Bava Basra 103a

בבא בתרא ק״ג ע״א

Bava Batra 103a

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Topic

Which crevices and rocks are measured with a field, both for הקדש and for a sale

Overview

The amud opens at the end of a משנה in ערכין about someone who is מקדיש a field. Crevices or rocks of ten טפחים are not measured with the field, while smaller ones are. The גמרא asks why the big ones are not at least consecrated as separate plots. A ברייתא shows that even tiny fields can be consecrated, so their small size is not the reason. רב עוקבא בר חמא answers that those crevices are full of water and cannot be planted, and the small ones are just ordinary 'cracks' and 'spines' of the field. For a sale, רב פפא says deep crevices are left out even when dry, because a buyer does not want a field that looks split into pieces. Then the amud limits how much small rocky ground counts with a sold field: up to four קבין, spread over five קבין or, per רבי יוחנן, over most of the field. A question about an uneven spread ends in תיקו, and רבי ירמיה begins a new question that continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (19)

1. StatementDeep crevices and tall rocks are not measured with the field
2. ChallengeWhy aren't the crevices consecrated on their own?
3. ResolutionA suggested answer: too small to be consecrated
4. ChallengeA ברייתא: why does the פסוק say "field"?
5. RejectionEven tiny fields can be consecrated
6. ResolutionThe crevices are full of water and cannot be planted
7. ProofThe wording 'like rocks' supports this
8. ChallengeThen small crevices should be left out too
9. ResolutionSmall ones are just normal cracks and ridges
10. QuestionWhat about crevices in a sale?
11. ResponseIn a sale, even dry deep crevices are left out
12. Challengeרבינא: The teaching compares crevices to rocks
13. ResolutionThe comparison to rocks is about the small ones
14. StatementSmall rocks count with the field, up to a limit
15. StatementThe rocks must be spread over five קבין
16. StatementThe rocks must be spread over most of the field
17. QuestionWhat if the rocks are spread unevenly?
18. ConclusionThe question stays open
19. Questionרבי ירמיה starts a new question