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Bava Metzia 7b

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Babylonian Talmud · folio map

Bava Metzia 7b

Bava Metzia 7b. The full printed text of this folio side — 19 numbered segments, about 379 words — with the classic commentaries printed on the page.

Original text

Segment 1

מַאי שְׁנָא לְיַד דַּיָּין? אָמַר רָבָא, הָכִי קָאָמַר: וְאַחֵר שֶׁמָּצָא שְׁטָר שֶׁנָּפַל לְיַד דַּיָּין, וְהֵיכִי דָּמֵי – דִּכְתַב בֵּיהּ הֶנְפֵּק, לֹא יוֹצִיאוֹ עוֹלָמִית.

The Gemara asks: What is different about the case where the promissory note fell into the possession of a judge, such that the creditor cannot retrieve it to collect the debt? Rava said this is what the baraita is saying: But in the case of another individual, who is neither the debtor nor the creditor, who found a promissory note that had already fallen into the possession of a judge, it may never be removed from his possession until proof is provided. And what are the circumstances? What does it mean that the promissory note had fallen into the possession of a judge? It is a case where the court wrote in the promissory note a ratification certifying that it examined and ratified the note and it can be used to collect the debt.

Segment 2

וְלָא מִיבַּעְיָא לָא כְּתַב בֵּיהּ הֶנְפֵּק, דְּאִיכָּא לְמֵימַר כָּתַב לִלְוֹת וְלֹא לָוָה, אֶלָּא אֲפִילּוּ כְּתַב בֵּיהּ הֶנְפֵּק, דִּמְקוּיָּם – לֹא יַחֲזִיר, דְּחָיְישִׁינַן לְפֵירָעוֹן.

And the reason the baraita refers specifically to these circumstances is that it is not necessary to state that in a case where there is no ratification written in the promissory note that the creditor cannot use it to collect the debt; as it can be said that the debtor wrote the document because he intended to borrow the money, but he ultimately did not borrow it. Rather, the baraita states that even in a case where there is a ratification written in the promissory note, as it is now a ratified promissory note, the finder should not return it to the creditor, as we suspect that there was repayment, i.e., that the debtor may have repaid the debt, and he lost the promissory note.

Segment 3

וְרַבִּי יוֹסֵי אוֹמֵר: הֲרֵי הוּא בְּחֶזְקָתוֹ וְלָא חָיְישִׁינַן לְפֵירָעוֹן. וְלָא חָיֵישׁ רַבִּי יוֹסֵי לְפֵירָעוֹן?

The Gemara discusses the continuation of the baraita : And Rabbi Yosei says: The promissory note retains its presumptive status. The Gemara explains: And we do not suspect that there was repayment; had the debt been repaid the debtor would have immediately destroyed the promissory note. The Gemara asks: But does Rabbi Yosei not suspect that there was repayment?

Segment 4

וְהָתַנְיָא: מָצָא שְׁטַר כְּתוּבָּה בַּשּׁוּק, בִּזְמַן שֶׁהַבַּעַל מוֹדֶה – יַחֲזִיר לָאִשָּׁה, אֵין הַבַּעַל מוֹדֶה – לֹא יַחֲזִיר לֹא לָזֶה וְלֹא לָזֶה.

But isn’t it taught in a baraita : If one found a marriage contract in the marketplace, in a case when the husband admits that he has not yet paid the amount written in the contract to his wife, the finder must return the document to the wife. In a case when the husband does not admit this, but instead claims that he has already paid the amount written in the contract, the one who found it should not return it to this one, the husband, or to that one, the wife.

Segment 5

רַבִּי יוֹסֵי אוֹמֵר: עוֹדָהּ תַּחַת בַּעֲלָהּ – יַחֲזִיר לָאִשָּׁה. נִתְאַרְמְלָה אוֹ נִתְגָּרְשָׁה – לֹא יַחֲזִיר לֹא לָזֶה וְלֹא לָזֶה.

Rabbi Yosei says that there is a distinction between different situations: If the wife is still under the auspices of her husband, i.e., she is still married to him, the one who found the marriage contract must return it to the wife because presumably the husband did not pay her the amount specified in the marriage contract during their marriage. If the wife was widowed or divorced, he should not return it to this party, the husband or his heirs, or to that party, the wife, as perhaps she already received payment and the contract was later lost by her husband or his heirs. In this case, Rabbi Yosei suspects that there was payment.

Segment 6

אֵיפוֹךְ: נָפַל לְיַד דַּיָּין לֹא יוֹצִיאוֹ עוֹלָמִית, דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי יוֹסֵי. וַחֲכָמִים אוֹמְרִים: הֲרֵי הוּא בְּחֶזְקָתוֹ.

The Gemara answers: Reverse the order of the tanna’im in the baraita and teach it as follows: If the promissory note fell into the possession of a judge, it may never be removed; this is the statement of Rabbi Yosei. And the Rabbis say: It retains its presumptive status.

Segment 7

אִי הָכִי קַשְׁיָא דְּרַבָּנַן אַדְּרַבָּנַן!

The Gemara asks: If so, the contradiction between the statement of the Rabbis in this baraita and the statement of the Rabbis with regard to the case of the marriage contract is difficult. Whereas according to the emended version of the baraita the Rabbis do not take into account the possibility that the debt was repaid, in the case of the marriage contract the Rabbis take this possibility into account.

Segment 8

שְׁטַר כְּתוּבָּה, כּוּלָּהּ רַבִּי יוֹסֵי, וְחַסּוֹרֵי מְחַסְּרָא וְהָכִי קָתָנֵי: אֵין הַבַּעַל מוֹדֶה – לֹא יַחֲזִיר לֹא לָזֶה וְלֹא לָזֶה. בַּמֶּה דְּבָרִים אֲמוּרִים – שֶׁנִּתְאַרְמְלָה אוֹ שֶׁנִּתְגָּרְשָׁה, אֲבָל עוֹדָהּ תַּחַת בַּעֲלָהּ – יַחֲזִיר לָאִשָּׁה, שֶׁרַבִּי יוֹסֵי אוֹמֵר: עוֹדָהּ תַּחַת בַּעֲלָהּ – יַחֲזִיר לָאִשָּׁה, נִתְאַרְמְלָה אוֹ שֶׁנִּתְגָּרְשָׁה – לֹא יַחֲזִיר לֹא לָזֶה וְלֹא לָזֶה.

The Gemara resolves the problem: The baraita that discusses the marriage contract is entirely in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Yosei; it contains no dispute. And the baraita is incomplete, and this is what it is teaching: In a case where the husband does not admit that he did not pay the marriage contract, the one who found it should not return it to this party or to that party. In what case is this statement said? It is said in a case where the woman was widowed or divorced. But if she is still under the auspices of her husband, the finder must return it to the wife. As Rabbi Yosei says: If she is still under the auspices of her husband, the finder must return it to the wife. If she was widowed or divorced, he should not return it to this party or to that party.

Segment 9

רַב פָּפָּא אָמַר: לְעוֹלָם לָא תֵּיפוֹךְ, רַבִּי יוֹסֵי לְדִבְרֵיהֶם דְּרַבָּנַן קָאָמַר לְהוּ.

Rav Pappa said: Actually, do not reverse the opinions in the baraita , but instead resolve the contradiction differently: Rabbi Yosei was telling the Rabbis what the halakha should be in the case of a marriage contract according to their statement, i.e., according to their opinion that one who finds a promissory note needs to take into account that the debt may have been repaid already.

Segment 10

לְדִידִי אֲפִילּוּ נִתְאַרְמְלָה אוֹ נִתְגָּרְשָׁה נָמֵי לָא חָיְישִׁינַן לְפֵירָעוֹן. לְדִידְכוּ אוֹדוֹ לִי מִיהַת בְּעוֹדָהּ תַּחַת בַּעֲלָהּ, דְּיַחֲזִיר לָאִשָּׁה, דְּלָאו בַּת פֵּירָעוֹן הִיא.

His statement should be understood as follows: In my opinion, even if she was widowed or divorced we do not suspect that there was payment. But according to your opinion, concede to me, in any event, that while she is still under the auspices of her husband the finder should return the document to the wife, as the marriage contract is not yet subject to payment. Since the husband is not yet liable to pay, it is unlikely that he paid.

Segment 11

וַאֲמַרוּ לֵיהּ רַבָּנַן: אֵימוֹר צְרָרֵי אַתְפְּסָה.

And the Rabbis said to him in response: Even if they are still married, say that he gave her bundles of money, and in exchange she gave him back the marriage contract. If the finder then returns the marriage contract to the wife, that would enable her to collect the sum twice.

Segment 12

רָבִינָא אָמַר: לְעוֹלָם אֵיפוֹךְ קַמַּיְיתָא. וְטַעְמָא דְּרַבָּנַן הָכָא, מִשּׁוּם דְּחָיְישִׁינַן לִשְׁתֵּי כְתוּבּוֹת. וְרַבִּי יוֹסֵי לִשְׁתֵּי כְתוּבּוֹת לָא חָיֵישׁ.

Ravina said: Actually, reverse the order of the tanna’im in the first baraita , which discusses one who finds a promissory note, and resolve the contradiction between the different statements of the Rabbis as follows: The reason for the opinion of the Rabbis here, that a marriage contract cannot be returned to the wife, is that we suspect that the husband wrote two marriage contracts; after the first marriage contract was lost, the husband had to write a second one in its stead. Returning to the wife the marriage contract that was found would enable her to collect twice. And Rabbi Yosei holds that it should be returned to the wife because he does not suspect that the husband wrote two marriage contracts; in his opinion, it is a rare occurrence.

Segment 13

אָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר: מַחֲלוֹקֶת בְּשֶׁשְּׁנֵיהֶם אֲדוּקִים בַּטּוֹפֶס, וּשְׁנֵיהֶם בַּתּוֹרֶף. אֲבָל אֶחָד אָדוּק בַּטּוֹפֶס וְאֶחָד אָדוּק בַּתּוֹרֶף – זֶה נוֹטֵל טוֹפֶס, וְזֶה נוֹטֵל תּוֹרֶף. וְרַבִּי יוֹחָנָן אָמַר: לְעוֹלָם חוֹלְקִין.

§ Rabbi Elazar says: With regard to the dispute between Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel and Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi in the case of a creditor and a debtor both grasping a promissory note, Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel holds that they divide the promissory note evenly, specifically in a case where both are grasping the standard part of the promissory note, i.e., the part that contains the standard formulation of the note, or both are grasping the essential part of the promissory note, where the names of the creditor and debtor are written, as well as the amount owed and the date. But if one of them is grasping the standard part and the other one is grasping the essential part, they divide the promissory note between them based on the section that each of them is holding; this one takes the standard part and that one takes the essential part. And Rabbi Yoḥanan says: Actually, they divide everything equally.

Segment 14

וַאֲפִילּוּ אֶחָד אָדוּק בַּטּוֹפֶס וְאֶחָד בַּתּוֹרֶף. וְהָתַנְיָא: זֶה נוֹטֵל עַד מָקוֹם שֶׁיָּדוֹ מַגַּעַת! לָא צְרִיכָא דְּקָאֵי תּוֹרֶף בֵּי מִצְעֵי.

The Gemara asks with regard to Rabbi Yoḥanan’s statement: And does he hold that this is the halakha even in a case where one is grasping the standard part and one the essential part? But isn’t it taught in the baraita that was cited above with regard to a garment: This one takes up to where his hand reaches and that one takes up to where his hand reaches? Here as well, if one is grasping the standard part and the other is grasping the essential part, they should take the parts they are holding. The Gemara answers: No, this halakha that Rabbi Yoḥanan stated is necessary for a case where the essential part is located in the middle. He was not discussing the case where one was grasping the standard part and the other one was grasping the essential part. In that case, he would agree that each takes the part he was grasping.

Segment 15

אִי הָכִי מַאי לְמֵימְרָא? לָא צְרִיכָא דִּמְקָרַב לְגַבֵּי דְחַד. מַהוּ דְּתֵימָא: אָמַר לֵיהּ פְּלוֹג הָכִי, קָא מַשְׁמַע לַן דְּאָמַר לֵיהּ: מַאי חָזֵית דְּפָלְגַתְּ הָכִי? פְּלוֹג הָכִי.

The Gemara asks: If so, what is the purpose of stating that they divide it equally? That is obvious. The Gemara answers: No, it is necessary in a case where the essential part of the document is closer to one of them. Lest you say that the one to whom the essential part is closer can say to the other one: Divide it in this manner, leaving the essential part on my side, Rabbi Yoḥanan teaches us that the other one can say to him in response: What did you see that led you to divide it in that manner? Divide it in this manner, so that we will both share the essential part.

Segment 16

אֲמַר לֵיהּ רַב אַחָא מִדִּפְתִּי לְרָבִינָא: לְרַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר דְּאָמַר זֶה נוֹטֵל טוֹפֶס וְזֶה נוֹטֵל תּוֹרֶף, לְמָה לֵיהּ? וְכִי לָצוּר עַל פִּי צְלוֹחִיתוֹ הוּא צָרִיךְ?

Rav Aḥa of Difti said to Ravina: According to the opinion of Rabbi Elazar, who says this one takes the standard part and that one takes the essential part, why do either of them need it? Does he need half of the document to cover the opening of his flask? Having half a promissory note is of no legal consequence.

Segment 17

אֲמַר לֵיהּ: לִדְמֵי.

Ravina said to him: The division in question is not division of the document itself, with each taking half of the paper. It is a division of its monetary value, as the value of each section of the promissory note is compared to the value of the other.

Segment 18

דְּאָמַר הָכִי: שְׁטָרָא דְּאִית בֵּיהּ זְמַן, כַּמָּה שָׁוֵי? וּדְלֵית בֵּיהּ זְמַן, כַּמָּה שָׁוֵי? בִּשְׁטָרָא דְּאִית בֵּיהּ זְמַן – גָּבֵי מִמְּשַׁעְבְּדֵי. וְאִידַּךְ – לָא גָּבֵי מִמְּשַׁעְבְּדֵי. יָהֵיב לֵיהּ הֵיאַךְ דְּבֵינֵי בֵּינֵי.

The one grasping the essential part of the promissory note, which contains the date, can say this: Consider a promissory note that has the date written on it; how much is it worth? And consider a promissory note that does not have the date written on it; how much is it worth? The significance of writing the date is that if a creditor is in possession of a promissory note that has the date written on it, he can collect his debt even from liened property that has been sold by the debtor to another individual after taking the loan. But if a creditor is in possession of the other kind of promissory note, i.e., one that does not have the date written on it, he cannot collect his debt from liened property. Therefore, the other party, who is grasping the standard part of the document, gives him the difference between the two values.

Segment 19

״וְיַחְלוֹקוּ״ נָמֵי דַּאֲמַרַן לְדָמֵי. דְּאִי לָא תֵּימָא הָכִי, שְׁנַיִם אוֹחֲזִין בְּטַלִּית הָכִי נָמֵי דְּפָלְגִי? הָא אַפְסְדוּהּ! הָא לָא קַשְׁיָא,

And this is also true in general, with regard to cases where we said that the two litigants divide the disputed item: The reference is to the monetary value, and not division of the actual item. As, if you do not say so, but rather you hold that the item itself is divided, in the case of two people who come to court holding a garment, do they also divide the garment itself into two? But by doing so they would ruin it. The Gemara rejects this proof: This is not difficult, as it is possible to explain that they actually cut the garment in two.

Bava Metzia 7b

Bava Metzia 7b

Rashi

Tosafot

Rabbeinu Chananel

Rashba

Meiri

Maharsha (Chidushei Halachot)

Maharam

Shita Mekubetzet

Penei Yehoshua

Gilyon HaShas

Chiddushei Rabbi Akiva Eiger

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