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Bava Basra 89a

בבא בתרא פ״ט ע״א

Bava Batra 89a

Learn Bava Basra 89a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Honest weights and measures: following local custom, market inspectors, fair weighing, and the sizes of scales.

Overview

The amud opens by finishing a teaching from the previous דף: משה's curses cover all twenty-two letters of the alphabet, more than his blessings do. The גמרא then goes back to the משנה about local measuring customs and gives a סימן listing the teachings that follow. A ברייתא learns from "איפה שלמה" and "אבן שלמה" that a seller must follow the local custom for leveling or heaping, and for exact balance or tipping the scale. The extra word "וצדק" adds that he may not switch methods even if he adjusts the price. רב יהודה מסורא reads the same פסוקים as a warning: cheating with unequal measures leaves you poor, and honesty brings wealth. Another ברייתא says market inspectors are appointed for measures but not for prices. The גמרא tells how קרנא taught the opposite of what שמואל told him, following רבי יצחק. Next come rules for weighing a ליטרא and its parts, and for giving only one tip of the scale per weighing. The amud ends with the required sizes of different scales and asks what the first, largest scale is used for. The answer comes on the next amud.

Opening lines

מִ״וְּהָיָה אִם שָׁמוֹעַ תִּשְׁמַע״,

from "And it shall be, if you will surely listen"

וְעַד ״לְעׇבְדָם״;

until "to serve them";

וְקִלְּלָן בְּעֶשְׂרִים וּשְׁתַּיִם –

and he cursed them with twenty-two [letters]:

מִ״וְּהָיָה אִם לֹא תִשְׁמַע״

from "And it shall be, if you will not listen"

The steps (20)

  1. StatementThe blessings and curses of משה span the alphabet
  2. StatementBack to the משנה, with a memory list
  3. StatementNo changing the local custom of leveling or heaping
  4. StatementNo changing the custom even with a price adjustment
  5. StatementA seller may not change the local custom for weighing
  6. StatementChanging the weighing custom is not allowed even with a price adjustment
  7. StatementUsing two different measures leaves your house empty
  8. StatementTwo different weights empty your purse, but honest ones bring wealth
  9. StatementInspectors are appointed for measures but not for prices
  10. Statementשמואל sends קרנא to correct the house of the נשיא
  11. Statementקרנא teaches the opposite and is punished
  12. QuestionWhose opinion did קרנא follow?
  13. Responseקרנא followed רבי יצחק: inspect prices too, because of cheaters
  14. StatementWeighing a litra, half a litra, and a quarter litra
  15. QuestionWhat is this ברייתא teaching us?
  16. ResponseWeights are made only down to a quarter litra
  17. StatementWeighing three quarters of a litra in one go
  18. StatementTen litra are weighed together with one tip of the scale
  19. StatementRequired measurements for different kinds of scales
  20. QuestionWho uses the first, largest scale?