Bava Kamma 46a

בבא קמא מ״ו ע״א

Learn Bava Kamma 46a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Bava Kamma 46a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Why רבי אליעזר says a שור המועד must be slaughtered; the new פרק on doubtful damages and המוציא מחבירו עליו הראיה

Overview

The amud opens with the last line of an earlier discussion: an ox that is fully מועד has no תם status left at all. The גמרא then asks why רבי אליעזר says a שור המועד can only be guarded with a knife. רבה learns it from ״וְלֹא יִשְׁמְרֶנּוּ״, but אביי shows that the same reading of ״וְלֹא יְכַסֶּנּוּ״ would mean a pit can never be covered, and a משנה says a properly covered pit makes the owner פטור. So אביי gives a new reason: you may not keep something dangerous in your house (״וְלֹא תָשִׂים דָּמִים בְּבֵיתֶךָ״). The פרק then ends, and a new משנה teaches cases where we don't know if a cow gave birth before or after a goring, so the calf's payment is cut to רביע נזק. שמואל says this split follows סומכוס, while the חכמים hold המוציא מחבירו עליו הראיה, even when one side is sure (ברי) and the other only says 'maybe' (שמא). The גמרא also connects the rule to the argument of רב and שמואל about an ox that was sold and turned out to gore. It narrows that case until nothing shows why the ox was bought. The discussion continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (18)

1. ConclusionA fully forewarned ox has no innocent side left
2. StatementQuoting רבי אליעזר in the משנה: only a knife works
3. Statementרבה's source: "And he did not guard it"
4. Challengeאביי: then a pit could never be covered either
5. ChallengeBlocking the reply: a משנה says a properly covered pit is exempt
6. Resolutionאביי gives a new reason: do not keep danger in your house
7. ConclusionHadran — Closing the chapter of an ox that gored four or five times
8. StatementAn ox gores a cow and her calf is found next to her
9. StatementA cow gores an ox and her calf is found next to her
10. StatementThe משנה follows סומכוס; the חכמים say the one taking money must prove
11. QuestionWhy add the words 'this is a great rule'?
12. ResponseEven a certain claim against an unsure defendant needs proof
13. ResponseAnother answer: the ox sold and found to be a gorer
14. ChallengeWhy not just look at what kind of buyer he is?
15. ResolutionThe buyer buys for both purposes
16. ChallengeWhy not check the price that was paid?
17. ResolutionMeat prices went up, so the price proves nothing
18. StatementThe גמרא begins a new response