Arakhin 9:7-8
משנה ערכין ט:ז-ח
Seder: Kodashim | Tractate: Arakhin | Chapter: 9
📖 Mishna
Mishna 9:7
משנה ט:ז
Hebrew:
בָּתֵּי הַחֲצֵרִים, נוֹתְנִים לָהֶם כֹּחַ הַיָּפֶה שֶׁבְּבָתֵּי עָרֵי חוֹמָה וְכֹחַ הַיָּפֶה שֶׁבַּשָּׂדוֹת. נִגְאָלִין מִיָּד, וְנִגְאָלִין כָּל שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר חֹדֶשׁ כַּבָּתִּים, וְיוֹצְאִים בַּיּוֹבֵל וּבְגִרְעוֹן כֶּסֶף כַּשָּׂדוֹת. וְאֵלּוּ הֵן בָּתֵּי חֲצֵרִים, שְׁתֵּי חֲצֵרוֹת שֶׁל שְׁנֵי שְׁנֵי בָתִּים, אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁמֻּקָּפִין חוֹמָה מִימוֹת יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בִּן נוּן, הֲרֵי אֵלּוּ כְבָתֵּי חֲצֵרִים:
English:
With regard to the houses of the unwalled courtyards mentioned in the Torah, i.e., houses in villages that are not surrounded by walls, one accords them the exceptional provisions that apply to houses of walled cities and the exceptional provisions that apply to fields. Therefore, they are redeemed immediately and for the entire twelve months following the sale, like in the sale of houses of walled cities. And they leave the possession of the buyer during the Jubilee Year or with a per annum deduction from the money of the sale price, like the sale of fields. And these are the houses of the unwalled courtyards: Any city in which there are two courtyards each containing two houses, and although it is surrounded by a wall from the era of Joshua, son of Nun, their halakhic status is like that of the houses of the unwalled courtyards.
קלאוד על המשנה:
This mishna introduces a hybrid category: houses in small villages (בתי החצרים). They combine the best features of both walled city houses and fields.
The “Best of Both Worlds” Rule:
Like walled city houses:
- Can redeem immediately (no waiting period)
- Full 12-month redemption window
Like fields:
- Return at Jubilee (not permanent after one year)
- Price calculated with per-annum deduction (prorated for time used)
Why this hybrid? Small village houses are somewhat urban (structures, not farmland) but also somewhat rural (not full cities). The Sages gave them favorable treatment from both categories.
Size Threshold: Two courtyards of two houses each = four houses. This is smaller than the walled city minimum (three courtyards of two = six houses). So:
- 6+ houses in Joshua-era walls = walled city
- 4-5 houses in Joshua-era walls = unwalled courtyard status
- 3 or fewer = regular field rules
The Paradox: A place can be WALLED but legally “unwalled.” If it has walls from Joshua’s time but too few houses, it’s technically “בתי החצרים” (houses of courtyards/villages)—named for the category, not the physical reality.
This means the small walled settlements get BETTER terms than large walled cities: they keep the easy redemption but also get Jubilee return.
Key Terms:
- בתי החצרים (Batei HaChatzerim) = Houses of courtyards; village houses
- כח היפה (Ko’ach HaYafeh) = The exceptional provision; favorable rule
- גרעון כסף (Gir’on Kesef) = Deduction of money; prorated reduction
- שתי חצרות (Shtei Chatzerot) = Two courtyards; minimum for this category
Mishna 9:8
משנה ט:ח
Hebrew:
יִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁיָּרַשׁ אֲבִי אִמּוֹ לֵוִי, אֵינוֹ גוֹאֵל כַּסֵּדֶר הַזֶּה. וְכֵן לֵוִי שֶׁיָּרַשׁ אֶת אֲבִי אִמּוֹ יִשְׂרָאֵל, אֵינוֹ גוֹאֵל כַּסֵּדֶר הַזֶּה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ויקרא כה), כִּי בָתֵּי עָרֵי הַלְוִיִּם, עַד שֶׁיְהֵא לֵוִי וּבְעָרֵי הַלְוִיִּם, דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי. וַחֲכָמִים אוֹמְרִים, אֵין הַדְּבָרִים אֲמוּרִים אֶלָּא בְעָרֵי הַלְוִיִּם. אֵין עוֹשִׂים שָׂדֶה מִגְרָשׁ וְלֹא מִגְרָשׁ שָׂדֶה, וְלֹא מִגְרָשׁ עִיר וְלֹא עִיר מִגְרָשׁ. אָמַר רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר, בַּמֶּה דְבָרִים אֲמוּרִים. בְּעָרֵי הַלְוִיִּם. אֲבָל בְּעָרֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, עוֹשִׂין שָׂדֶה מִגְרָשׁ וְלֹא מִגְרָשׁ שָׂדֶה, מִגְרָשׁ עִיר וְלֹא עִיר מִגְרָשׁ, כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא יַחֲרִיבוּ אֶת עָרֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל. הַכֹּהֲנִים וְהַלְוִיִּם מוֹכְרִים לְעוֹלָם וְגוֹאֲלִים לְעוֹלָם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שם), גְּאֻלַּת עוֹלָם תִּהְיֶה לַלְוִיִּם:
English:
An Israelite who inherited a house in a walled city from his mother’s father who was a Levite does not redeem the house in accordance with this procedure; rather, if he sold the inherited house, he may redeem it always, like a Levite. And likewise, a Levite who inherited a house from his mother’s father who was an Israelite does not redeem the house in accordance with this procedure. The source: as it is stated: “as the houses of the cities of the Levites are their possession,” indicating the ability to always redeem does not apply unless the one selling will be a Levite and the house is in the cities of the Levites; this is the statement of Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi. And the Rabbis say: These matters are stated only with regard to a house in the cities of the Levites, even if the owner was not a Levite. One may neither render a field an empty lot nor an empty lot a field. Similarly, one may neither incorporate an empty lot into a city nor render part of a city an empty lot. Rabbi Eliezer said: In what case is this statement said? It applies in the cities of the Levites. But in the cities of the Israelites one may render a field an empty lot but not an empty lot a field, and one may incorporate an empty lot into a city but not render part of a city an empty lot, in order to ensure that they will not thereby destroy the cities of Israel. The priests and the Levites may sell their fields and houses always and may redeem them always, as it is stated: “The Levites shall have a perpetual right of redemption.”
קלאוד על המשנה:
This final mishna of Arakhin addresses Levitical property rights and concludes with fundamental principles about land use zoning.
Levite Property and Inheritance:
Levites have special property laws—they can redeem their property at any time (no one-year deadline), and it always returns at Jubilee. But what about mixed inheritances?
Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi: BOTH conditions must be met:
- The person must BE a Levite
- The property must be IN Levite cities
An Israelite who inherits Levite property follows Israelite rules. A Levite who inherits Israelite property follows Israelite rules. Status follows the person AND the location.
The Sages: Only the LOCATION matters. Levite city property has Levite rules regardless of who owns it. Person’s tribal status is irrelevant.
Ancient Zoning Laws:
The mishna then presents remarkable land use restrictions:
- Field (שדה) ↔ Open lot (מגרש): Cannot convert
- Open lot ↔ City (עיר): Cannot convert
These zones must remain fixed. Levite cities had designated agricultural, buffer, and urban zones that couldn’t be changed.
Rabbi Eliezer’s Distinction: In ISRAELITE cities, limited conversion is allowed:
- Field → Open lot: Allowed (expanding buffer zones)
- Open lot → Field: Forbidden (reducing buffer)
- Open lot → City: Allowed (urban expansion)
- City → Open lot: Forbidden (urban destruction)
The principle: cities may grow but not shrink. This prevents urban decay and abandonment.
The Grand Conclusion: Priests and Levites can always sell and always redeem—“perpetual redemption” (גאולת עולם). Their tribal inheritance is inalienable across generations.
Key Terms:
- ירש אבי אמו (Yarash Avi Imo) = Inherited from mother’s father; maternal grandfather
- ערי הלויים (Arei HaLevi’im) = Cities of the Levites
- מגרש (Migrash) = Open area; buffer zone around cities
- גאולת עולם (Ge’ulat Olam) = Perpetual redemption; eternal right to redeem
Navigation
Siyum on Masechet Arakhin
מזל טוב! You have completed Masechet Arakhin!
This tractate taught us about:
- Valuations (ערכין) — The fixed Torah values for dedicating oneself or others to the Temple
- Assessments (דמים) — Market-value dedications
- Consecrated property — How the Temple acquires and sells property
- Cherem (dedication) — Irrevocable gifts to priests
- Jubilee laws — The 50-year cycle of land return
- Walled city houses — Special urban property rules
- Levitical inheritance — The perpetual rights of the priestly tribe
May your continued learning bring you ever closer to understanding the Torah’s wisdom!
הדרן עלך מסכת ערכין והדרך עלן!