Kiddushin, Daf Yod Het, Part 1

 

Introduction

The Talmud continues to discuss inheritance laws among non-Jews.

 

רב חייא בר אבין א"ר יוחנן עובד כוכבים יורש את אביו דבר תורה דכתיב (דברים ב, ה) כי ירושה לעשו נתתי את הר שעיר

 

R. Hiyya b. Abin said in the name of R. Yohanan: A non-Jew inherits from his father by Biblical law, since it is written, Because I have given Mount Seir to Esau for an inheritance (Deuteronomy 2:5).

 

The fact that God uses the word inheritance in the context of Esau s descendants implies to R. Hiyya b. Abin, that non-Jews inherit from their father s from biblical law.

 

ודלמא ישראל מומר שאני

אלא מהכא (דברים ב, ט) כי לבני לוט נתתי את ער ירושה

 

Yet perhaps an apostate Israelite is different?

Rather from here: For to the descendants of Lot I have given Er as a heritage (Deuteronomy 2:9).

 

The problem with Esau is that it is unclear whether he is considered a Gentile or an apostate Israelite. After all, his father was Jacob. Lot, on the other hand, is clearly not from Abraham s line and therefore the fact that his descendants receive an inheritance proves that Gentiles inherit from their fathers.

 

ורב חייא בר אבין מאי טעמא לא אמר כרבא

מי כתיב (ויקרא כה, נ) וחשב עם קונהו ולא עם יורשי קונהו

ורבא מאי טעמא לא אמר כרב חייא בר אבין משום כבודו דאברהם שאני :

 

Now, R. Hiyya b. Abin, why does he not say as did Rava?

Is it then written: And he shall reckon with his purchaser but not with his purchaser’s heirs!

And Rava, why does he not say as did R. Hiyya b. Abin? On account of Abraham’s honor, it is different.

 

Rava proved that a Gentile inherits from his father from the verse in Leviticus and he shall reckon with his purchasers, and not his inheritors, proving that a Gentile has inheritors. R. Hiyya b. Abin did not use this verse because the words and not with his inheritors are not in the Torah.