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The first perek of Massekhet Bekhorot focuses on the laws of a firstborn donkey, which must be exchanged for a lamb and given to the kohen (see Ex 13:13, 34:20).
Even though we might expect that the tractate should begin with the laws of the firstborn of a kosher animal that has intrinsic sanctity and is brought as a sacrifice, the Gemara explains that the laws of the firstborn donkey are short and relatively uncomplicated, and by placing them first, the other cases can be discussed at greater length without interruption.
The first Mishna discusses how non-Jewish ownership of a donkey would affect this law, teaching that the emphasis of the Torah on the Israelite in the context of these laws (see Num 3:13) frees such animals from the requirements of bekhor. Thus, someone who purchases a firstling from a non-Jew prior to its birth does not need to redeem it with a lamb. This halakha would also be true in a case where the fetus is sold to a non-Jew, although the Mishna comments that it is forbidden to make such a sale.
We explore the use of numbered pagination and why masechtot begin always with Daf Bet...