1The Gemara questions the need for this ruling: It is obvious that this is the halakha , as once they removed the animal, it is now in their custody for all purposes, including responsibility for any ensuing damage.
2The Gemara answers: No, this statement is necessary in a case where they stood before the animal and encouraged it to leave the enclosure but did not lead it out directly. This case is like the case in this statement that Rabba says that Rav Mattana says that Rav says: With regard to one who stands another’s animal near a third person’s standing grain, and the animal eats the grain, he is liable. The Gemara asks: If he stands the animal there, isn’t it obvious that he is liable? The Gemara answers: No, this ruling is necessary in a case where one stood before the animal and encouraged it to go toward the grain without leading it, and he is nevertheless liable.
3Abaye said to Rav Yosef: You told us when explaining the statement of Rav Mattana in the name of Rav that it is referring to a case where he hit the animal with a stick, and similarly, the mishna can also be explained as referring to a case where the bandits hit it with a stick and did not lead it.
4§ The mishna teaches that if the owner conveyed the animal to a shepherd to care for it, the shepherd enters in his place and is responsible for all damage. The Sages say in clarification: The shepherd enters in place of whom? If we say that the shepherd is in place of the owner of the animal, didn’t we already learn on one occasion in a mishna (44b): If the owner conveyed his animal to an unpaid bailee, or to a borrower, to a paid bailee, or to a renter, they all enter into the responsibilities and liabilities in place of the owner. What novelty is there in stating that the responsibility now lies with the shepherd to whom the owner conveyed the animal? Rather, it means that the shepherd enters in place of a bailee to whom the owner conveyed the animal, who is no longer liable once he conveys the animal to a shepherd.
5The Gemara asks: If so, this mishna indicates that the first bailee exempts himself completely by conveying the sheep to a shepherd, the second bailee, and he bears no further responsibility. Shall we say that mishna is a conclusive refutation of the ruling of Rava, as Rava says: A bailee who conveyed the deposit to another bailee nevertheless remains liable?
6The Gemara answers: Rava could say to you in response: What does the mishna mean when it states: He conveyed it to a shepherd? It is referring to a shepherd who conveyed the animal to the shepherd’s assistant, as it is the typical manner of a shepherd to convey animals in his charge to his assistant. Therefore, anyone who gives his animal to a shepherd understands that the shepherd’s assistant may also care for the animal, and it is not a violation of the terms of his assignment for the shepherd to convey it to his assistant. Consequently, this mishna does not refute Rava’s opinion.
7There are those who say the same answer in a similar manner: From the fact that the mishna teaches the case using the expression: He conveyed it to a shepherd, and does not teach it using the less specific expression: He conveyed it to another, conclude from it that what it means by: He conveyed it to a shepherd, is that the shepherd conveyed it to his assistant, as it is the typical manner of a shepherd to convey an animal to his assistant. But if the shepherd conveyed it to another to care for it in his place, the mishna does not rule that the other person enters in his place.
8The Gemara suggests: Let us say that the wording of the mishna therefore supports Rava’s opinion, as Rava says: A bailee who conveyed the deposit to another bailee remains liable. The Sages say in rejection of that suggestion: No, one cannot infer from the wording of the mishna that it is referring specifically to a shepherd conveying the animal to his assistant, since perhaps it teaches the matter in the manner in which it typically occurs, but the same is true even if the shepherd conveyed the animal to another. Therefore, no support can be brought from here for Rava’s opinion.
9§ It was stated that there is a dispute between amora’im concerning the following issue: With regard to one who is safeguarding a lost item that he has not yet returned, what level of responsibility does he bear? Rabba said: He is considered to be like an unpaid bailee, whereas Rav Yosef said: He is considered to be like a paid bailee.
10Their respective opinions are explained: Rabba said that he is considered to be like an unpaid bailee because what benefit comes to him through safeguarding it? Therefore, he is just like any unpaid bailee. Rav Yosef said that he is considered to be like a paid bailee on account of the benefit that he is not required to give bread to a poor person while looking after the lost item, since one who is engaged in one mitzva is exempt from performing another. Consequently, since there is some benefit involved in looking after the lost item, he is considered to be like a paid bailee.
11This is one interpretation, whereas there are those who explain like this: Rav Yosef said that he is considered to be like a paid bailee. Once the Merciful One obligates him against his will to look after lost items, the Torah presumably imposes the high standard of safeguarding on him. Therefore, he is considered to be like a paid bailee.
12The Gemara presents a mnemonic device for the halakhot and difficulties to be discussed: He returned it, always, returned, Ḥiyya, you say, breaks, payment.
13Rav Yosef raised an objection to the opinion of Rabba from that which is taught in a baraita :