Bava Kamma 51b

בבא קמא נ״א ע״ב

Learn Bava Kamma 51b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Bava Kamma 51b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Shared responsibility for a dangerous pit: deadly fumes, partners handing over a בור, ברירה, and acquiring a בור with its bucket

Overview

This amud is about a dangerous pit (בור) that more than one person helped make, and about who is responsible for it. First the גמרא tries to explain two ברייתות about a pit that several people worked on, using the מחלוקת between רבי and רבנן. רב זביד shows that both ברייתות can follow one view, with the idea of deadly fumes (הבל) explaining the plastering case. רבא then adds that building up a pit's rim to ten טפחים is the same as digging. He also asks what happens if the second person undoes his addition, and that question stays a תיקו. Next come rulings about how water and width affect a pit's deadly fumes, including two more תיקו questions and רב אשי's answer about a pit that was widened. The גמרא then asks when a partner who leaves an uncovered בור stops being responsible. It connects that question to the idea of ברירה, which also explains partners who made a נדר about their shared חצר. Finally, רבי אלעזר teaches that handing over the bucket lets a buyer acquire a בור through חזקה. רבי יהושע בן לוי then begins a ruling about selling a house, which continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (30)

1. QuestionDo the two ברייתות follow רבי and רבנן?
2. Resolutionרב זביד: both ברייתות follow רבנן
3. ChallengeChallenge from the plastering case
4. ResolutionThe plastering created the deadly fumes
5. ResolutionSecond version: both ברייתות follow רבי
6. StatementRaising the pit from the top also counts
7. ChallengeIsn't that obvious?
8. ResolutionThe deadly air is not his, yet he is still included
9. QuestionWhat if the second person undoes his addition?
10. ConclusionThe question stays unresolved
11. StatementWater counts double toward a pit's depth
12. QuestionA pit nine deep with one handbreadth of water
13. QuestionA pit seven deep with three handbreadths of water
14. ConclusionThe questions stay unresolved
15. QuestionWhat if someone widened the pit?
16. Responseרבה: widening lessens the deadly air
17. Challengeרב שיזבי: widening brings the danger closer
18. Resolutionרב אשי: It depends on how the animal died
19. ResolutionAnother version of רב אשי: It depends on which side the animal fell
20. StatementA בור whose depth equals its width
21. QuestionFrom when is the first partner no longer responsible?
22. ResponseTwo answers: when he leaves it in use, or when he hands over his bucket
23. ProofThe same dispute appears among the תנאים
24. ResponseThe root of the dispute is ברירה
25. Proofרבינא: the same sides disagree about partners with a נדר
26. ConclusionThe חצר dispute is also about ברירה
27. StatementSelling a pit: the buyer acquires once the seller hands over his bucket
28. ChallengeWhy should the bucket matter? Money or חזקה should do the acquiring
29. ResolutionIt is חזקה, and the bucket counts as saying 'לך חזק וקני'
30. StatementA new ruling begins: selling a house