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Bava Basra 90a

בבא בתרא צ׳ ע״א

Bava Batra 90a

Learn Bava Basra 90a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Which measuring vessels a merchant may make so that people do not confuse close sizes, and שמואל's one-sixth limit on changing measures, coins and profit.

Overview

This amud finishes a ברייתא that lists the measuring vessels a merchant may keep. It ends the dry measures with the tiny עוכלא, then lists the liquid measures from a הין down to a קורטוב. The גמרא asks why a two-קב vessel is left out and works out the rule that people confuse measures a quarter apart but not a third apart. It then explains two exceptions: people know small measures well, and the third-הין and quarter-הין were allowed because they were used in the מקדש, where the כהנים are careful. Next, שמואל teaches that measures, coin values and a seller's profit may not be raised by more than one-sixth. The גמרא tries three logical reasons for the limit on measures: rising prices, cancelled sales, and protecting the merchant. Each one is rejected. Finally, רב חסדא says שמואל learned the rule from a פסוק in יחזקאל, and the explanation of that פסוק continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

וְעוּכְלָא.

And an ukla.

וְכַמָּה הִיא עוּכְלָא?

And how much is an ukla?

אֶחָד מֵחֲמִשָּׁה בִּרְבִיעַ.

One-fifth of a quarter-kav.

וּבְמִדַּת הַלַּח הוּא עוֹשֶׂה הִין,

And in liquid measure, he makes a hin,

The steps (20)

  1. StatementThe smallest dry measure: the עוכלא
  2. StatementThe list of liquid measures
  3. ChallengeWhy not make a two-קב measure?
  4. ResolutionIt could be confused with a תרקב
  5. ChallengeThen the קב itself should be banned too
  6. ResolutionThe real reason: confusion with a half-תרקב
  7. ChallengeThen the half-תומן and עוכלא should be banned
  8. Resolutionרב פפא: people know small measures well
  9. ChallengeThen the third-הין and quarter-הין should be banned
  10. ResolutionTemple measures were not forbidden
  11. ChallengeWhy not ban them in the Temple too?
  12. ResolutionPriests are careful
  13. Statementשמואל's three one-sixth limits
  14. QuestionWhy the limit on measures?
  15. RejectionRising prices cannot be the reason
  16. ResolutionSecond try: avoiding cancelled sales
  17. Challengeרבא: with measured goods, any mistake reverses the sale
  18. ResolutionThird try: so the merchant suffers no loss
  19. ChallengeA merchant needs a profit, not just no loss
  20. Resolutionרב חסדא: שמואל's rule comes from a verse