Question (Rav Papa): What does the verse ("Chavlei Menasheh Asarah") count?

If it counts all brothers in Menasheh who received their father's portion, there were many more!

If it counts only the heads of families, it should only count six!

Answer (Abaye): Really, it counts the heads of families. It includes the other portions only to teach that Tzelafchad's daughters received the extra portion of a firstborn.

This implies that Eretz Yisrael already belonged to Benei Yisrael before Yisrael entered (a firstborn does not receive an extra portion in property that his father did not own in his lifetime).

(Beraisa #1): The children (of the Meraglim and of Korach's congregation) received portions from their grandfathers.

Contradiction (Beraisa #2): They received portions in their own merit.

Answer #1: Beraisa #1 holds that portions were allocated to those who left Mitzrayim. Beraisa #2 holds that they were allocated to those that entered.

Answer #2: Both Beraisos hold that portions were allocated to those that left Mitzrayim. Beraisa #1 discusses children below 20 (when they entered Eretz Yisrael), and Beraisa #2 discusses children above 20.

(Mishnah): He received two portions because he was a firstborn.

Question: Chefer never received a share of Eretz Yisrael in his life. It was only Ra'uy (destined) to come to him. A firstborn gets an extra share of Muchzak property, but not of Ra'uy!

Answer #1 (Rav Yehudah): He received an extra share of tent pegs (or other Metaltelin). Chefer was Muchzak in them.

Question (Rabah - Beraisa - R. Yehudah): Tzelafchad's daughters received four portions (of land) - "Chavlei Menasheh..."

Answer #2: Rather, Eretz Yisrael already belonged to Benei Yisrael before they entered.

Question (Beraisa - R. Shimon ha'Shakmoni): Moshe knew that Tzelafchad's daughters receive a part of Eretz Yisrael; but he didn't know whether they receive an extra share, for Tzelafchad was a firstborn.

The Parshah of inheritance was fitting to be said through Moshe. Tzelafchad's daughters merited that it was said through them.

Moshe knew that the man who gathered wood on Shabbos would be killed - "Mechaleleha Mos Yumas." He just didn't know which death penalty.

This Parshah should have been taught (directly) through Moshe. The Mekoshesh was guilty, and it was written through him.

This teaches that good things come through those with merit, and bad things come through unworthy people.

(Summation of question): If they owned Eretz Yisrael before entering, why was Moshe unsure?!

Answer: Moshe was unsure whether they already owned Eretz Yisrael!

It says "v'Nosati Osah Lachem Morasha (something you bequeath)." Is it also an inheritance (and the firstborn gets double)? Or, does this teach only that the parents bequeath but do not inherit?

Hash-m revealed to Moshe that it is also an inheritance.

"Tevi'emo (Hash-m will bring him, i.e. the congregation of Yisrael) v'Sita'emo b'Har Nachalsecha" - Benei Yisrael (who walked through Yam Suf) prophesized, without recognizing the prophecy (that they themselves will not enter Eretz Yisrael; it does not say 'Hashem will bring us').

Question: "Va'Ta'amodna Lifnei Moshe v'Lifnei Elazar ha'Kohen v'Lifnei ha'Nesi'im v'Chol ha'Edah" - can we say that they asked Moshe, and did not receive an answer, and then they went to ask Elazar ... and then the Nesi'im and the congregation?!

Answer #1 (R. Yoshiyah): The verse is written out of order (first they came before the congregation, then before the Nesi'im, then Elazar, then Moshe).

Answer #2 (Aba Chanan): They were all sitting in the Beis Medrash, and they came before all of them at once.

Question: What do they argue about?

Answer: Aba Chanan holds that one may honor a Talmid in front of his Rebbi (i.e. they addressed their question to all present, even though the others were Moshe's Talimidim), and R. Yoshiyah forbids.

The law is, one may honor a Talmid in front of his Rebbi.

The law is, one may not honor a Talmid in front of his Rebbi.

Question: This is a contradiction!

Answer: The laws discuss different cases.

One may honor a Talmid in front of his Rebbi only if the Rebbi himself honors the Talmid.

(Beraisa): Tzelafchad's daughters were Chachamos, and able to expound, and righteous;

We know that they were Chachamos because they spoke at the proper time.

(Rav Shmuel bar Rav Yitzchak): Moshe was expounding the Parshah of Yibum. They said 'if we are like a son, we should get an inheritance. If not, our mother should do Yibum.' "Va'Yakriv Moshe Es Mishpatan Lifnei Hash-m".

They were able to expound - 'had our father left a son, we would not request an inheritance.'

Question (Beraisa): ('Had our father left a) daughter, (we would not request an inheritance.')

Rejection (R. Yirmiyah): The text of this Beraisa is mistaken (he did leave daughters! Had he left another daughter, they would all inherit together)!

Answer (Abaye): We can explain the Beraisa. 'Even if our father had left a daughter to a son, we would not request.'

They were righteous - they married only men fitting for them.

(Beraisa - R. Eliezer Ben Yakov): Each of them was at least 40 years old when she married.

Question: Rav Chisda taught that a woman that marries before age 20 will bear children until age 60. If she marries at 20, she will bear children until age 40. If she marries at 40, she will not bear children.

Answer: Since they were righteous, a miracle was done for them and they were able to conceive, like Yocheved.