How to handle inheritance - with oral designation as a gift, and not as "inheritance." Including the question of when one must stipulate that a gift is indeed a gift in the statement of establishing a gift (beginning, middle, or end of the giving). Also, a dispute among 3 Amoraim -- when or whether giving a gift in place of "inheritance" would be effective. Plus, how that kind of gift can be reapportioned to others. Also, when one rethinks a statement with legal consequences, one can recant -- if one does so in a very speedy manner: fundamentally, "within the initial statement."

This daf presents 7 queries about some quirky cases that were sent by Rabbi Abba to Rav Yosef Bar Chama [Who's Who: Rav Yosef bar Chama and also Rabbi Abba, in which the halakhah is decided in accord with Rabbi Abba, in the end of it all. Cases include both details about inheritance as well as other legal issues pertaining to one's standing.

How the laws pertaining to a "Tumtum" affect his ability to inherit the double portion. This status has all kinds of implications to other areas of halakhah that pertain to males -- including the timing of brit milah, including the impurity that attaches to a mother after giving birth. Also, a question was sent to Shmuel: When a person has knowledge that he is the first-born, and his father says that someone else is the first-born -- does the father's statement hold sway or not? (it's a machloket)

More on the double portion inherited by the first-born. What happens if the first-born renounces the extra part of his double portion, so that he ends up with a comparable inheritance to other brothers? Rav Pappa and Rav Pappi (yes) both weigh in, based on inference. Plus, an actual case that came before Rava adjudication. Also, a new mishnah! Namely, if the father attempts to decree a different kind of inheritance division than that which is established in the Torah - it won't work. Maybe if he reapportioned his property via gifting, but not inheritance. Plus, the question: first-born to whom? How do the different parents make a difference in this regard?

Different views from the sages in Nehardea, in the land of Israel, and elsewhere - with the dispute over whether the payment of a debtor returning the loan of a parent who has died is divided into a double portion for the eldest son. The crux of the matter seems to be whether the payment is in land or in cash - but that distinction is probed and found to be difficult. Also, when there's a great-grandmother (yes) and a great-granddaughter who dies before she inherits -- should her husband inherit from the great-grandmother because he would have inherited from his wife? (But would he have done so?)

A beraita (Tosefta) presents the idea of enhancement to the property that takes place after the death of the father - for which the first-born does not get the double-portion. But that's a point that needs refinement. It may depend who made those improvements. Plus, the question of who pays the father's debt - that is, as a double portion, or not? Also, more on the first-born not taking a double-portion when a loan was returned to the estate. But who supports that view?

On the double-portion for the first-born. And the various ways that can play out. Plus, going back to the biblical treatment of the double portions. Also, a good deal of commentary on the story of Jacob, Leah, and Rachel. And also the story of the 70 persons of Jacob's family who went down to to Egypt, and the concern that counting out the family members totals 69. How to find the 70th?

How DID the divide the land of Israel in the time of Joshua? Was it divided according to tribe? Or per capita? (We recommend googling for a map) Also, a new mishnah! On how a son and a daughter both inherit according to the laws of inheritance, and the differences between the way they inherit, including from each parent. But the mishnah is formulated in a difficult way, and the Amoraim work hard to make sense of it.

A side-step away from the laws of inheritance, to address the nature of the 15th of Av and also Yom Kippur. Which of course leads back to the daughters of Tzlofchad and the matter of marrying only within their own tribe. Plus, events that are attributed to taking place on Tu B'Av -- and a review of the story of Beitar. Also, 7 people whose lives overlapped and thereby cover the entirety of Jewish history.

Starting with some aggadah - a miracle that was done for the daughters of Tzlofchad that parallels the miracle done for Yocheved: bearing children "older," but really older. And the Gemara does the math for us -- and explains the miracle of her returned youth in detail. Also, shifting focus back to the daughters of Tzlofchad and the order of their names in the Torah -- once for their age order and once for their measures of wisdom. Plus, the exhortation that they marry people who are suitable for them.