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Bava Metzia 43a

בבא מציעא מ״ג ע״א

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Topic

Deposits with a שולחני, בעל הבית, or חנווני: when the keeper may use the money and when he pays for loss or אונס. Then how much a שומר pays after misusing a deposit.

Overview

This amud opens with the last line of the previous case. A new משנה then teaches that a שולחני may use deposited money only if it is untied, and that if he may use it, he must pay if it is lost. A בעל הבית may never use it, and רבי מאיר and רבי יהודה argue whether a חנווני is like a בעל הבית or like a שולחני. The גמרא explains that tied money must also be sealed, or according to רב מארי tied with an unusual knot. In another version, רב מארי asks whether an unusual knot is enough and the question stays unresolved. רב הונא says the שולחני pays even for אונס, and רב נחמן disagrees. רב נחמן explains to רבא that the chance to profit makes the שולחני a שומר שכר. רב נחמן also challenges רב הונא from a משנה about a גזבר, and רב הונא answers that the wording 'he spent it' only matches the first part of that משנה. A second משנה brings three opinions on how much a שומר pays after misusing a deposit. The גמרא brings רבה's rule about a stolen barrel of wine, then shows that reading בית הלל's 'time of removal' as the time the item is destroyed does not work.

Opening lines

וּמְשַׁלֵּם לֵיהּ דְּמֵי כִּיסֵי.

And he pays him the value of the hops.

מַתְנִי׳ הַמַּפְקִיד מָעוֹת אֵצֶל שׁוּלְחָנִי,

MISHNA: One who deposits money with a money changer,

אִם צְרוּרִין – לֹא יִשְׁתַּמֵּשׁ בָּהֶן,

if it is tied up, he may not use it,

לְפִיכָךְ אִם אָבְדוּ אֵינוֹ חַיָּיב בְּאַחְרָיוּתָן.

therefore, if it is lost, he is not responsible for it.

The steps (23)

  1. ConclusionClosing line of the previous case: paying for the hops
  2. StatementMoney deposited with a money changer or a homeowner
  3. StatementIs a storekeeper like a homeowner or a money changer?
  4. ChallengeWhy should tying the money stop the money changer?
  5. ResolutionThe money was tied and also sealed
  6. ResolutionThe money was tied with an unusual knot
  7. QuestionAnother version: רב מארי asks about the unusual knot
  8. Statementרב הונא: he must pay even for things beyond his control
  9. ChallengeBut the משנה only says 'lost'
  10. Resolution'Lost' can mean even a sunken ship
  11. Statementרב נחמן: The money changer does not pay for unavoidable accidents
  12. Challengeרבא asks: If he is not a borrower, how is he a paid guardian?
  13. Resolutionרב נחמן: The chance for a good deal makes him a paid guardian
  14. Challengeרב נחמן quotes a משנה about a Temple treasurer's deposit
  15. ChallengeWhy does the משנה need the money to be spent?
  16. Resolutionרב הונא: 'He spent it' just matches the first part of the משנה
  17. StatementThe משנה: three opinions on paying for a misused deposit
  18. Statementרבה's case of the stolen barrel that rose in value
  19. ProofWhy breaking or drinking it costs four
  20. ResponseWhy it breaking by itself costs only one
  21. QuestionWhat does בית הלל's 'time of removal' mean?
  22. ChallengeIf the item dropped in value, no one says he pays the lower price
  23. ChallengeIf the item rose in value, that is just בית שמאי