Bava Basra 13b

בבא בתרא י״ג ע״ב

Bava Batra 13b

Learn Bava Basra 13b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Forced buyouts (גוד או אגוד) between partners, and the rules for writing and joining scrolls of תנ"ך

Overview

The גמרא keeps testing whether a partner in property that can't be divided can force a buyout with גוד או אגוד ("you set a price, or I will set a price"). It rejects a proof from two brothers, one rich and one poor, since the poor one can't afford to buy. A ברייתא that says such property is valued in money supports גוד או אגוד. An attempt to make this a dispute between תנאים fails, because רבן שמעון בן גמליאל has a different reason. אביי tries to trace the rule to שמואל's ruling on dividing two scrolls of כתבי הקודש, but רב שלמן explains that case as one where both partners agreed. אמימר rules that גוד או אגוד exists, and the גמרא shows that רבא's ruling about two maidservants does not contradict him. The amud then turns to holy scrolls: whether all of תנ"ך may be joined in one scroll, how many blank lines to leave between books, and how to set up a combined scroll.

Opening lines

The steps (22)

1. ProofEnd of the proof from the rich and poor brothers
2. RejectionRejection: only one side of the offer works there
3. ProofA ברייתא that seems to support a forced buyout
4. RejectionAnswer: this is a dispute between תנאים
5. ChallengeTaken as written, why would רבן שמעון בן גמליאל disagree?
6. ResolutionReading the ברייתא as missing words about גוד או אגוד
7. RejectionNo: the ברייתא means what it says, and רבן שמעון בן גמליאל has his own reason
8. Proofאביי shows that רב יהודה's rule comes from שמואל
9. Rejectionרב שלמן: the case is where both partners agree
10. Statementאמימר rules that גוד או אגוד exists
11. Questionרב אשי asks about רב נחמן's opposite view
12. Responseאמימר: I don't hold like רב נחמן
13. ChallengeChallenge from רבא's ruling about two maidservants
14. ResolutionThe maidservant case was a different kind of claim
15. ChallengeBut שמואל lets two scrolls be split one-each
16. ResolutionAgain: רב שלמן said both partners agreed
17. StatementThree opinions on attaching the books of תנ"ך together
18. Proofרבי יהודה's story of ביתוס בן זונין
19. RejectionAnother version of the story: each book was separate
20. Proofרבי approved a fully joined scroll of תנ"ך
21. StatementHow many blank lines to leave between books
22. StatementSetting up a combined scroll of תנ"ך