Bava Basra 21b

בבא בתרא כ״א ע״ב

Bava Batra 21b

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Topic

The story of יואב's mistaken reading of זכר עמלק, רבא's rule that workers whose mistakes cannot be undone are considered already warned, and רב הונא's ruling about a competing mill in an alleyway.

Overview

The amud opens in the middle of a story. דוד המלך asks יואב why he killed only the males of עמלק. יואב says he was taught to read the פסוק as זְכַר ('males') instead of זֵכֶר ('remembrance'). He then confronts his childhood teacher, the two trade פסוקים from ירמיהו, and the story ends with two versions of what happened. רבא then gives a rule: workers whose mistakes cannot be undone, such as a children's teacher, are treated as already warned. A new topic follows. רב הונא rules that a resident of an alleyway may stop a neighbor from opening a competing mill, because it cuts off his livelihood. The גמרא tests this against a ruling about fish traps, the dispute between רבי יהודה and the חכמים about a storekeeper handing out treats, and a ברייתא that allows a shop next to a shop. It concludes that the question is a dispute among תנאים, and that רב הונא follows רבן שמעון בן גמליאל. רב הונא בריה דרב יהושע then sets out who may block whom: someone from another town, someone who pays the town's tax, and someone from one's own alley. His question about someone from a different alley ends in תיקו. Finally, רב יוסף says that teachers of children may never be blocked, because of עזרא's enactment. The worry that the teachers will grow lazy is answered on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (25)

1. Questionדוד asks יואב why he killed only the males
2. Responseיואב cites the פסוק as 'males of עמלק'
3. Challengeדוד: we read it as 'remembrance'
4. Resolutionיואב: that is how I was taught
5. Statementיואב checks with his childhood teacher
6. Questionיואב draws his sword; the teacher asks why
7. Responseיואב: cursed is one who does God's work carelessly
8. RejectionThe teacher: the curse alone is enough
9. Resolutionיואב: cursed is one who holds back his sword
10. ConclusionTwo versions of how the story ended
11. Statementרבא: certain workers are treated as already warned
12. ConclusionThe general principle: irreversible loss
13. Statementרב הונא: a neighbor may block a competing mill
14. ProofA possible support from fish traps
15. QuestionHow far is that distance?
16. ResponseUp to a פרסה
17. RejectionFish are different
18. QuestionDoes רב הונא follow only רבי יהודה?
19. ResolutionEven the חכמים agree with רב הונא
20. ChallengeA ברייתא allows a store right next to another store
21. ResolutionThe question is a dispute among תנאים
22. StatementClear rules: other town, taxpayer, own alley
23. QuestionWhat about someone from a different alley? Unresolved
24. StatementTeachers of children can never be blocked
25. ChallengeWon't the teachers become lazy?