Bava Kamma 12a

בבא קמא י״ב ע״א

Learn Bava Kamma 12a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Are עבדים treated like קרקע or like מטלטלין, for collecting debts from יתומים and for acquiring them together with other property?

Overview

After רב נחמן leaves, עולא reveals that רבי אלעזר allowed a creditor to collect slaves even from orphans, which treats slaves like land. רב נחמן disagrees strongly and orders courts that ruled this way to return the slaves. When רבא challenges him, רב נחמן cites אבימי's ברייתא showing that slaves are not like land for פרוזבול or for acquiring movables along with them. The גמרא then suggests that two ברייתות argue about this very question. רב איקא בריה דרב אמי answers that the ברייתות agree. In one version slaves are like land, but movables need land that does not move, like the 'fortified cities in Judea'. In the other version slaves are like movables, and items on the slave are acquired with him. That leads to the 'walking courtyard' problem, and the גמרא rules that this works only when the slave is tied up. A new ברייתא says acquiring land acquires the slaves, and the גמרא answers that the slaves were standing on the land. The גמרא then finds that this 'standing on the land' condition is hard to explain under both versions of רב איקא.

Opening lines

The steps (22)

1. Statementעולא reveals רבי אלעזר's full view after רב נחמן leaves
2. Statementרב נחמן: עולא dodged me
3. StatementTwo courts actually collected slaves from orphans
4. Statementרב נחמן orders the slaves returned
5. Challengeרבא: so many authorities disagree with you, whom do you follow?
6. Proofרב נחמן's source: אבימי's ברייתא about פרוזבול and acquiring movables
7. ProofSuggesting a dispute between תנאים: the first ברייתא
8. ChallengeA second ברייתא says the opposite
9. ProofThe two ברייתות argue about whether slaves are like land
10. RejectionEveryone agrees slaves are like land, but movables need land that does not move
11. ProofThe משנה: movables are acquired along with land
12. ProofThe source: gifts given with the fortified cities
13. RejectionSecond version: everyone agrees slaves are like movables
14. ChallengeA slave is a walking courtyard, which cannot acquire
15. ChallengeStanding still does not help: רבא's rule
16. ConclusionThe הלכה: a tied-up slave works like a courtyard
17. ChallengeAnother ברייתא says acquiring land acquires the slaves
18. ResolutionThe slaves were standing on the land
19. QuestionSo the first ברייתא means slaves not on the land?
20. StatementThe answer works well if a slave is like movable property
21. ChallengeProblem if a slave is like land: שמואל's ten fields
22. ChallengeCounter-challenge: even if a slave is like movable property, why must he stand on the land?