Bava Basra 69a

בבא בתרא ס״ט ע״א

Bava Batra 69a

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Topic

What is and is not included when one sells a field, and doubtful cases of partly attached items in a house (בבא בתרא 69a).

Overview

The משנה listed what goes along with a field when it is sold and what does not. The גמרא first asks which 'stones for its use' are meant. The scholars in Babylonia say stones placed on the sheaves. עולא says stones arranged for a fence, and a ברייתא of רבי חייא is corrected to match him. The reeds are split reeds set under the vines. For each item, רבי מאיר includes things that are ready to be used, while the רבנן include only things already in place. The גמרא then goes through both lists of the משנה, adding short 'even though' notes. For example, a small reed patch is sold even though its reeds are thick, while a reed patch of a full בית רובע is not sold even though its reeds are thin. רבי יוחנן adds that even a small spice bed with its own name, like 'so-and-so's roses,' is not sold. Three questions follow about partly attached items in a house: door frames held with pegs, window frames, and stands under bed legs. All three end in תיקו. Finally the גמרא quotes the משנה about the grafted carob and the sycamore trunk, which it goes on to discuss.

Opening lines

The steps (30)

1. QuestionWhich stones does the משנה mean?
2. ResponseBabylonian answer: stones on the sheaves
3. Responseעולא's answer: stones lined up for a fence
4. Challengeרבי חייא's ברייתא says 'piled up'
5. ResolutionCorrect the ברייתא to read 'arranged'
6. StatementSheaf stones according to רבי מאיר and the רבנן
7. StatementFence stones according to רבי מאיר and the רבנן
8. QuestionWhat are the reeds in the vineyard for?
9. ResponseSplit reeds under the vines, for רבי מאיר and the רבנן
10. StatementAttached produce and a small cluster of reeds are sold with the field
11. StatementA watch station not plastered with clay is sold with the field
12. StatementAn ungrafted carob and an untrimmed sycamore are sold with the field
13. StatementWhich stones are not sold: placed-on-sheaves explanation
14. StatementWhich stones are not sold: עולא's fence explanation
15. StatementReeds in the vineyard that are not for its use
16. StatementDetached produce is not sold, even if it still needs the ground
17. StatementA cluster of reeds the size of a בית רובע is not sold, even if thin
18. Statementרבי יוחנן: even a small spice bed with its own name is not sold
19. Statementרב פפא: what counts as having its own name
20. StatementA clay watch station is not sold, even though attached to the ground
21. StatementA grafted carob and a sycamore trunk are not sold, even if thin
22. Questionרבי אלעזר asks about door frames
23. StatementNarrowing the question: clay versus pegs
24. ConclusionThe question is left unresolved
25. QuestionAre window frames sold with the house?
26. ConclusionThe window frame question stays unanswered
27. QuestionAre stands under bed legs sold with the house?
28. StatementThe question is only about stands that stay in place
29. ConclusionThe bed-stand question stays unanswered
30. StatementQuoting the משנה about the grafted carob and the sycamore trunk