Bava Batra 112: Inheriting Through the Father or the Son

The Gemara continues its discussion regarding inheritance; in particular, whether or not a husband or wife should inherit from the other.  According to Numbers (36:8), a daughters who inherits should not marry outside of her tribe, for her inheritance could then belong to her husband's tribe.  There is a push for wealth to remain within each given tribe.  Rabbis question whether men were not able to inherit from both their fathers and their mothers.  They also question whether such leniencies could lead to people being buried outside of their own land.

The Gemara considers why transferring inheritance might be a problem.  If a woman inherits from both parents, her mother's property will transfer to her husband - even if he is from her father's tribe - if she marries.  If a man does not inherit from his wife, there will still be a transfer of inheritance.  In other cases as well, there is a transfer regardless of other factors.   The rabbis consider creative ways to prove that her inheritance might not transfer - or that transfer is not an issue.

Using a number of examples, the rabbis wish to establish that transfer might happen through the father or through the son.