What Pidyon Haben?
‘To Me, Daughters Are Dearer Than Sons’
(Bava Basra 141a)
The Mishnah (supra 140b) seems to imply that giving birth to a daughter is better than giving birth to a son. On our daf, R. Chisda explains that “bas techila siman yafeh labanim – a firstborn daughter portends well for sons that follow.”
The Gemara offers two other explanations for why having a girl first is better: 1) A firstborn daughter aids in raising her younger brothers (and sisters); 2) A firstborn daughter fends off the evil eye.
Jealousy
Rabbenu Gershom (ad loc.) explains that people view families with a firstborn son with envy. If the family’s firstborn is a girl, however, people will be less jealous even if the family subsequently has many sons. These boys will be less conspicuous since the eldest in the family is a girl.
Peace And Tranquility
The Maharsha (ad loc.) explains that jealousy is avoided because there is no bechor entitled to a double portion. Therefore, none of the younger siblings will be envious of the firstborn and create strife. Since they all inherit equally, there is no evil eye.
Torah Scholars
R. Chisda stated that he personally prefers daughters to sons. Rashi (s.v. “amar R. Chisda l’didi…”) explains that his sons did not survive (but his daughters did). Tosafos (s.v. “l’didi bena’san…”) disagrees, citing Talmudic references to sons of R. Chisda, who were all Torah scholars. Tosafos therefore explains that the husbands of R. Chisda’s daughters were even greater than his sons; they were all gedolei hador.
Deprived Of A Mitzvah
The Ben Yehoyada (ad loc.) writes that having a firstborn daughter portends well for sons that follow but is not a good sign for the father since he is deprived of the mitzvah of pidyon haben. R. Chisda nonetheless preferred having a girl as his firstborn because he was a kohen to whom the mitzvah of pidyon haben was not applicable.