Bava Basra 166b

בבא בתרא קס״ו ע״ב

Bava Batra 166b

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Topic

Reading a שטר whose top and bottom lines differ: missing letters, look-alike letters, and an unclear amount

Overview

This amud opens with the last line of a משנה story: the price of קינין dropped very low that same day. The גמרא then turns to the משנה about a שטר whose top and bottom lines disagree. A ברייתא teaches that the bottom line may be fixed from the top line if one letter is missing, but not two. The גמרא first suggests that two letters could be half of a four-letter name. It rejects that reason, because one letter could also be half of a two-letter name. The real reason is that two letters could be most of a three-letter name. רב פפא then rules that if the top says ספל and the bottom says קפל, the bottom decides. He asks about the reverse case, where a fly might have rubbed off the leg of a ק, and the question ends with תיקו. Finally, רב שרביא asks אביי about a שטר that says "six hundred and a זוז." אביי begins by ruling out פרוטות, and his answer continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (11)

1. StatementThe price of bird-offerings drops that same day
2. StatementA ברייתא: fix the bottom line from the top line for one letter only
3. QuestionWhy are two missing letters different?
4. ResponseTwo letters might be half of a four-letter name
5. ChallengeOne letter could also be half of a two-letter name
6. ResolutionThe real reason: two letters could be most of a three-letter name
7. Statementספל on top and קפל below: follow the bottom
8. Questionקפל on top and ספל below: maybe a fly erased the leg
9. ConclusionThe question stays unresolved
10. Question"Six hundred and a זוז": six hundred of what?
11. Responseאביי: rule out פרוטות