About this episode
If one purchases two trees, does the buyer acquire the land directly surrounding those trees? Rabbi Meir and the rabbis disagree. What are the ramifications of this debate? Does one bring the first fruits of a tree like this? According to the Mishna in Bikurim, Rabbi Meir and the rabbis also debate this point and according to the rabbis, one would bring the first fruits to the Temple but not say the recitation, as the obligation to bring b ikurim is dependent on owning the land. Shmuel derives from the Mishna in Bikurim that Rabbi Meir would also obligate one to bring bikurim from fruit bought in the market. He derives this from the fact that there was no reason to mention Rabbi Meir's disagreement in the Mishna in Bikurim as it could have been easily derived from his opinion on our Mishna and must therefore be coming to teach something additional. However, this suggestion is rejected. Rabbi Shimon ben Elyakim asks why in the case above (one tree according to Rabbi Meir and two according to the rabbis), is obligated to bring the first fruits but not say the recitation - one should either be obligated and then should do both, or not obligated and do neither! Rabba answers that we do it because of a doubt - the rabbis are unclear whether or not one acquires the land. Four difficulties are brought against Rabba's answer and are all resolved, but each resolution leads to a modification of how the bikurim are brought to the Temple in this situation.