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Bava Metzia 114a

בבא מציעא קי״ד ע״א

Learn Bava Metzia 114a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Does סידור (leaving a person his basic needs), known from ערכין, apply to a debtor and to a pledge to הקדש, and why is collateral not returned for הקדש?

Overview

The גמרא first finishes the earlier topic: the creditor must return the debtor's collateral because the פסוק calls it 'צדקה' for him. Then it asks a new question. With ערכין, a poor person who cannot pay is left his basic needs (סידור). Does a regular debtor get this too, through the shared word 'מך' (poor)? רבין's letter reports a debate about a pledge to בדק הבית. בר פדא and אילפא say there is no סידור for הקדש, using a קל וחומר that assumes a debtor gets none. רבי יוחנן says הקדש does get סידור, because the פסוק links all vows to ערכין. The גמרא then tests two more קל וחומר arguments and blocks each one with a word in a פסוק. 'הוא' keeps סידור away from a debtor. 'צדקה' shows that collateral is not returned for הקדש, after the 'blessing' reason is rejected. Finally, אליהו tells רבה בר אבוה that a debtor does get סידור, learned from ערכין through the word 'poor'.

Opening lines

אִיבְרָא עֲלֵיהּ קָרְמֵי,

Indeed, it is cast upon him,

מִשּׁוּם שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר:

because it is stated:

״וּלְךָ תִּהְיֶה צְדָקָה״.

"And it shall be righteousness to you."

אִיבַּעְיָא לְהוּ:

A dilemma was raised before them:

The steps (15)

  1. ConclusionThe duty falls on the creditor because of 'righteousness'
  2. QuestionDo we make arrangements for a debtor?
  3. Proofרבין's letter: the question about a pledge to the בית המקדש
  4. ProofA קל וחומר from a debtor: no arrangements for הקדש
  5. Statementרבי יוחנן: הקדש is linked to ערכין, so arrangements are made
  6. ResponseWhat the other side learns from 'נדר בערכך'
  7. ChallengeShouldn't a debtor get סידור through a קל וחומר?
  8. ResolutionThe word 'הוא' leaves out the debtor
  9. ResponseHow the other opinion reads 'הוא'
  10. ChallengeShouldn't הקדש return collateral through a קל וחומר?
  11. ResolutionReturning collateral is tied to the blessing, which הקדש doesn't need
  12. Challengeה׳ is blessed too
  13. ResolutionReturning collateral is called צדקה
  14. Questionרבה בר אבוה asks אליהו about a debtor
  15. Responseאליהו: learn the debtor from ערכין