Bava Basra 22a

בבא בתרא כ״ב ע״א

Bava Batra 22a

Learn Bava Basra 22a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Limits on blocking outside sellers, the story of רב אדא בר אבא's death, and the new משנה about distancing walls four אמות

Overview

The amud opens by finishing the earlier rule about teachers: rivalry among teachers increases wisdom, so one teacher cannot block another. The גמרא then limits רב הונא בריה דרב יהושע's rule that townspeople may block outside businesses. Traveling peddlers cannot be blocked, because of a תקנה of עזרא, but they may not open a fixed shop unless they are תלמידי חכמים. Next come cases about outside sellers. רבינא lets basket sellers sell to visitors on market day, in the market only. רב כהנא lets wool sellers sell only enough to live on until they collect their debts. A long story follows: רב אדא בר אבא tests רב דימי with a hard question, and as a result the market is not held for רב דימי and his figs spoil. When רב אדא בר אבא later dies, five חכמים each say it happened because of them, and the גמרא concludes it was רב נחמן בר יצחק. Finally, a new משנה requires keeping a wall four אמות from a neighbor's wall and windows. The גמרא asks how the first wall was built close, and רב יהודה's answer continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (32)

1. ConclusionCompetition among teachers increases wisdom
2. StatementEven רב הונא agrees traveling peddlers cannot be blocked
3. ProofThe source: עזרא's enactment for peddlers
4. StatementOnly for traveling, not for opening a fixed shop
5. StatementA תלמיד חכם may even open a fixed shop
6. Proofרבא's precedent with two rabbis
7. QuestionWhy do scholars get this privilege?
8. ResponseSo they are not pulled away from their learning
9. QuestionBasket sellers blocked in בבל
10. Responseרבינא: outsiders may sell to outsiders
11. StatementOnly on market day
12. ConclusionEven on market day, only in the market
13. QuestionWool sellers are blocked in פום נהרא
14. Responseרב כהנא sides with the townspeople
15. ChallengeThe sellers say they have debts to collect
16. ResolutionSell only enough to live on until the debts are paid
17. StatementShould the market be held for רב דימי?
18. QuestionThe test question about the elephant and the basket
19. Statement"Are you רבא?" and רב אדא בר אבא's sharp reply
20. StatementThe figs spoil and רב דימי complains to רב יוסף
21. Responseרב יוסף: ה׳ will not delay answering your shame
22. Statementרב אדא בר אבא dies, and רב יוסף takes responsibility
23. Statementרב דימי says the death came because of his lost figs
24. Statementאביי says the death came because רב אדא belittled his ישיבה
25. Statementרבא says the death came because רב אדא claimed to outrank his servant
26. Statementרב נחמן בר יצחק's claim and the daily review routine
27. Statementרב אדא is held up teaching others, and רב נחמן בר יצחק waits
28. Statement"I am waiting for his bier" and the news of his death
29. ConclusionConclusion that רב נחמן בר יצחק was the cause
30. StatementThe משנה: keep a new wall four אמות from a neighbor's wall and windows
31. ChallengeHow was the first wall allowed to be close?
32. Resolutionרב יהודה begins to explain the משנה's meaning