Bava Metzia 21a

בבא מציעא כ״א ע״א

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Topic

The end of the סמפון discussion and the start of פרק אלו מציאות: which found items a finder keeps, and scattered produce

Overview

This amud begins at the end of the גמרא's discussion of a סמפון, a receipt saying a loan was paid. The גמרא brings a ברייתא saying a receipt with witnesses is valid. It explains that this means עדי קיום, signatures already confirmed by בית דין, and proves this reading from the second half of the ברייתא. It then quotes the full ברייתא, which adds two more cases where a receipt is trusted: when a שליש held it, and when it is written on the loan document below the signatures. With the הדרן, the first פרק, שנים אוחזין, ends. The new פרק, אלו מציאות, opens with a משנה listing which found items the finder may keep and which he must announce. רבי מאיר, רבי יהודה and רבי שמעון בן אלעזר give different views. The גמרא explains 'scattered produce' as one קב over four אמות, the case of grain dropped at the threshing floor that the owner gives up as הפקר. רבי ירמיה then asks a series of questions about whether the reason is the effort of gathering or the low value, and they end in תיקו. The amud closes with איתמר, opening a new teaching that continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (22)

1. ResolutionWe can ask the witnesses whether the loan was paid
2. ChallengeA ברייתא says a receipt with witnesses is valid
3. ResolutionThe witnesses are עדי קיום
4. ProofThe second half of the ברייתא supports reading it as עדי קיום
5. StatementThe full ברייתא: how a receipt is confirmed or made valid
6. ConclusionWhy a receipt from a third party or after the signatures is trusted
7. ConclusionHadran — Closing שנים אוחזין
8. StatementNew perek: which found items are kept and which must be announced
9. Statementרבי מאיר's list of found items the finder may keep
10. StatementAn item with an unusual feature must be announced
11. Statementאנפוריא vessels do not need to be announced
12. QuestionHow much produce counts as scattered?
13. ResponseOne קב spread over four אמות
14. ChallengeWhy should the amount matter at all?
15. ResolutionThe case is produce dropped at the threshing floor
16. QuestionHalf a קב over two אמות
17. QuestionTwo קבין over eight אמות
18. QuestionA קב of sesame seeds over four אמות
19. QuestionA קב of dates or pomegranates over four אמות
20. QuestionThe other side: big fruits are easy to collect
21. ConclusionThe questions remain unresolved
22. StatementA new teaching is introduced