Bava Kamma 12b

בבא קמא י״ב ע״ב

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

Open Bava Kamma 12b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Why a slave is acquired with land only if he stands in it; then whether קדשים קלים count as the owner's property for damages, following רבי יוסי הגלילי

Overview

Before this amud, a ברייתא taught that slaves sold together with land are acquired along with the land only if they stand in it. The גמרא asked why, whether a slave counts as land (שמואל's rule for distant fields) or as movable property (no piling needed). It answers that things which move by themselves are different. A slave is 'land that walks', and שמואל's rule works only because all the earth is one connected block. Then the גמרא turns to the משנה's phrase נכסים שאין בהן מעילה and infers that it refers to consecrated property that simply has no מעילה. רבי יוחנן explains that this means קדשים קלים, following רבי יוסי הגלילי, who holds they are the owner's money. A משנה about קידושין is answered by saying this applies only while the animal is alive, not after שחיטה. Then a משנה about selling a בכור, as limited by רב נחמן to nowadays, raises a new difficulty. רבא challenges רב נחמן, and רבינא answers that the case is a בכור from חוץ לארץ. The amud ends as the גמרא starts a new question built on these ideas, which continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (15)

1. ChallengeMovable property does not need to be piled on the land
2. ResolutionThings that move by themselves are different
3. ResolutionA slave is land that walks, unlike real fields
4. StatementNew phrase from the משנה: property with no מעילה
5. StatementInference: The Property Is Consecrated, Just Without מעילה
6. QuestionWho Is the תנא?
7. Responseרבי יוחנן: קדשים קלים, Following רבי יוסי הגלילי
8. ProofThe ברייתא Showing רבי יוסי הגלילי's View
9. ChallengeChallenge: A כהן Cannot Betroth with His Portion of קדשים קלים
10. ResolutionBefore slaughter it is the owner's; after slaughter it is from God's table
11. ChallengeIs a live offering really the owner's? The firstborn משנה
12. Statementרב נחמן: the firstborn is the כהן's only nowadays
13. Challengeרבא objects to רב נחמן from רבי יוסי הגלילי
14. Resolutionרבינא says the ברייתא is about a בכור from outside the Land
15. ChallengeSetting up a question: if רבי יוסי הגלילי means only while the animal is alive