Pisqa’ 287445H:278-279;JN2:244-245. 1. “You may not muzzle an ox” (Dt.25:4). I might infer only that an ox [may not be muzzled while at work]! How do I know to apply to other cattle, wild animals, or fowl the same rule the Torah applies to an ox? The Teaching states: “You may not muzzle” (Dt.25:4)— any kind [of work-animal].446Cf. M. BQ. 5:7. If so, why is it stated: “An ox” (Dt.25:4)? You may not muzzle an ox while he is working, but you may indeed muzzle a human being [who is working with produce].
2. “During his threshing” (Dt.25:4). I might infer only that this rule applies to threshing! How do I know that it might include other kinds of work? The Teaching states: “You may not muzzle” (Dt.25:4)— that is, during any sort [of work]. If so, why is it stated: “During his threshing” (Dt.25:4)? Just as threshing is distinctive, in dealing with produce that grows from the earth, but is detached from the ground during its final processing, when the animal is doing its work— doesn’t he [enjoy permission to] eat? So, too, [any labor with produce] that grows from the earth, but is detached from the ground during its final processing when the animal is doing its work— shouldn’t he [enjoy permission to] eat?447//T.BM.8:7
R. Yose b. R. Judah says: Precisely because threshing is distinctive, as a labor involving the hands, feet, and body, [the rule regarding the muzzled ox] excludes [permission to eat during] any labor done with the hands, but not with the feet, or with the feet, but not with the body.448=T.BM.8:7
(דברים כה ד) לֹא תַחְסֹם שׁוֹר, אֵין לִי אֶלָּא שׁוֹר, מִנַּיִן לַעֲשׂוֹת שְׁאָר בְּהֵמָה חַיָּה וָעוֹף כַּיּוֹצֵא בַשּׁוֹר? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: לֹא תַחְסֹם מִכָּל מָקוֹם. אִם כֵּן לָמָּה נֶאֱמַר שׁוֹר? שׁוֹר אִי אַתָּה חוֹסֵם, חוֹסֵם אַתָּה אֶת הָאָדָם.
Pisqa’ 287445H:278-279;JN2:244-245.
1. “You may not muzzle an ox” (Dt.25:4).
I might infer only that an ox
[may not be muzzled while at work]!
How do I know to apply
to other cattle, wild animals, or fowl
the same rule the Torah applies to an ox?
The Teaching states:
“You may not muzzle” (Dt.25:4)—
any kind [of work-animal].446Cf. M. BQ. 5:7.
If so, why is it stated:
“An ox” (Dt.25:4)?
You may not muzzle an ox while he is working,
but you may indeed muzzle a human being
[who is working with produce].
בְּדִישׁוֹ, אֵין לִי אֶלָּא דַּיִשׁ, מִנַּיִן לְרַבּוֹת שְׁאָר עֲבוֹדוֹת, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: לֹא תַחְסֹם מִכָּל מָקוֹם. אִם כֵּן לָמָּה נֶאֱמַר בְּדִישׁוֹ, מַה דַּיִשׁ מְיֻחָד שֶׁגִּדּוּלוֹ מִן הָאָרֶץ וְתָלוּשׁ מִן הַקַּרְקַע בִּשְׁעַת גְּמַר מְלָאכָה בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁהוּא עוֹשֶׂה הֲרֵי הוּא אוֹכֵל, כָּךְ כָּל דָּבָר שֶׁגִּדּוּלוֹ מִן הָאָרֶץ וְתָלוּשׁ מִן הַקַּרְקַע בִּשְׁעַת גְּמַר מְלָאכָה בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁהוּא עוֹשֶׂה הֲרֵי הוּא אוֹכֵל.
2. “During his threshing” (Dt.25:4).
I might infer only that
this rule applies to threshing!
How do I know that it might include other kinds of work?
The Teaching states:
“You may not muzzle” (Dt.25:4)—
that is, during any sort [of work].
If so, why is it stated:
“During his threshing” (Dt.25:4)?
Just as threshing is distinctive,
in dealing with produce
that grows from the earth,
but is detached from the ground
during its final processing,
when the animal is doing its work—
doesn’t he [enjoy permission to] eat?
So, too, [any labor with produce]
that grows from the earth,
but is detached from the ground
during its final processing
when the animal is doing its work—
shouldn’t he [enjoy permission to] eat?447//T.BM.8:7
רַבִּי יוֹסֵי בְּרַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר: מָה דַּיִשׁ מְיֻחָד דָּבָר שֶׁהוּא עוֹשֶׂה בְּיָדָיו וּבְרַגְלָיו וּבְגוּפוֹ, יָצָא הָעוֹשֶׂה בְּיָדָיו אֲבָל לֹא בְּרַגְלָיו, בְּרַגְלָיו אֲבָל לֹא בְּגוּפוֹ.
R. Yose b. R. Judah says:
Precisely because threshing is distinctive,
as a labor involving the hands, feet, and body,
[the rule regarding the muzzled ox] excludes
[permission to eat during]
any labor done with the hands, but not with the feet,
or with the feet, but not with the body.448=T.BM.8:7