Bava Kamma 97b

בבא קמא צ״ז ע״ב

Learn Bava Kamma 97b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Repaying loans when the coin changed: cancelled coins (רב, שמואל, רב נחמן), coins across borders for מעשר שני, and coins made heavier (רב חסדא, רב אשי)

Overview

This amud deals with loans and coins whose value or status has changed. רב says that if the loan's coin was cancelled, the borrower repays with a coin in use now. שמואל says the borrower may hand over the old coin and tell the lender to spend it in מישן, where it still works. רב נחמן limits שמואל to a lender who actually plans to travel there. The גמרא defends this limit against two ברייתות about redeeming מעשר שני by explaining how strict each kingdom is about coins crossing its borders. A further contradiction about using all coins in ירושלים is settled by רבי זירא: it depends on whether the Jewish people or the nations are in power. After a short ברייתא describing the coins of ירושלים and of אברהם אבינו, רבא asks רב חסדא about a loan whose coin was later made heavier. רב חסדא says the borrower pays with the current coin. When the גמרא raises the worry of ריבית, רב אשי begins to explain that we check why prices dropped, and his answer continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (19)

1. Statementרב: Repay with a coin that is in use now
2. Statementשמואל: The borrower can say 'Go spend it in מישן'
3. Statementרב נחמן: שמואל's view applies only if the lender is going to מישן
4. Challengeרבא challenges רב נחמן from the law of redeeming second tithe
5. Resolutionרב נחמן: The ברייתא is about kingdoms that don't mind
6. QuestionIf the kingdoms are strict, how could the lender bring the coins to מישן?
7. ResponseHe can bring them with difficulty, since they don't search
8. ChallengeA ברייתא about redeeming מעשר שני on coins from a different country
9. ResolutionThe ברייתא is about kingdoms that are strict with each other
10. ChallengeThen what good are בבל coins in בבל?
11. ResolutionUse the coins to buy an animal and bring it up
12. ChallengeBut all coins were made usable in ירושלים
13. Resolutionרבי זירא: it depends on who is in power
14. StatementWhat the coins of ירושלים and of אברהם אבינו looked like
15. Questionרבא asks: a loan of coins, and the coin was made bigger
16. Responseרב חסדא: pay with the coin in use at payment time
17. QuestionEven if the coin grew huge? Yes
18. ChallengeBut produce has become cheaper
19. Resolutionרב אשי: check why prices dropped