַר שֶׁנִּתְגַּיְּרָה יָלְדָה הַמּוֹצִיא מֵחֲבֵרוֹ עָלָיו הָרְאָיָה:
כסף משנה
13.
If a maidservant was freed - or a gentile woman converted - while she was pregnant and then she gave birth,37For the first time, as obvious from the following halachah. since he was born in holiness,38I.e., as a Jew. [the child] is obligated [to redeem himself] even though he was not conceived in holiness, as [indicated by] the phrase:39I.e., the father is an Israelite and thus the son is an Israelite. "the first issue of the womb in Israel." For this child is the first issue of a womb in Israel. If it is not known whether the woman gave birth before she converted or afterwards,40Implied is that we do not rely on her word alone. [we follow the principle:] When one desires to expropriate property from a colleague, the burden of proof is on him.41The priest is considered as if he desires to expropriate property - the five selaim of the redemption - from the child. Since the priest cannot prove that the child was born as an Israelite, the child is not obligated. See parallels in Chapter 9, Halachah 13, and Chapter 10, Halachah 12.הלכה יד
הַכּוּתִית וְהַשִּׁפְחָה שֶׁיָּלְדוּ וְאַחַר כָּךְ נִתְגַּיְּרוּ וְנִשְׁתַּחְרְרוּ וְיָלְדוּ וָלָד אַחֵר הֲרֵי זֶה פָּטוּר שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (במדבר ג יב) (במדבר יח טו) "פֶּטֶר רֶחֶם" וְאֵין זֶה פֶּטֶר רֶחֶם. וְכֵן הַבָּא אַחַר הַנְּפָלִים כָּל נֵפֶל שֶׁאִמּוֹ טְמֵאָה לֵדָה הַבָּא אַחֲרָיו אֵינוֹ פֶּטֶר רֶחֶם. וְכָל נֵפֶל שֶׁאֵין אִמּוֹ טְמֵאָה לֵדָה כְּמוֹ הַמַּפֶּלֶת כְּמִין דָּגִים וַחֲגָבִים אוֹ הַמַּפֶּלֶת יוֹם אַרְבָּעִים וְכַיּוֹצֵא בָּהֶן הַבָּא אַחֲרָיו בְּכוֹר לַכֹּהֵן וְחַיָּב לִפְדּוֹת:
כסף משנה
14.
When a gentile woman or a maidservant gave birth and then converted or was freed and then gave birth again, [the second child] is exempt,42As the Radbaz mentions, this child may be considered as the father's firstborn and receive a double share of his inheritance. Nevertheless, in this context, he is not considered as a firstborn. as [indicated by] the phrase "the first issue of the womb," and this is not [the woman's] first issue of the womb.43Even though it is her first Jewish child.Similar concepts apply when a son is born after a nefal.44A stillborn, aborted, or miscarried fetus. Whenever the mother is ritually impure due to birth because of a nefal,45See Hilchot Issurei Bi'ah 10:1 which states: "Every woman who gives birth is impure like a niddah, even if she did not suffer uterine bleeding. [This applies whether] a woman gives birth to a living child or one which is stillborn, and even if she miscarries [and discharges a fetus]." The remainder of that chapter mentions different questionable circumstances involving such miscarriages. a son born afterwards is not considered the first issue of the womb. Whenever a nefal does not cause the mother to be ritually impure due to birth,46In the instances mentioned, the embryo that was miscarried is not given the halachic status of a fetus and none of the laws applying to childbirth apply. e.g., a woman who miscarries and the issue resembles a fish or a grasshopper,47See ibid. 5:15. a woman who miscarries on the fortieth day [after conception],48ibid. 10:2. or the like, a son born afterwards is [under obligation] to the priesthood and must be redeemed.
הלכה טו
חָתַךְ הָעֻבָּר בְּמֵעֶיהָ וְהוֹצִיאוֹ אֵיבָר אֵיבָר הַבָּא אַחֲרָיו אֵינוֹ פֶּטֶר רֶחֶם. בֶּן שְׁמוֹנָה חֳדָשִׁים שֶׁהוֹצִיא רֹאשׁוֹ וְהוּא חַי וְהֶחֱזִירוֹ וָמֵת. וְכֵן בֶּן תִּשְׁעָה שֶׁמֵּת וְיָצָא רֹאשׁוֹ וְהֶחֱזִירוֹ וְאַחַר כָּךְ יָצָא אָחִיו וְיָלְדָה. זֶה שֶׁיָּלְדָה אֵינוֹ פֶּטֶר רֶחֶם. שֶׁהֲרֵי נִפְטַר בְּרֹאשׁוֹ שֶׁל רִאשׁוֹן. וּמִשֶּׁתֵּצֵא פַּדַּחְתּוֹ פּוֹטֵר הַבָּא אַחֲרָיו:
כסף משנה
15.
When a fetus in a woman's womb was cut up and removed limb by limb, a son born afterwards is not considered to be "the first issue of her womb."49Even though it was removed from the womb piece by piece, the mother is considered impure as if she gave birth (Ibid.:6) and the subsequent child is not considered as a firstborn. When the head of a fetus that was carried for eight months emerged alive50From the Rambam's wording, the commentaries have inferred that if the baby emerges dead, a boy born next is considered as the mother's firstborn. The rationale is that a baby born in the eighth month is considered as if it would never be a viable birth. This ruling is quoted by the Shulchan Aruch (Yoreh De'ah 305:23). and then was withdrawn back to the womb where it died - or the head of a stillborn fetus that was carried for nine moths emerged and then was withdrawn - and afterwards the [twin] brother [of the fetus] emerged as [a viable] birth, the viable birth is not considered the first issue of the womb, for [all subsequent births] became exempt with the [emergence of] the head of the first [fetus]. As soon as its forehead emerged, it exempted those born afterwards.51For the emergence of the forehead is considered as birth in several halachic contexts (e.g., Hilchot Nachalot 2:2).הלכה טז
יוֹצֵא דֹּפֶן וְהַבָּא אַחֲרָיו כְּדַרְכּוֹ שְׁנֵיהֶם פְּטוּרִים. הָרִאשׁוֹן לְפִי שֶׁלֹּא יָצָא מִן הָרֶחֶם וְהַשֵּׁנִי מִפְּנֵי שֶׁקְּדָמוֹ אַחֵר:
כסף משנה
16.
When a baby is born by Caesarian section, both it and the next birth are exempt: the first because it did not emerge from the womb,52And the Torah obligated only the first issue of a woman's womb. and the second, because it was preceded by another birth.53These concepts also apply with regard to the definition of a firstborn with regard to the inheritance (ibid.:11).הלכה יז
מֵאֵימָתַי יִתְחַיֵּב בְּפִדְיוֹן. מִשֶּׁיַּשְׁלִים שְׁלֹשִׁים יוֹם שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (במדבר יח טז) "וּפְדוּיָו מִבֶּן חֹדֶשׁ תִּפְדֶּה". מֵת הַבֵּן בְּתוֹךְ שְׁלֹשִׁים וַאֲפִלּוּ בְּיוֹם שְׁלֹשִׁים. וְכֵן אִם נַעֲשָׂה טְרֵפָה. אֵינוֹ חַיָּב בַּחֲמִשָּׁה סְלָעִים. וְאִם הִקְדִּים וְנָתַן לַכֹּהֵן יַחְזִיר לוֹ הַפִּדְיוֹן. [וְאִם מֵת אַחַר שְׁלֹשִׁים יוֹם חַיָּב בְּפִדְיוֹן] וְאִם לֹא נָתַן יִתֵּן:
כסף משנה
17.
When does the obligation for redemption take effect? When the baby completes 30 days of life,54I.e., as soon as the thirty-first day begins. These days are counted from sunset to sunset and not from hour to hour. It is customary to redeem the son on his thirty-first day of life, because one should not delay the observance of a mitzvah. If, however, the thirty-first day is the Sabbath or a festival, the redemption is performed at the earliest possible opportunity afterwards. as [Numbers 18:16] states: "And those to be redeemed should be redeemed from the age of a month." If the son died within the thirty days - even on the thirtieth day - or it became mortally ill,55Treifah, the Hebrew term used by the Rambam, is interpreted as referring to an ailment that will cause the person to die within a year. there is no obligation [to pay the priest] five selaim.56For the obligation to redeem the child never took effect. If he gave the priest [the money for] the redemption beforehand, he should return it.57For that gift is not effective in redeeming the child, as stated in the following halachah. If the baby died after its thirtieth day, the father is obligated to redeem him.58When quoting this law, the Rama (Yoreh De'ah 305:12) states that the father must also recite the blessing for the redemption. He does not, however, recite the blessing Shehechiyanu. If he did not give [the money to the priest], he should.הלכה יח
מִי שֶׁפָּדָה בְּנוֹ בְּתוֹךְ שְׁלֹשִׁים יוֹם אִם אָמַר לוֹ מֵעַכְשָׁו אֵין בְּנוֹ פָּדוּי. וְאִם אָמַר לוֹ לְאַחַר שְׁלֹשִׁים יוֹם בְּנוֹ פָּדוּי וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאֵין הַמָּעוֹת קַיָּמִין לְאַחַר שְׁלֹשִׁים יוֹם:
כסף משנה
18.
[The following rules apply when] one redeems his son within 30 days of his birth: If he tells [the priest]: "I am redeeming him at this time," his son is not redeemed.59Because the obligation to redeem him has not taken effect. This ruling applies even if the coins remain in the priest's possession until after the thirtieth day. For the redemption to take effect, the priest must return the money to the father and then he must give it to him again. See Siftei Cohen 305:18. If he tells him that [the gift should take effect] after 30 days, his son is redeemed even if the coins no longer exist after 30 days.60There is a difference of opinion concerning this issue in the Talmud (Bechorot 49a,b). The Rambam's ruling follows the position of Shmuel, even though Rav differs and rules that the son is not redeemed. Although ordinarily, in such differences of opinion, the halachah follows Rav with regard to questions involving Torah prohibitions, in this instance, the Talmud explicitly states that the halachah follows Shmuel. There is, however, a question regarding the proper version of the Talmudic text and the Rambam's ruling does not follow the standard published version (Radbaz). The Shulchan Aruch (Yoreh De'ah 305:13) quotes the Rambam's ruling, while the Rama rules that if the money no longer exists, the redemption is not effective.הלכה יט
מִי שֶׁהוּא סָפֵק אִם חַיָּב בְּפִדְיוֹן אוֹ לֹא הֲרֵי זֶה פָּטוּר שֶׁהַמּוֹצִיא מֵחֲבֵרוֹ עָלָיו הָרְאָיָה. מֵת הָאָב בְּתוֹךְ שְׁלֹשִׁים יוֹם הֲרֵי הַבֵּן בְּחֶזְקַת שֶׁלֹּא נִפְדָּה עַד שֶׁיָּבִיא רְאָיָה מֵאָבִיו שֶׁפָּדָהוּ קֹדֶם שֶׁיָּמוּת. מֵת הָאָב לְאַחַר שְׁלֹשִׁים יוֹם הֲרֵי הוּא בְּחֶזְקַת פָּדוּי עַד שֶׁיּוֹדִיעוּהוּ שֶׁלֹּא נִפְדָּה:
כסף משנה
19.
If there is a doubt whether a son is obligated to be redeemed or not, he is exempt. [The rationale is that when] one desires to expropriate property from a colleague, the burden of proof is on him.61As explained above, the priest is considered as if he desires to expropriate property - the five selaim of the redemption - from the father. The rationale is based on the fact that the money is presently in possession of the father. There are commentaries who maintain that if the priest would seize the five selaim, he would be entitled to retain possession of them, because the father would now have to prove that he is not obligated and that is likewise impossible. They support this conclusion with the Rambam's ruling in Hilchot Bechorot 5:3 that if there is an animal whose status is unclear and there is a doubt whether it is a firstborn, should a priest seize possession of it, we do not expropriate it from his property. Others, however, differentiate between the two instances, explaining that in Hilchot Bechorot, the priest has seized a specific entity concerning which an unresolved doubt exists. In this halachah, by contrast, although there is a question whether the father is under obligation to the priest, the money that the priest seizes definitely belongs to the father. Hence, it must be returned (Machaneh Ephrayim, Hilchot Zechiyah, sec. 8; see also Radbaz to Halachah 21). If a father dies within 30 days [of his son's birth], we operate under the assumption that the son was not redeemed unless he brings proof from his father that he redeemed him62In the manner described at the conclusion of the previous halachah. This is an uncommon occurrence. Hence, unless there is specific knowledge that the father redeemed him in this manner, we assume he did not. before he died. If the father died after 30 days [following the son's birth], we operate under the assumption that he was redeemed63For we assume that the person fulfilled the mitzvah incumbent upon him at the earliest possible opportunity. unless he informed us that he was not redeemed.64I.e., he made such statements on his deathbed [Shulchan Aruch (Yoreh De'ah 305:14)].הלכה כ
מִי שֶׁלֹּא בִּכְּרָה אִשְׁתּוֹ וְיָלְדָה זָכָר וּנְקֵבָה וְאֵין יָדוּעַ אֵי זֶה מֵהֶן יָצָא רִאשׁוֹן אֵין כָּאן לַכֹּהֵן כְּלוּם. יָלְדָה שְׁנֵי זְכָרִים אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאֵין יָדוּעַ אֵי זֶה מֵהֶן הַבְּכוֹר נוֹתֵן חֲמִשָּׁה סְלָעִים לַכֹּהֵן. מֵת אֶחָד מֵהֶן בְּתוֹךְ שְׁלֹשִׁים יוֹם פָּטוּר שֶׁהַמּוֹצִיא מֵחֲבֵרוֹ עָלָיו הָרְאָיָה. מֵת הָאָב בֵּין בְּתוֹךְ שְׁלֹשִׁים יוֹם בֵּין אַחַר שְׁלֹשִׁים יוֹם. בֵּין שֶׁלֹּא חָלְקוּ הָאַחִים בֵּין שֶׁחָלְקוּ. יִנָּתֵן מִן הַנְּכָסִים חֲמִשָּׁה סְלָעִים לַכֹּהֵן שֶׁכְּבָר נִתְחַיְּבוּ הַנְּכָסִים:
כסף משנה
20.
When a person's wife has never given birth and she gives birth to a male and a female, but it is not known which emerged first,65Thus there is a question whether the son must be redeemed or not, for if the female emerged first, the son need not be redeemed. there is no obligation to give the priest anything.66Since there is a doubt concerning the obligation, the burden of proof is on the priest, as stated in Halachah 19. Not only does this apply with regard to the father, the son is under no obligation to redeem himself when he comes of age. This is the underlying principle governing many of the situations described in the following halachot.If she gave birth to two males, even if it is not known which is the firstborn, [the father] must give five selaim to the priest.67For one of his sons is certainly a firstborn and hence, he is required to redeem him. Although the father does not know which of his sons he is redeeming, he is obligated to perform the redemption (Radbaz). If one of them dies within 30 days, [the father] is exempt, [based on the principle, when] one desires to expropriate property from a colleague, the burden of proof is on him].68For the father can claim that the son who died was the firstborn and since he died within 30 days of his birth, there is no obligation to redeem him, as stated in Halachah 17. If the father died - whether he died within 30 days of the birth of his sons or afterwards, whether the sons divided his estate69In which case, each of the sons could argue that perhaps the other was in fact the firstborn and hence, he is not required to give toward the redemption. This ruling represents a reversal of the Rambam's opinion from his ruling in his final version of his Commentary to the Mishnah (Bechorot 8:3). [Apparently, the issue was one that the Rambam debated back and forth, because his earlier version of that text does not mention an exemption.] The Shulchan Aruch (Yoreh De'ah 305:265) quotes the Rambam's ruling here. The Tur and the Siftei Cohen 305:30 rule that the sons are exempt if the father died before the passage of the 30 days. The rationale they give is that each of the sons can claim that the obligation is on the other. or not - five selaim should be given from the estate to the priest, because an obligation was already established upon the estate.
הלכה כא
שְׁתֵּי נָשָׁיו שֶׁלֹּא בִּכְּרוּ וְיָלְדוּ שְׁנֵי זְכָרִים נוֹתֵן עֲשָׂרָה סְלָעִים לַכֹּהֵן. מֵת אֶחָד מֵהֶן בְּתוֹךְ שְׁלֹשִׁים יוֹם אִם לְכֹהֵן אֶחָד נָתַן יַחְזִיר לוֹ חֲמִשָּׁה סְלָעִים. וְאִם לִשְׁנֵי כֹּהֲנִים נָתַן אֵינוֹ יָכוֹל לְהוֹצִיא מֵהֶן שֶׁהֲרֵי לֹא צִיֵּן פִּדְיוֹן זֶה עַל בֵּן זֶה. וְכָל אֶחָד מֵהֶן יָכוֹל לוֹמַר הַחֲזִיר מֵחֲבֵרִי:
כסף משנה
21.
[The following rules apply when a man has] two wives who have not yet given birth and they give birth to two sons and [the father] gives ten selaim to the priest [within 30 days of their birth].70For their redemption in the manner stated in Halachah 18. If one dies within 30 days and he had given [the ten selaim] to one priest, he should return five selaim to him.71For there is no obligation to redeem a son who died before he reaches the age of 30 days. If he gave the money to two priests,72Giving each five selaim for one of the sons, without specifying which one. he cannot expropriate the money from them, since he did not specify which son he is redeeming and each can tell him: "Have my colleague refund you."73I.e., each priest can maintain that he received the redemption for the son that is alive and it is the other priest who is required to return the funds.הלכה כב
שְׁתֵּי נָשָׁיו שֶׁלֹּא בִּכְּרוּ שֶׁיָּלְדוּ זָכָר וּנְקֵבָה אוֹ שְׁנֵי זְכָרִים וּנְקֵבָה נוֹתֵן חֲמִשָּׁה סְלָעִים לַכֹּהֵן. שֶׁאִי אֶפְשָׁר שֶׁלֹּא יִהְיֶה זָכָר אֶחָד מֵהֶן פֶּטֶר רֶחֶם:
כסף משנה
22.
When a man has two wives who have not given birth yet and they give birth to a male and a female or two males and a female [and it is not known which mother gave birth to which child and which is the order of the children's births], he should give five selaim to a priest. [The rationale is that] it is impossible that among them there will not be one male who is the first issue of the womb.74In the second instance, however, he need not redeem both sons, because it is possible that his daughter's birth preceded the birth of one of them. Thus with regard to that child, we follow the principle stated in Halachah 19.הלכה כג
יָלְדוּ שְׁתֵּי נְקֵבוֹת וְזָכָר. אוֹ שְׁנֵי זְכָרִים וּשְׁתֵּי נְקֵבוֹת. וְאֵין יָדוּעַ אֵי זֶה נוֹלַד רִאשׁוֹן. אֵין כָּאן לַכֹּהֵן כְּלוּם שֶׁאֲנִי אוֹמֵר נְקֵבָה נוֹלְדָה תְּחִלָּה וְאַחֲרֶיהָ זָכָר:
כסף משנה
23.
[In the above situation, if the women] give birth to two females and a male or two males and two females and it is not known which was born first, the priest is not entitled to anything. For [with regard to each mother], it is possible to say a female was born first and then a male.75Although two mothers and two pairs of children are involved, the situation is abstractly the same as that described in Halachah 20.הלכה כד
שְׁתֵּי נָשָׁיו אַחַת בִּכְּרָה וְאַחַת לֹא בִּכְּרָה וְיָלְדוּ שְׁנֵי זְכָרִים וְנִתְעָרְבוּ. נוֹתֵן חֲמִשָּׁה סְלָעִים לַכֹּהֵן. מֵת אֶחָד מֵהֶם בְּתוֹךְ שְׁלֹשִׁים יוֹם הָאָב פָּטוּר. מֵת הָאָב יִנָּתֵן מִן הַנְּכָסִים חֲמִשָּׁה סְלָעִים:
כסף משנה
24.
[When a man has] two wives, one who has already given birth and one who has not yet given birth, and they give birth to two sons who become mixed together, he must give five selaim to a priest.76For the woman who had not given birth previously obviously gave birth to a firstborn son. The fact that his identity is unknown is not significant. If one of the sons dies within thirty days, the father is exempt.77Because it is possible that the firstborn died and therefore, there is no obligation if he dies within thirty days of his birth. If the father died,78Whether within 30 days of the sons' birth or afterwards, as in Halachah 20. See, however, note 68. five selaim should be paid from his estate.79Although the entire sum could not be expropriated from either of the sons - for each one could claim that it is the other who is liable - it can be expropriated from the estate. For the father was certainly obligated and that obligation is transferred to his estate.הלכה כה
יָלְדוּ זָכָר וּנְקֵבָה אוֹ שְׁנֵי זְכָרִים וּנְקֵבָה אֵין כָּאן לַכֹּהֵן כְּלוּם. שֶׁאֲנִי אוֹמֵר זוֹ שֶׁלֹּא בִּכְּרָה יָלְדָה נְקֵבָה תְּחִלָּה וְאַחֲרֶיהָ זָכָר וְזוֹ שֶׁבִּכְּרָה יָלְדָה זָכָר:
כסף משנה
25.
[In the above situation, if the two wives] gave birth to a male and a female or two males and a female, the priest is not entitled to anything. For it is possible to say that the woman who did not give birth yet gave birth to a female first and then a male and the one who had given birth already gave birth to a male.80The commentaries question the Rambam's ruling, maintaining that seemingly the instance here is analogous to the case described in Halachah 30. What difference does it make if the two women mentioned are the wives of one man or two? The Radbaz explains that since we are speaking about one man with two wives and one is exempt, we assume that the exemption will continue unless it is indicated otherwise.הלכה כו
שְׁתֵּי נָשִׁים שֶׁל שְׁנֵי אֲנָשִׁים שֶׁלֹּא בִּכְּרוּ וְיָלְדוּ שְׁנֵי זְכָרִים וְנִתְעָרְבוּ זֶה נוֹתֵן חֲמִשָּׁה סְלָעִים וְזֶה נוֹתֵן חֲמִשָּׁה סְלָעִים. נָתְנוּ וְאַחַר כָּךְ מֵת אֶחָד מִן הַבָּנִים בְּתוֹךְ שְׁלֹשִׁים יוֹם. אִם לִשְׁנֵי כֹּהֲנִים נָתְנוּ אֵינָן יְכוֹלִין לְהוֹצִיא מִיָּדָן. וְאִם לְכֹהֵן אֶחָד נָתְנוּ כּוֹתֵב אֶחָד מֵהֶן לַחֲבֵרוֹ הַרְשָׁאָה וְיֵלֵךְ זֶה בְּהַרְשָׁאָה וְיַחְזִיר מִן הַכֹּהֵן חֲמִשָּׁה סְלָעִים:
כסף משנה
26.
When there are two men who have wives who had not yet given birth and they both gave birth to males and they became mixed together,81So that it was not known which woman was the mother of which child. each father must give five selaim.[The following rules apply if] they both gave [that amount] within thirty days and then one of the sons died within that time. If they gave the money to two priests, they cannot expropriate it from them.82For, as in Halachah 21, each priest can claim that he received the redemption for the son who is presently alive. If they both gave it to the same priest, one should write a document giving power of attorney to the other and then the one with power of attorney should expropriate five selaim from the priest.83The priest owes one of the two five selaim, but there is no way of determining which one. Thus if each approached him and demanded money individually, he could avoid paying, claiming that the father must prove that it was his son that died. When, however, he is approached by the two fathers in a single claim, he has no recourse other than to pay [the Rambam's Commentary to the Mishnah (Bechorot 8:5)].
הלכה כז
יָלְדוּ זָכָר וּנְקֵבָה וְנִתְעָרְבוּ הָאָבוֹת פְּטוּרִין וְהַבֵּן חַיָּב לִפְדּוֹת אֶת עַצְמוֹ. וְכֵן מְבַכֶּרֶת שֶׁלֹּא שָׁהֲתָה אַחַר בַּעְלָהּ שְׁלֹשָׁה חֳדָשִׁים וְיָלְדָה וְאֵין יָדוּעַ אִם בֶּן תִּשְׁעָה לָרִאשׁוֹן אוֹ בֶּן שִׁבְעָה לָאַחֲרוֹן שְׁנֵיהֶן פְּטוּרִין. וְהַבֵּן חַיָּב לִפְדּוֹת אֶת עַצְמוֹ:
כסף משנה
27.
[In the above situation, if the women] gave birth to a male and a female and they became mixed together, the fathers are exempt84Because there is no way it can be proven who is the father of the male and thus responsible for his redemption. and the son is obligated to redeem himself.85I.e., when he attains majority. For there is no question that he is a firstborn (Turei Zahav 305:23). Similar [laws apply when] a woman who has not given birth previously does not wait after [being divorced from] her [first] husband three months [before marrying] and gives birth [to a child, whose lineage is doubtful]. It is not known whether he is the first [husband's] son having been born after nine months or the last husband's son, having been born after seven. Both fathers are exempt86The priest owes one of the two five selaim, but there is no way of determining which one. Thus if each approached him and demanded money individually, he could avoid paying, claiming that the father must prove that it was his son that died. When, however, he is approached by the two fathers in a single claim, he has no recourse other than to pay [the Rambam's Commentary to the Mishnah (Bechorot 8:5)]. and the son is obligated to redeem himself.87Because there is no way it can be proven who is the father of the male and thus responsible for his redemption.הלכה כח
יָלְדוּ שְׁתֵּי נְקֵבוֹת וְזָכָר אוֹ שְׁתֵּי נְקֵבוֹת וּשְׁנֵי זְכָרִים אֵין כָּאן לַכֹּהֵן כְּלוּם:
כסף משנה
28.
[In the above situation, if the women] gave birth to two females and a male or two females and two males, the priest is not entitled to anything.88Because it is impossible to prove that a male was born first. See Halachah 23. From the Rambam's wording, it could be inferred that different rules apply when the women gave birth to two males and one female. It would appear that according to the Rambam, each of the males would have to redeem himself when he comes of age. The Tur (Yoreh De'ah 305) rules that in such a situation, the sons are exempt. See Turei Zahav 305:24.הלכה כט
שְׁתֵּי נָשִׁים שֶׁל שְׁנֵי אֲנָשִׁים אַחַת בִּכְּרָה וְאַחַת לֹא בִּכְּרָה וְיָלְדוּ שְׁנֵי זְכָרִים. זֶה שֶׁלֹּא בִּכְּרָה אִשְׁתּוֹ נוֹתֵן חָמֵשׁ סְלָעִים לַכֹּהֵן. יָלְדוּ זָכָר וּנְקֵבָה אֵין כָּאן לַכֹּהֵן כְּלוּם:
כסף משנה
29.
[The following laws apply when] there are two wives of two men and one gave birth previously and one did not [and they gave birth and the infants became mixed together]. If they gave birth to two males, the father whose wife had not given birth previously must give five selaim to a priest.89Even though the identity of his son is not firmly established, his wife definitely gave birth to a firstborn son and he is obligated to redeem him. If they gave birth to a male and a female, the priest does not receive anything.90For there is no way of proving that the woman who had not given birth previously was the mother of the male. Hence, the exemption is granted not only to the father, but also to the son when he comes of age.הלכה ל
יָלְדוּ שְׁנֵי זְכָרִים וּנְקֵבָה זֶה שֶׁלֹּא בִּכְּרָה אִשְׁתּוֹ נוֹתֵן חֲמִשָּׁה סְלָעִים. שֶׁלֹּא נִפְטַר אֶלָּא בִּשְׁנֵי סְפֵקוֹת אִם אִשְׁתּוֹ יָלְדָה זָכָר בִּלְבַד חַיָּב וְאִם הִיא יָלְדָה הַזָּכָר וְהַנְּקֵבָה חַיָּב אֶלָּא אִם כֵּן יָלְדָה נְקֵבָה תְּחִלָּה. וְהוֹאִיל וְהַדָּבָר רָחוֹק יִתֵּן פִּדְיוֹנוֹ:
כסף משנה
30.
[In the above situation, if the women] gave birth to two males and a female, the man whose wife had not given birth previously should give five selaim. The rationale is that his exemption implies a compounded doubt. For if his wife gave birth to a male only, he is obligated. And if she gave birth to a male and a female, he is obligated unless she gave birth to the female first. Since the probability of this is distant, he should give the money for the redemption.91More specifically, there are five possibilities regarding this situation:a) the woman who had not given birth before gave birth to one male (and the other woman gave birth to a male and a female);
b) she gave birth to two males (and the other woman gave birth to a female);
c) she gave birth to a male and then a female (and the other woman gave birth to a male);
d) she gave birth to a female and then a male (and the other woman gave birth to a male);
e) she gave birth to a female (and the other woman gave birth to two males).
Since her husband would be obligated in the first three of these situations, he is considered as obligated, because of the higher probability.
As mentioned in the notes to Halachah 25, there is a difference of opinion among the commentaries with regard to the rulings in the two halachot. The Ra'avad reverses the Rambam's ruling in both instances, maintaining that here, the father is exempt and there, he is obligated. And the Tur and the Shulchan Aruch (Yoreh De'ah 305:31) rule that he is exempt in both instances. These differences of opinion depend on textual differences in the versions of Bechorot 49a and differences in the interpretation of that passage.