א׳
א׳סֵדֶר נְחָלוֹת כָּךְ הִיא. מִי שֶׁמֵּת יִירָשׁוּהוּ בָּנָיו וְהֵם קוֹדְמִין לַכּל. וְהַזְּכָרִים קוֹדְמִין לִנְקֵבוֹת:
1This is the order of inheritance: When a person dies, his children inherit his estate. They receive priority over everyone else, and the sons receive priority over the daughters.
ב׳בְּכָל מָקוֹם אֵין לִנְקֵבָה עִם הַזָּכָר יְרֻשָּׁה. אִם אֵין לוֹ בָּנִים יִירָשֶׁנּוּ אָבִיו. וְאֵין הָאֵם יוֹרֶשֶׁת אֶת בָּנֶיהָ וְדָבָר זֶה מִפִּי הַקַּבָּלָה:
2In every situation, a female does not inherit together with a male.If a person does not have children, his father inherits his estate. A mother does not inherit her son's estate. This has been conveyed by the Oral Tradition.
ג׳וְכָל הַקּוֹדֵם בְּנַחֲלָה יוֹצְאֵי יְרֵכוֹ קוֹדְמִין. לְפִיכָךְ מִי שֶׁמֵּת בֵּין אִישׁ בֵּין אִשָּׁה אִם הִנִּיחַ בֵּן יוֹרֵשׁ הַכּל. לֹא נִמְצָא לוֹ בֵּן לְעוֹלָם מְעַיְּנִין בְּזַרְעוֹ שֶׁל בֵּן אִם נִמְצָא לִבְנוֹ זֶרַע בֵּין זְכָרִים בֵּין נְקֵבוֹת אֲפִלּוּ בַּת בַּת בַּת בְּנוֹ עַד סוֹף הָעוֹלָם הִיא תִּירַשׁ אֶת הַכּל. לֹא נִמְצָא לוֹ זֶרַע בֶּן חוֹזְרִין אֵצֶל הַבַּת. הָיְתָה לוֹ בַּת תִּירַשׁ אֶת הַכּל לֹא נִמְצֵאת לוֹ בַּת בָּעוֹלָם מְעַיְּנִין עַל זֶרַע הַבַּת. אִם נִמְצָא לָהּ זֶרַע בֵּין זְכָרִים בֵּין נְקֵבוֹת עַד סוֹף הָעוֹלָם הוּא יוֹרֵשׁ הַכּל. לֹא נִמְצָא לָהּ זֶרַע בַּת חוֹזֵר הַיְרֻשָּׁה לְאָבִיו. לֹא הָיָה אָבִיו קַיָּם מְעַיְּנִין עַל זֶרַע הָאָב שֶׁהֵן אֲחֵי הַמֵּת. נִמְצָא לוֹ אָח אוֹ זֶרַע אָח יוֹרֵשׁ אֶת הַכּל וְאִם לָאו חוֹזְרִין אֵצֶל אָחוֹת. נִמְצֵאת לוֹ אָחוֹת אוֹ זַרְעָהּ יוֹרֵשׁ הַכּל. וְאִם לֹא נִמְצֵאת לוֹ זֶרַע אַחִים וְלֹא זֶרַע אָחוֹת הוֹאִיל וְאֵין לָאָב זֶרַע תַּחְזֹר הַיְרֻשָּׁה לַאֲבִי הָאָב. לֹא הָיָה אֲבִי הָאָב קַיָּם מְעַיְּנִין עַל זֶרַע שֶׁל אֲבִי הָאָב שֶׁהֵן אֲחֵי אָבִיו שֶׁל מֵת וְהַזְּכָרִים קוֹדְמִין לִנְקֵבוֹת וְזַרְעָן שֶׁל זְכָרִים קוֹדְמִין לִנְקֵבוֹת כְּמוֹ שֶׁהָיָה הַדִּין בְּזַרְעוֹ שֶׁל מֵת עַצְמוֹ. לֹא נִמְצְאוּ אַחִים לְאָבִיו לֹא הֵם וְלֹא זַרְעָן תַּחְזֹר הַיְרֻשָּׁה לַאֲבִי אֲבִי הָאָב. וְעַל הַדֶּרֶךְ הַזֹּאת נַחֲלָה מְמַשְׁמֶשֶׁת וְהוֹלֶכֶת עַד רְאוּבֵן. נִמְצֵאתָ אוֹמֵר הַבֵּן קוֹדֵם לַבַּת וְכָל יוֹצְאֵי יְרֵכוֹ שֶׁל בֵּן קוֹדְמִין לַבַּת וְהַבַּת קוֹדֶמֶת לַאֲבִי אָבִיהָ וְכָל יוֹצְאֵי יְרֵכָהּ קוֹדְמִין לַאֲבִי אָבִיהָ. וַאֲבִי הַמֵּת קוֹדֵם לַאֲחֵי הַמֵּת מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהֵם יוֹצְאֵי יְרֵכוֹ וְהָאָח קוֹדֵם לָאָחוֹת. וְכָל יוֹצְאֵי יְרֵכוֹ שֶׁל אָח קוֹדְמִין לָאָחוֹת. וְאָחוֹת קוֹדֶמֶת לַאֲבִי אָבִיהָ. וְכָל יוֹצְאֵי יְרֵכָהּ קוֹדְמִין לַאֲבִי אָבִיהָ. אֲבִי הָאָב קוֹדֵם לַאֲחֵי הָאָב שֶׁל מֵת וַאֲחֵי אָבִיו קוֹדְמִין לַאֲחוֹת אָבִיו וְכָל יוֹצְאֵי יְרֵכוֹ שֶׁל אֲחֵי אָבִיו קוֹדְמִין לַאֲחוֹת אָבִיו וַאֲחוֹת אָבִיו קוֹדֶמֶת לַאֲבִי אֲבִי אָבִיו שֶׁל מֵת. וְכֵן כָּל יוֹצְאֵי יְרֵכָהּ שֶׁל אֲחוֹת אָבִיו קוֹדְמִין לַאֲבִי אֲבִי אָבִיו. וְעַל דֶּרֶךְ זוֹ הוֹלֵךְ וְעוֹלֶה עַד רֹאשׁ הַדּוֹרוֹת. לְפִיכָךְ אֵין לְךָ אָדָם מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁאֵין לוֹ יוֹרְשִׁין:
3With regard to every concept of precedence for an inheritance, a person's blood descendants receive precedence. Therefore, when a person - either a man or a woman - dies and he leaves a son, he inherits everything. If the son is no longer alive, we look to see if the son left descendants. If there are descendants of the son, whether male or female - even the daughter of the daughter of the son's daughter, and this chain can be continued endlessly -that descendant inherits everything.If the son does not have descendants, we return to the deceased's daughter. If there are descendants of the daughter, whether male or female - and this chain can be continued endlessly - that descendant inherits everything.If the son does not have descendants, the estate returns to the deceased's father. If the father is no longer alive, -we look to see if the father left descendants - i.e., the brothers of the deceased. If there is a brother of the deceased or the descendant of a brother, he inherits everything. If there are no brothers, we return and look to see if the deceased had a sister. If there is a sister or the descendant of a sister, that person inherits everything.If there are no descendants of the deceased's brothers or sisters, since there are no descendants of the deceased's father, the estate returns to the deceased's paternal grandfather. If the paternal grandfather is no longer alive, we look to see if the paternal grandfather left descendants - i.e., the uncles or aunts of the deceased. The males receive precedence over the females, and even the descendants of the males receive precedence over the females, as is the law with regard to the descendants of the deceased himself.If there are no uncles or none of their descendants, the estate returns to the deceased's paternal great-grandfather. Following this pattern, the chain of inheritance continues to extend until Reuven the son of Jacob. Thus the order of inheritance is as follows: A son takes precedence over a daughter. Similarly, all of the son's descendants take precedence over the daughter. The daughter takes precedence over her paternal grandfather, and similarly, all her descendants take precedence over her paternal grandfather.The deceased's father takes precedence over the deceased's brothers, because they are the father's descendants. The deceased's brothers take precedence over his sisters. Similarly, all their descendants take precedence over the sister.The deceased's sister takes precedence over her paternal grandfather, and similarly, all her descendants take precedence over her paternal grandfather.The deceased's paternal grandfather takes precedence over the deceased's uncles. The uncles take precedence over the aunts. Indeed, all the uncles' descendants take precedence over the aunts. The aunts take precedence over the deceased's paternal great-grandfather. Indeed, all the aunts' descendants take precedence over the deceased's paternal great-grandfather. This pattern should be continued until the beginning of all generations. Thus, there is no Jew who does not have heirs.
ד׳מִי שֶׁמֵּת וְהִנִּיחַ בַּת וּבַת הַבֵּן וַאֲפִלּוּ בַּת בַּת בַּת הַבֵּן עַד סוֹף כַּמָּה דּוֹרוֹת הִיא קוֹדֶמֶת וְתִירַשׁ הַכּל וְאֵין לַבַּת כְּלוּם. וְהוּא הַדִּין לְבַת הָאָח עִם הָאָחוֹת וּלְבַת בֶּן אֲחִי אָבִיו עִם אֲחוֹת אָבִיו. וְכֵן כָּל כַּיּוֹצֵא בָּהֶן:
4When a person dies and leaves a daughter and the daughter of a son - or even the daughter of the son's daughter and this chain can continue for several generations - the son's daughter takes precedence. She inherits everything; the deceased's daughter does not receive anything.Similar laws applies when a person is survived by his brother's daughter and his sister, by his uncle's daughter and his aunt, or in all other analogous situations.
ה׳מִי שֶׁהָיוּ לוֹ שְׁנֵי בָּנִים וּמֵתוּ הַשְּׁנֵי בָּנִים בְּחַיָּיו וְהִנִּיחַ הַבֵּן הָאֶחָד שְׁלֹשָׁה בָּנִים וְהִנִּיחַ הַבֵּן הַשֵּׁנִי בַּת אַחַת וְאַחַר כָּךְ מֵת הַזָּקֵן נִמְצְאוּ שְׁלֹשֶׁת בְּנֵי בָּנָיו יוֹרְשִׁין חֲצִי הַנַּחֲלָה וּבַת בְּנוֹ יוֹרֶשֶׁת הַחֵצִי שֶׁכָּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד מֵהֶן יוֹרֵשׁ חֵלֶק אָבִיו. וְעַל דֶּרֶךְ זוֹ חוֹלְקִין בְּנֵי הָאַחִים וּבְנֵי אֲחֵי הָאָב עַד רֹאשׁ הַדּוֹרוֹת:
5A woman is, however, given full rights in the following situation. A person had two sons who died in his lifetime. One of the sons left three sons and the other left a daughter. Afterwards, the elder man died. The three grandsons inherit half of the inheritance and the granddaughter inherits the other half. For each inherits their father's portion. Similar laws apply with regard to the division of an estate among the children of the deceased's brothers, the children of his uncles, or the children of other relatives extending back until the beginning of all generations.
ו׳מִשְׁפַּחַת הָאֵם אֵינָהּ קְרוּיָה מִשְׁפָּחָה וְאֵין יְרֻשָּׁה אֶלָּא לְמִשְׁפַּחַת הָאָב. לְפִיכָךְ הָאַחִים מִן הָאֵם אֵין יוֹרְשִׁין זֶה אֶת זֶה וְאַחִין מִן הָאָב יוֹרְשִׁין זֶה אֶת זֶה. וְאֶחָד אָחִיו שֶׁהוּא מֵאָבִיו בִּלְבַד אוֹ אָחִיו מֵאָבִיו וּמֵאִמּוֹ:
6With regard to the concept of inheritance, the family of a person's mother is not considered family. Inheritance is relevant only with regard to one's father's family. Therefore, maternal brothers do not inherit each other's estates, while paternal brothers do. This applies to brothers who share only a father or who share both a father and a mother.
ז׳כָּל הַקְּרוֹבִין בַּעֲבֵרָה יוֹרְשִׁין כִּכְשֵׁרִים. כֵּיצַד. כְּגוֹן שֶׁהָיָה לוֹ בֵּן מַמְזֵר אוֹ אָח מַמְזֵר הֲרֵי אֵלּוּ כִּשְׁאָר בָּנִים וְכִשְׁאָר אַחִים לַנַּחֲלָה. אֲבָל בְּנוֹ מִן הַשִּׁפְחָה אוֹ מִן הַנָּכְרִית אֵינוֹ בֵּן לְדָבָר מִן הַדְּבָרִים וְאֵינוֹ יוֹרֵשׁ כְּלָל:
7All relatives who were conceived through forbidden relations have equal inheritance rights to those who are conceived through permitted relations.What is implied? When a person has a son or a brother who is a mamzer, he is treated like any of the other sons or any of the other brothers when it comes to the concept of inheritance. A person's son who is born by a maid-servant or a gentile woman is not considered his son at all, and has no right of inheritance whatsoever.
ח׳הָאִשָּׁה אֵינָהּ יוֹרֶשֶׁת בַּעְלָהּ כְּלָל. וְהַבַּעַל יוֹרֵשׁ אֶת כָּל נִכְסֵי אִשְׁתּוֹ מִדִּבְרֵי סוֹפְרִים. וְהוּא קוֹדֵם לַכּל בִּירֻשָּׁתָהּ אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהִיא אֲסוּרָה עָלָיו. כְּגוֹן אַלְמָנָה לְכֹהֵן גָּדוֹל גְּרוּשָׁה וַחֲלוּצָה לְכֹהֵן הֶדְיוֹט. וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהִיא קְטַנָּה וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהַבַּעַל חֵרֵשׁ הוּא יוֹרֵשׁ אֶת אִשְׁתּוֹ:
8A woman does not inherit her husband's estate at all.A husband inherits all his wife's property, according to the words of our Sages. He takes precedence over all others with regard to inheriting her estate. This applies even if she is forbidden to him - e.g., a widow who was married to a High Priest, or a divorcee or a woman who had performed chalitzah who was married to an ordinary priest. Similarly, this applies even if the woman was below majority. Even though a husband is a deaf-mute, he inherits his wife's estate.
ט׳כְּבָר בֵּאַרְנוּ בְּהִלְכוֹת אִישׁוּת שֶׁאֵין הַבַּעַל יוֹרֵשׁ אֶת אִשְׁתּוֹ עַד שֶׁתִּכָּנֵס בִּרְשׁוּתוֹ וְשֶׁאֵין הַפִּקֵּחַ יוֹרֵשׁ אֶת הַחֵרֶשֶׁת שֶׁנִּשֵּׂאת כְּשֶׁהִיא חֵרֶשֶׁת אֲפִלּוּ נִתְפַּקְּחָה. וְשָׁם בֵּאַרְנוּ שֶׁהוּא יוֹרֵשׁ אֶת נִכְסֵי אִשְׁתּוֹ שֶׁבָּאוּ לִירֻשָּׁתָהּ וְהֻחְזְקוּ בֵּין נְכָסִים שֶׁהִכְנִיסָה לוֹ בִּנְדֻנְיָתָהּ בֵּין נְכָסִים שֶׁלֹּא הִכְנִיסָה לוֹ. וּמִי שֶׁנִּתְגָּרְשָׁה סְפֵק גֵּרוּשִׁין וּמֵתָה אֵין הַבַּעַל יוֹרְשָׁהּ:
9We have already explained in Hilchot Ishut that a husband does not inherit his wife's estate until she enters his domain, and that a man who is mentally aware does not inherit the estate of a woman whom he married as a deaf mute. This applies even if she later becomes fully mentally aware.There we also explained that a husband inherits the property that enters his wife's domain and which she took possession of during her lifetime. This applies to the property she brought to his household as a dowry, and property that she did not bring to his household. When a husband attempted to divorce his wife, although there is a question about the validity of the divorce, her husband does not inherit her estate after her death.
י׳בַּעַל שֶׁנָּשָׂא קְטַנָּה שֶׁאֵינָהּ צְרִיכָה מֵאוּן אֵינוֹ יוֹרְשָׁהּ שֶׁהֲרֵי אֵין כָּאן שׁוּם אִישׁוּת. וְכֵן שׁוֹטֶה שֶׁנָּשָׂא פִּקַּחַת אוֹ פִּקֵּחַ שֶׁנָּשָׂא שׁוֹטָה אֵינוֹ יוֹרְשָׁהּ שֶׁהֲרֵי לֹא תִּקְּנוּ חֲכָמִים לָהֶן נִשּׂוּאִין:
10When a man marries a young girl who does not need the right ofto nullify a marriage, he does not inherit her estate, because there is no marriage. Similarly, when a man who was mentally or emotionally unstable married a mentally aware woman, or a mentally aware man married a woman who was mentally or emotionally unstable, the husband does not inherit his wife's estate, for our Sages did not ordain marriage for such individuals.
י״אבַּעַל שֶׁמֵּתָה אִשְׁתּוֹ וְאַחַר כָּךְ מֵת אָבִיהָ אוֹ אָחִיהָ אוֹ אֶחָד מִן הַמּוֹרִישִׁין אוֹתָהּ אֵין הַבַּעַל יוֹרֵשׁ אוֹתָן. אֶלָּא יוֹרֵשׁ אוֹתָן זַרְעָהּ אִם הָיָה לָהּ זֶרַע אוֹ תַּחְזֹר הַיְרֻשָּׁה לְמִשְׁפַּחַת בֵּית אָבִיהָ. שֶׁאֵין הַבַּעַל יוֹרֵשׁ נְכָסִים הָרְאוּיִין לָבֹא לְאַחַר מִכָּאן אֶלָּא לַנְּכָסִים שֶׁכְּבָר בָּאוּ לִירֻשָּׁה קֹדֶם שֶׁתָּמוּת:
11When a man's wife died, and afterwards her father, her brother, or any of the other individuals whose estate she may inherit dies, her husband does not inherit their estate. Instead, the estate should be inherited by her descendants, if she has descendants. If not, the right of inheritance should return to the family of her father's home. The rationale is that the husband does not inherit property that is fit to become hers afterwards, only property that she already inherited before she died.
י״בוְכֵן אֵין הַבַּעַל יוֹרֵשׁ אֶת אִשְׁתּוֹ וְהוּא בַּקֶּבֶר כִּשְׁאָר הַיּוֹרְשִׁין שֶׁל מִשְׁפַּחַת הָאָב. כֵּיצַד. בַּעַל שֶׁמֵּת וְאַחַר כָּךְ מֵתָה אִשְׁתּוֹ אֵין אוֹמְרִין הוֹאִיל וְהַבַּעַל הָיָה קוֹדֵם לְכָל אָדָם בִּירֻשָּׁתָהּ כָּךְ יוֹרְשֵׁי הַבַּעַל יִקְדְּמוּ לִשְׁאָר יוֹרְשֵׁי הָאִשָּׁה אֶלָּא יוֹרְשֵׁי הָאִשָּׁה מִמִּשְׁפַּחַת בֵּית אָבִיהָ הֵם הַיּוֹרְשִׁים אוֹתָהּ אִם מֵתָה אַחַר בַּעְלָהּ:
12Similarly, a husband does not inherit his wife's estate while he is in the grave as is the ordinary pattern of inheritance for members of his father's family.What is implied? A man died, and afterwards his wife died. We do not say: Since the husband receives precedence over all others with regard to the inheritance, the husband's heirs should receive precedence over the woman's other heirs. Instead, the woman's heirs from her father's family inherit her estate if she dies after her husband.
י״גוְכֵן אֵין הַבֵּן יוֹרֵשׁ אֶת אִמּוֹ בַּקֶּבֶר כְּדֵי לְהַנְחִיל לְאֶחָיו מֵאָבִיו. כֵּיצַד. מִי שֶׁמֵּת וְאַחַר כָּךְ מֵתָה אִמּוֹ אֵין אוֹמְרִין הוֹאִיל וְאִלּוּ הָיָה הַבֵּן קַיָּם הָיָה קוֹדֵם אַף יוֹרְשִׁין שֶׁל בֶּן קוֹדְמִין לְיוֹרְשֶׁיהָ שֶׁל אִשָּׁה זוֹ וְנִמְצְאוּ אֶחָיו מֵאָבִיו יוֹרְשִׁין אֶת אִמּוֹ שֶׁל זֶה אַחַר מוֹתוֹ שֶׁל זֶה. אֶלָּא זֶרַע בְּנָהּ הוּא שֶׁיִּירָשֶׁנָּה אִם הָיָה לוֹ זֶרַע וְאִם אֵין לוֹ זֶרַע תַּחְזֹר יְרֻשָּׁתָהּ לְמִשְׁפַּחַת בֵּית אָבִיהָ. אֲבָל אִם מֵתָה הָאֵם תְּחִלָּה וְאַחַר כָּךְ מֵת הַבֵּן אֲפִלּוּ הָיָה קָטָן בֶּן יוֹמוֹ וְלֹא כָּלוּ לוֹ חֳדָשָׁיו הוֹאִיל וְחָיָה אַחַר אִמּוֹ שָׁעָה אַחַת וּמֵת הֲרֵי זֶה נוֹחֵל אֶת אִמּוֹ וּמַנְחִיל הַנַּחֲלָה לְיוֹרְשָׁיו מִמִּשְׁפַּחַת אָבִיו:
13Similarly, a son does not inherit his mother's estate while he is in the grave, so that the estate will be inherited by his paternal brothers.What is implied? A person died, and afterwards his mother died. We do not say that if the son were alive, he would take precedence in the inheritance of her estate, and hence, the heirs of the son take precedence over the heirs of this woman. According to the latter conception, the son's paternal brothers would inherit the estate of his mother after her death. This view is not accepted. Instead, if the son has children, they should inherit his mother's estate. If he does not have children, the estate should return to her father's family.If, however, the mother died first and then the son died, even if he was a newborn baby who was born prematurely, since he survived his mother and then died, he inherits his mother's estate and then transfers the rights to that estate to the family of his father.
ב׳
א׳הַבְּכוֹר נוֹטֵל פִּי שְׁנַיִם בְּנִכְסֵי אָבִיו שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים כא יז) "לָתֶת לוֹ פִּי שְׁנַיִם". כֵּיצַד. הִנִּיחַ חֲמִשָּׁה בָּנִים וְאֶחָד מֵהֶן בְּכוֹר הַבְּכוֹר נוֹטֵל שְׁלִישׁ הַמָּמוֹן וְכָל אֶחָד מֵהָאַרְבָּעָה פְּשׁוּטִים נוֹטֵל שְׁתוּת. הִנִּיחַ תִּשְׁעָה בָּנִים הֲרֵי (הָאֶחָד) הַבְּכוֹר נוֹטֵל חֲמִישִׁית וְכָל אֶחָד מִן הַשְּׁמוֹנָה פְּשׁוּטִים נוֹטֵל עֲשִׂירִית וְכֵן עַל הַחֲלוּקָה הַזֹּאת חוֹלְקִין לְעוֹלָם:
1A firstborn receives a double portion of his father's estate, as Deuteronomy 21:17 states: "To give him twice the portion."What is implied? If a father left five sons, one the firstborn, the firstborn receives a third of the estate and each of the other four receives a sixth. If he left nine sons, the firstborn receives a fifth and each of the other eight receive a tenth. We follow this pattern in dividing the estate in all instances.
ב׳בְּכוֹר שֶׁנּוֹלַד אַחַר מִיתַת אָבִיו אֵינוֹ נוֹטֵל פִּי שְׁנַיִם. שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים כא טז) "וְהָיָה בְּיוֹם הַנְחִילוֹ אֶת בָּנָיו" וְגוֹ' (דברים כא יז) "כִּי אֶת הַבְּכֹר בֶּן הַשְּׂנוּאָה יַכִּיר". וְאִם יָצָאת פַּדַּחְתּוֹ בְּחַיֵּי אָבִיו אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁלֹּא יָצָא כָּל רֹאשׁוֹ לַאֲוִיר הָעוֹלָם אֶלָּא לְאַחַר מִיתַת אָבִיו הֲרֵי זֶה נוֹטֵל פִּי שְׁנַיִם:
2When a firstborn is born after his father's death, he does not receive a double portion. This is derived from ibid.: 16-17: "On the day when he transfers his inheritance to his sons... he shall recognize the firstborn, the son of the hated one." If his forehead emerged during the lifetime of his father, even though his entire head did not emerge until after his father's death, he receives a double portion.
ג׳בְּכוֹר שֶׁנִּקְרַע וְנִמְצָא זָכָר אֵינוֹ נוֹטֵל פִּי שְׁנַיִם וּפָשׁוּט שֶׁנִּקְרַע וְנִמְצָא זָכָר אֵינוֹ מְמַעֵט בְּחֵלֶק בְּכוֹרָהּ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים כא טו) "וְיָלְדוּ לוֹ בָנִים" עַד שֶׁיִּהְיֶה בֵּן מִשְּׁעַת לֵדָה:
3When a firstborn was born with his genitals covered by flesh and afterwards, an operation was performed and it was discovered that he was male, he does not receive a double portion. Conversely, when an ordinary son was born with a similar condition and after the operation was performed, it was discovered that he was male, he does not reduce the firstborn's share. These concepts are derived from ibid.:15 "And she will bear him sons." Implied is that the sons must be sons from the moment of birth.
ד׳כֵּיצַד אֵינוֹ מְמַעֵט בְּחֵלֶק בְּכוֹרָה. הֲרֵי שֶׁהָיָה לוֹ בֵּן בְּכוֹר וּשְׁנֵי פְּשׁוּטִים וְזֶה הַטֻּמְטוּם שֶׁנִּקְרַע וְנִמְצָא זָכָר. הַבְּכוֹר נוֹטֵל רְבִיעַ הַמָּמוֹן בְּחֵלֶק הַבְּכוֹרָה וּכְאִלּוּ אֵין עִמּוֹ אֶלָּא שְׁנֵי הַפְּשׁוּטִים בִּלְבַד. וַחֲצִי וּרְבִיעַ הַנִּשְׁאָר חוֹלְקִין אוֹתוֹ שְׁנֵי הַפְּשׁוּטִין עִם הַנִּקְרָע וְעִם הַבְּכוֹר בְּשָׁוֶה:
4What is meant by saying that such a son does not reduce the firstborn's share? A person had a firstborn, two ordinary sons, and this son whose genitals were covered by flesh and afterwards were revealed through an operation. The firstborn receives one fourth of the estate as his extra share as the firstborn, as if there were only two other sons. The remaining three fourths of the estate are divided equally among the two ordinary sons, the son who underwent the operation, and the firstborn.
ה׳קָטָן בֶּן יוֹם אֶחָד מְמַעֵט בְּחֵלֶק בְּכוֹרָה אֲבָל לֹא הָעֻבָּר. וּבֵן שֶׁנּוֹלַד אַחַר מִיתַת אָבִיו אֵינוֹ מְמַעֵט בְּחֵלֶק בְּכוֹרָה:
5A child who lived for only one day reduces the portion of the firstborn, but a fetus does not. Similarly, a son born after his father's death, does not reduce the portion of the firstborn.
ו׳בֵּן שֶׁנִּסְתַּפֵּק לָנוּ אִם הוּא בְּכוֹר אוֹ פָּשׁוּט כְּגוֹן שֶׁנִּתְעָרֵב עִם אַחֵר אֵינוֹ נוֹטֵל פִּי שְׁנַיִם. וְכֵיצַד עוֹשִׂין. אִם הֻכְּרוּ וּלְבַסּוֹף נִתְעָרְבוּ כּוֹתְבִין הַרְשָׁאָה זֶה לָזֶה וְנוֹטְלִין חֵלֶק בְּכוֹרָה עִם אֲחֵיהֶם. וְאִם לֹא הֻכְּרוּ כְּגוֹן שֶׁיְּלָדוֹ בְּמַחֲבוֹאָה אַחַת אֵין כּוֹתְבִין הַרְשָׁאָה וְאֵין כָּאן חֵלֶק בְּכוֹרָה:
6When there is a question if a son is a firstborn or an ordinary son - e.g., the firstborn became mixed together with another - he does not receive a double portion.What is done? If at first, the babies were distinct and then they became mixed together," they may compose a document granting power of attorney to each other, and on that basis take the portion of the firstborn with their brothers. If the identity of the firstborn was never known - e.g., the two wives gave birth in one hiding place, - they should not compose a document granting power of attorney to each other, for there is no extra portion for the firstborn.
ז׳מִי שֶׁהָיוּ לוֹ שְׁנֵי בָּנִים בְּכוֹר וּפָשׁוּט וּמֵתוּ שְׁנֵיהֶם בְּחַיָּיו וְהִנִּיחוּ בָּנִים. הַבְּכוֹר הֵנִיחַ בַּת וְהַפָּשׁוּט הִנִּיחַ בֵּן. הֲרֵי בֶּן הַפָּשׁוּט יוֹרֵשׁ בְּנִכְסֵי הַזָּקֵן שְׁלִישׁ שֶׁהוּא חֵלֶק אָבִיו. וּבַת הַבְּכוֹר יוֹרֶשֶׁת שְׁנֵי שְׁלִישִׁים שֶׁהוּא חֵלֶק אָבִיהָ. וְכֵן הַדִּין בִּבְנֵי הָאַחִין וּבְנֵי אֲחֵי הָאָב וּבְכָל הַיּוֹרְשִׁין אִם הָיָה אֲבִי אֶחָד מִן הַיּוֹרְשִׁים בְּכוֹר נוֹטֵל חֵלֶק בְּכוֹרָה שֶׁלּוֹ זֶה הַיּוֹרֵשׁ מֵחֲמָתוֹ:
7The following laws apply when a person had two sons - a firstborn and an ordinary son - and they both died in his lifetime, after fathering children. The firstborn left a daughter and the ordinary son left a son. The son of the ordinary son inherits one third of the estate of his grandfather - i.e., his father's portion. And the daughter of the firstborn inherits two thirds of that estate, her father's portion.The same laws apply with regard to the sons of the deceased's brothers, or the sons of his uncles, or any other set of heirs. If the father of any of the heirs was a firstborn, the person who inherits his share of the estate also receives the firstborn's share.
ח׳אֵין הַבְּכוֹר נוֹטֵל פִּי שְׁנַיִם בְּנִכְסֵי הָאֵם. כֵּיצַד. בְּכוֹר וּפָשׁוּט שֶׁיָּרְשׁוּ אִמָּן חוֹלְקִין בְּשָׁוֶה בֵּין שֶׁהָיָה בְּכוֹר לְנַחֲלָה בֵּין שֶׁהָיָה פֶּטֶר רֶחֶם:
8A firstborn does not receive a double portion of his mother's estate. What is implied? When a firstborn and an ordinary son inherit their mother's estate, they divide it equally. This applies with regard to a son who was the firstborn with regard to the laws of inheritance, and to one who "open his mother's womb."
ט׳בְּכוֹר לְנַחֲלָה הוּא הַנּוֹלָד לָאָב רִאשׁוֹן שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים כא יז) "כִּי הוּא רֵאשִׁית אֹנוֹ". וְאֵין מַשְׁגִּיחִין עַל הָאֵם אֲפִלּוּ יָלְדָה כַּמָּה בָּנִים הוֹאִיל וְזֶה רִאשׁוֹן לְאָבִיו יוֹרֵשׁ פִּי שְׁנַיִם:
9The firstborn with regard to the laws of inheritance is the first child born to the father, as ibid.:17 states: "Because he is the first manifestation of his strength." We do not pay attention to the child's status vis-a-vis his mother. o Even if she gave birth to several sons previously, since this was the first son born to the father, he receives a double portion of the inheritance.
י׳הַבָּא אַחַר נְפָלִים אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁיָּצָא רֹאשׁ הַנֵּפֶל כְּשֶׁהוּא חַי הַבָּא אַחֲרָיו בְּכוֹר לְנַחֲלָה. וְכֵן בֶּן תִּשְׁעָה שֶׁיָּצָא רֹאשׁוֹ מֵת הַבָּא אַחֲרָיו בְּכוֹר לְנַחֲלָה שֶׁזֶּה שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים כא יז) "רֵאשִׁית אֹנוֹ" הוּא שֶׁלֹּא נוֹלַד לוֹ קֹדֶם לָזֶה וָלָד שֶׁיָּצָא חַי לַאֲוִיר הָעוֹלָם. לְפִיכָךְ בֶּן תִּשְׁעָה שֶׁהוֹצִיא רֹב רֹאשׁוֹ חַי הַבָּא אַחֲרָיו אֵינוֹ בְּכוֹר:
10A son who is born after stillborn babies, even if the stillborn baby was alive when its head emerged from the womb, is considered the firstborn with regard to the laws of inheritance. Similarly, when a fetus was born after a full-term pregnancy, but was not alive when its head emerged, the son who follows is considered the firstborn with regard to the laws of inheritance.The term "the first of his strength," Deuteronomy 21:17, used with regard to the firstborn implies that no child before him emerged alive into the world. Hence, when a fetus was alive after its head emerged after a full-term pregnancy, a son born afterwards in not a firstborn even the first baby died immediately thereafter.
י״איוֹצֵא דֹּפֶן וְהַבָּא אַחֲרָיו שְׁנֵיהֶן אֵינָן בְּכוֹרִים. הָרִאשׁוֹן לְפִי שֶׁלֹּא נוֹלַד וְנֶאֱמַר (דברים כא טו) "וְיָלְדוּ לוֹ בָנִים". וְהַשֵּׁנִי שֶׁהֲרֵי קְדָמוֹ אַחֵר:
11Neither a son born by Cesarean section, nor the son born after him, is considered "the firstborn." The first son was never "born," and ibid.: 15 states "and she bore sons to him." And the second son is not given this privilege, for he was preceded by another.
י״בהָיוּ לוֹ בָּנִים כְּשֶׁהָיָה עַכּוּ"ם וְנִתְגַּיֵּר אֵין לוֹ בְּכוֹר לְנַחֲלָה. אֲבָל יִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁהָיָה לוֹ בֵּן מִן הַשִּׁפְחָה וּמִן הָעַכּוּ"ם הוֹאִיל וְאֵינוֹ קָרוּי בְּנוֹ הַבָּא לוֹ אַחֲרָיו מִן הַיִּשְׂרְאֵלִית בְּכוֹר לְנַחֲלָה וְנוֹטֵל פִּי שְׁנַיִם:
12When a person had sons as a gentile and then converted, he does not have a firstborn with regard to the rights of inheritance. If, however, a Jewish man fathered sons from a maid-servant or from a gentile woman, since they are not considered his sons, a son he fathers afterwards from a Jewish woman is considered his firstborn with regard to the laws of inheritance, and he receives a double portion of his father's estate.
י״גהָיָה הַבְּכוֹר מַמְזֵר נוֹטֵל פִּי שְׁנַיִם שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים כא יז) "כִּי אֶת הַבְּכֹר בֶּן הַשְּׂנוּאָה יַכִּיר" זוֹ שֶׁשְּׂנוּאָה בְּנִשּׂוּאֶיהָ. וְאֵין צָרִיךְ לוֹמַר אִם הָיָה בֶּן גְּרוּשָׁה אוֹ בֶּן חֲלוּצָה:
13Even if the firstborn is a mamzer, he receives a double portion. This is reflected by Deuteronomy 21:16: "But rather he will recognize the firstborn, the son of the hated one." This refers to a woman whose marriage is "hated." Needless to say, this applies if the firstborn is the son of a divorcee or a woman who performed chalitzah.
י״דשְׁלֹשָׁה נֶאֱמָנִין עַל הַבְּכוֹר. חַיָּה וְאִמּוֹ וְאָבִיו. חַיָּה מִיָּד שֶׁאִם אָמְרָה זֶה יָצָא רִאשׁוֹן נֶאֱמֶנֶת. אִמּוֹ כָּל שִׁבְעַת יְמֵי הַלֵּידָה נֶאֱמֶנֶת לוֹמַר זֶהוּ הַבְּכוֹר. אָבִיו לְעוֹלָם אֲפִלּוּ אָמַר הָאָב עַל מִי שֶׁלֹּא הֻחְזַק בְּנוֹ כְּלָל הוּא בְּנִי וּבְכוֹרִי הוּא נֶאֱמָן. וְכֵן אִם אָמַר עַל הַמֻּחְזָק לָנוּ שֶׁהוּא בְּכוֹרוֹ אֵינוֹ בְּכוֹר נֶאֱמָן:
14There are three individuals whose word is accepted with regard to the designation of a firstborn: the midwife, the mother and the father.The midwife's word is accepted only at the moment of birth. For example, a woman gave birth to twins; if the midwife said: "This one emerged first," her word is accepted.His mother's word is accepted for the first seven days after birth, when she says: "This one is the firstborn."His father's word is always accepted. Even if the father said that a person who was not known to be his son was his firstborn son, his word is accepted. Similarly, his word is accepted if he says that the person whom we consider to be his firstborn is not his firstborn.
ט״והָאָב שֶׁנִּשְׁתַּתֵּק בּוֹדְקִין אוֹתוֹ כְּדֶרֶךְ שֶׁבּוֹדְקִין לְגִטִּין. אִם רָמַז אוֹ כָּתַב שֶׁזֶּה בְּנוֹ בְּכוֹרוֹ הֲרֵי זֶה נוֹטֵל פִּי שְׁנַיִם:
15When a father loses his ability to speak, we check the soundness of his intellect in the same way as is done with regard to a bill of divorce. If through his motions he indicates - or he writes - that this is his firstborn son, that son receives a double portion.
ט״זהֵעִידוּ עֵדִים שֶׁהֵן שָׁמְעוּ אָבִיו שֶׁל זֶה אוֹמֵר דְּבָרִים כָּךְ וְכָךְ שֶׁהֲרֵי אוֹתָן הַדְּבָרִים יוֹדֵעַ מִכְּלָלָן שֶׁזֶּה בְּנוֹ בְּכוֹרוֹ. הֲרֵי זֶה נוֹטֵל פִּי שְׁנַיִם אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁלֹּא אָמַר הָאָב בְּפֵרוּשׁ זֶה בְּנִי בְּכוֹרִי:
16If witnesses testify that they heard a father make certain statements that clearly indicate that a child is his firstborn son, the son receives a double portion even though the father did not explicitly say: "This is my firstborn son."
י״זשָׁמְעוּ מִן הָאָב שֶׁאָמַר זֶה בְּנִי בְּכוֹר אֵינוֹ נוֹטֵל פִּי שְׁנַיִם בְּעֵדוּת זוֹ שֶׁמָּא בְּכוֹר לְאִמּוֹ הוּא וְלָזֶה נִתְכַּוֵּן הָאָב עַד שֶׁיֹּאמַר בְּנִי בְּכוֹרִי:
17If the father was heard saying: "This son of mine is a firstborn," the son does not necessarily receive a double portion of the estate because of this testimony. Perhaps the son was the mother's firstborn, and this was his father's intent. For the son to receive a double portion, the father must call him: "My son, my firstborn."