Bava Batra 117a (קיז.) — the Talmud in English

Gemara:

As stated, in our Mishna,

we learned in accordance with the one who says: “The land was apportioned to those who left

Egypt.”

The Gemara cites the dispute concerning this matter:

For it was taught: Rabbi Yoshiyya says: The land was apportioned to those who left Egypt.

That is, when they apportioned the land to those who entered the land, they apportioned it according to the number of those who left Egypt. And whichever of them had one son at the time of entering the land received his entire portion, while one who had ten sons received only the portion of their father.

As it is stated

in the census of those who entered the land,

, “According to the names of the tribes of their fathers

that is, those who were counted at the Exodus

shall he apportion it as an inheritance.”

But how do I uphold the verse, “To these the land shall be apportioned as an inheritance,”

which implies that it was apportioned to those who entered the land?

We interpret it:

“To these”—to those like these.

They are twenty years old.

This excludes the minors

who were under twenty, who did not receive a portion in the land by their own right, but only by virtue of their inheritors; for example, when they had a father or brother who died without other sons.

However,

Rabbi Yonatan says: The land was apportioned to those who entered the land.

As it is stated

in the census of those entering the land,

“To these the land shall be apportioned as an inheritance.”

But how do I uphold the verse, “According to the names of the tribes of their fathers shall they inherit,”

which implies that we must follow those who left Egypt?

It is to tell you:

This inheritance differs from all inheritances in the world. For with all inheritances in the world, the living inherit from the dead; but here, the dead inherit from the living.

That is, although the land was apportioned to those who entered the land, nevertheless it was then apportioned again according to those who left Egypt, as follows.

The beraita explains:

Rabbi said: I shall give you a parable. To what is this matter comparable? To two brother-koanim who lived in one city.

They stipulated between themselves that they would divide equally the terumot that would come to them,

one having one son, and the other having two sons.

They went to the threshing floor. The one who had one son took one portion, and the one who had two sons took two portions. And they returned them to their father ,

and then divided them equally.

The same applies to the apportionment of the land: for example, Reuven and Shimon were brothers who left Egypt; Reuven had ten sons, and Shimon had one son.

When they entered the land, Reuven’s sons took ten portions, and Shimon’s son took one portion. The portions then returned to Reuven and Shimon, and they divided them equally. They then bequeathed them to their sons, so Reuven’s sons took half of the eleven portions, and Shimon’s son took half of the eleven portions.

Accordingly, we interpret both verses: “To these the land shall be apportioned” teaches us that each one shall take one portion; and “According to the names of the tribes of their fathers” teaches us that the portions return to their fathers, and that they divide among themselves what their sons took, as though it had been apportioned to those who left Egypt.

The practical difference between the one who says “to those who left Egypt” and the one who says “to those who entered the land” applies to two men who were not brothers and who left Egypt. One had nine sons, and the other had one son.

According to the one who says “to those who left Egypt,” both take equal portions.

But according to the one who says “to those who entered the land,” this one takes nine portions, and his fellow takes one portion,

since the law of returning the portions was stated only with regard to two brothers .