Bava Kamma 79a

בבא קמא ע״ט ע״א

Learn Bava Kamma 79a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Bava Kamma 79a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

What counts as 'selling' a stolen animal, when a theft is complete (lifting, taking out, or pulling), and whether חכמים required משיכה for שומרים.

Overview

The ברייתא ends by listing ways of passing on a stolen animal that count as 'selling' it, such as giving it to הקדש, trading it, or giving it as a gift. In each of these cases the thief pays four or five times. The גמרא explains that the ברייתא teaches two new points. First, here יש שליח לדבר עבירה, because the פסוק joins slaughtering with selling, and selling always involves another person. Second, giving the animal to הקדש counts as a sale. A new משנה then teaches that the fine applies only if the theft was completed: lifting the animal, or getting it out of the owner's property, completes it, but pulling it inside the property does not. The same rule applies when the thief hands the animal to a creditor or a שומר who moves it. אמימר asks whether חכמים required משיכה for שומרים. After a back-and-forth with רב יימר and רב אשי, the גמרא proves from the משנה that they did, and backs this up with רבי אלעזר and a ברייתא. The amud ends as the גמרא begins asking what kind of rental that ברייתא means.

Opening lines

The steps (19)

1. StatementList of transfers that count as selling a stolen animal
2. QuestionWhat is the ברייתא teaching?
3. ResponseThe first part teaches that agency works here for a sin
4. QuestionWhy is this case an exception?
5. ResponseSlaughtering is compared to selling
6. ResponseThe last part teaches that הקדש counts as a sale
7. StatementWhere the theft and slaughter happen decides the fine
8. StatementThe animal dies while being pulled out
9. StatementThe thief hands the stolen animal to someone else
10. Questionאמימר asks whether a watchman's responsibility needs pulling
11. Proofרב יימר brings a proof from the משנה
12. RejectionMaybe the one pulling was a thief
13. ChallengeBut the beginning of the משנה already taught this
14. ResolutionTwo cases: stealing from the owner and from a שומר
15. Rejectionרב אשי: there is no difference, so the proof stands
16. ConclusionThe proof stands: the one pulling is the שומר
17. Proofרבי אלעזר says the same thing
18. ProofA ברייתא teaches it too, and adds a rule about renting
19. QuestionWhat kind of rental does the ברייתא mean?