Bava Basra 82b

בבא בתרא פ״ב ע״ב

Bava Batra 82b

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Topic

Buying three trees in another's field: the land around them, the picking space, and how far apart the trees may be

Overview

The amud opens with the end of a ruling that a buyer of three trees in someone else's field owns room around them for a fig-picker and his basket. רבי אלעזר objects: if the buyer gets no path, because his plot counts as separate land, why should he get picking space? From this, רבי זירא learns that a buyer of only two trees does get a path. רב נחמן בר יצחק asks whether רבי אלעזר is going against his teacher שמואל, who rules like רבי עקיבא that a seller sells generously. רבא answers that the משנה cannot follow רבי עקיבא, but רב נחמן בר יצחק pushes back on רבא's proof. A ברייתא then supports the picking-space rule. אביי and רב יוסף discuss who may plant that space, and a ברייתא backs אביי that no one may. Finally, the גמרא asks how far apart the three trees may be. Two reports of שמואל give 4–8 or 8–16 אמות. אביי brings a משנה about a vineyard planted 16 by 16 to support the larger range, and רב יוסף begins to reply with a real case that continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (21)

1. StatementThe buyer gets room for a fig-picker and his basket
2. ChallengeNo path, so why picking space?
3. StatementWith two trees, the buyer does get a path
4. ChallengeDoes רבי אלעזר disagree with his teacher שמואל?
5. ResolutionThe משנה does not follow רבי עקיבא
6. Proofרבא's proof that the משנה does not follow רבי עקיבא
7. Rejectionרבי עקיבא's generosity may apply only to a pit and cistern
8. Proofרבי עקיבא agrees that leaning branches may be cut
9. ProofA ברייתא supports רבי חייא בר אבא
10. QuestionWho plants the fig-picker's space?
11. ResponseAnswer from the outer-garden path
12. RejectionThe comparison fails because the buyer loses out
13. ConclusionThe better match: neither side may plant
14. ProofA ברייתא supports אביי
15. QuestionHow far apart may the trees be?
16. StatementFirst version: four to eight אמות
17. StatementSecond version: eight to sixteen אמות
18. Challengeאביי tells רב יוסף not to argue with רב נחמן
19. ProofThe משנה: a vineyard planted sixteen by sixteen
20. Proofרבי יהודה's story from צלמון
21. Resolutionרב יוסף begins his reply: he knows of an actual case