Bava Metzia 20a

בבא מציעא כ׳ ע״א

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Topic

The proof for שמואל from a found כתובה receipt, and a new משנה about returning found court documents and bundles of documents

Overview

The גמרא finishes a discussion about a found receipt for a כתובה. Since we do not worry that the wife secretly sold her כתובה, the גמרא suggests this proves שמואל's rule that a seller of a loan document can still cancel the debt. אביי rejects the proof: the wife may still hold the כתובה document, so there was no sale. רבא objects that maybe there were two copies of the כתובה. אביי answers that we do not worry about two copies, and that a receipt works from the date written on it, which fits his view that signing witnesses acquire a document for its owner. A new משנה then lists court documents a finder must return, rules on bundles of documents and who gets them back, and says a document of unknown status is left alone. The גמרא explains שטרי בירורין in two ways and begins a story about a גט found in רב הונא's court, whose ruling continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (12)

1. ProofThe ברייתא seems to prove שמואל's ruling
2. Rejectionאביי: the case is where she still holds the כתובה
3. Challengeרבא: maybe there were two כתובה documents
4. Resolutionאביי answers: no worry of two כתובות, and the receipt works from its date
5. Statementאביי is consistent: witnesses acquire for him by signing
6. StatementNew משנה: court documents a finder must return
7. StatementDocuments found in a container or bundle must be returned
8. StatementWho gets the bundle back: borrower or lender
9. StatementA document of unknown status stays put
10. QuestionWhat are documents of בירורין?
11. ResponseTwo explanations of בירורין
12. StatementA divorce document found in רב הונא's court