Bava Batra 115: Prioritizing Sons - and Rabbinic Halakhah

Talking Talmud

A new mishnah! On the order of inheritance, including the portion each receives (or doesn't) -- prioritizing sons over daughters, not surprisingly (and the descendants of the relative who takes priority takes priority over other relatives). The textual support or this rationale is a careful inference from the biblical text. Plus, a key historical question about whether the 10 Tribes that were exiled were still around to inherit. Also, a difference of interpretation over who should interpret between the Pharisees and the Sadducees -- wherein the Pharisees reject the Sadducees' so-called halakhah. Specifically, with regard to individual designation of heirs. Plus, the tidbit that King Shapur refers to the prophet Shmuel.