Bechorot 13: Why The Donkey Goes First

Why does the Talmud teach the donkey before the cow? On the last page of chapter one, Bekhorot 13 asks a question that sounds like editorial housekeeping but points to something bigger. From Balaam's talking donkey to the donkey who wouldn't eat untithed barley, the lowly animal keeps seeing what the impressive ones miss. Through a Messianic Jewish lens, we follow the donkey from the firstborn redeemed by a lamb to the King who rode into Jerusalem on one. If you've ever felt like you're waiting in the hallway, this episode is for you.