R. Yehoshua y R. Tzaddok testificaron acerca de la redención (cordero) [que se reservó para la redención del primogénito de un asno], que (cordero) murió, que el Cohein no tiene derecho a reclamarlo. Porque R. Eliezer dice: Él (el propietario) puede restaurarlo, ya que [él puede restaurar (si se perdieron)] los cinco selaim por [la redención de su hijo (primogénito)]. los sabios dicen: No es responsable de restaurarlo, pero es como la redención (perdida) (dinero) para el segundo diezmo, [que la Torá le exigió (gastar en comida) para comer en Jerusalén—pero lo ha perdido! La razón de ser de R. Eliezer: encontramos que la Torá comparó la redención de la primicia de un asno con (la de) el hijo primogénito de un hombre, está escrito (Éxodo 34:20): "Y la primicia de un asno redimirás con un cordero ... Todos los primogénitos de tus hijos redimirás ". Y los sabios dicen: Está escrito (Números 18:15): "Pero redimirás, redimirás al primogénito del hombre, y al primogénito de la bestia inmunda (un asno) redimirás"— Lo he comparado (a un hombre) para propósitos de redención, y no para otras cosas.]
Bartenura on Mishnah Eduyot
העיד רבי יהושע. פדיון פטר חמור שמת– a lamb which was set aside/dedicated for the redemption of the first-born of an ass and it died.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Eduyot
Introduction
According to Exodus 13:13, the first born of a donkey must be “redeemed” with a sheep. Since donkeys are not fit to be sacrificed, their firstborn cannot be offered on the altar as are the firstborn of “pure” animals. Therefore they are redeemed with a sheep, which is then given to the priests (see Numbers 18:15).
In our mishnah the Rabbis dispute the responsibility that the owner of the donkey has over the sheep which he has used to redeem the first born of his donkey. The question is, if the sheep dies after it has been used to redeem the donkey but before he gives it to the priest, must he replace it with a new sheep?
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כחמש סלעים – [like the five Sela’im] of the redemption of the first-born son [if lost] is liable to make it up.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Eduyot
Rabbi Joshua and Rabbi Zadok testified concerning the redemption ( of a firstborn donkey, that if it died, the priest receives nothing, According to Rabbi Joshua and Rabbi Zadok, if the sheep used to redeem the first-born donkey should die before it is given to the priest, the owner is not responsible to provide the priest with a new sheep. According to these Sages, once he has “redeemed” the first-born donkey with the sheep he has fulfilled his religious duty. True the sheep belongs to the priest, but the owner has no responsibility to protect the sheep on behalf of the priest. Therefore if something happens to it, it is the priest’s loss.
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כפדיון מעשר שני – for if it was lost, he is not liable to make it for that money the All-Merciful obligated to teat in Jerusalem, but surely it was lost to him, and the reason of Rabbi Eliezer for we have surely found that the Biblical verse made a comparison by juxtaposition between the first born of the ass and the first born of a human being, as it states (Exodus 34:20): “But the firstling of an ass you shall redeem with a sheep; [if you do not redeem it, you must break its neck.] And you must redeem every first-born among your sons.”
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English Explanation of Mishnah Eduyot
Whereas Rabbi Eliezer says: the owner must bear the responsibility as with the five selas [in the case] of a [firstborn] son. Rabbi Eliezer disagrees. He compares this sheep to the five selas that a father owes the priest to redeem his own first-born (pidyon ha-ben). In that case all the Rabbis agree that if the coins are lost before the father gives them over to the priest, the father must give the priest five new selas. Rabbi Eliezer says that just as in that case the father is responsible, so too in this case the owner of the donkey is responsible if the sheep should die before being presented to the priest.
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וחכמים אומרים – The Biblical verse states (Numbers 18:15): “…but you shall have the first-born of man redeemed, and you shall also have the firstling of impure animals redeemed.” To redemption the Torah made a comparison [by juxtaposition] but not to anything else.
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But the Sages say: he bears no responsibility any more than in the case of the redemption of second tithes. The Sages, who in this case agree with Rabbi Joshua and Rabbi Zadok, compare this situation to that of lost coins of second tithe. These coins were used to redeem second tithe produce. The coins were then meant to be brought to Jerusalem and used there to buy food. If the owner of the coins should lose them before he arrives in Jerusalem, he is not obligated to replace them. According to the Sages, the same is true for the sheep.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Eduyot
Questions for Further Thought: • Why would the Sages not agree with Rabbi Eliezer’s analogy of the sheep to the five selas given for the redemption of the human first born? • Why would Rabbi Eliezer not agree with the Sages’ analogy to second tithe?
