Bava Metzia 46b

בבא מציעא מ״ו ע״ב

Learn Bava Metzia 46b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

How the משנה's rule about חליפין applies to goods and coins, the views of רב ששת, רב נחמן and ריש לקיש, and why invalid coins can be traded

Overview

The גמרא settles on a reading of the משנה: anything whose value must be estimated against another item, which leaves out a coin, can make a binding חליפין. It supports this with the משנה's example of swapping animals. It then shows how the earlier coin reading could explain that example. That explanation fits רב ששת, who holds that goods make חליפין. For רב נחמן, who holds that goods do not make חליפין, the example means money owed that is paid off with an animal. רב נחמן can say this because he follows רבי יוחנן: by Torah law money acquires, and the חכמים did not extend their משיכה decree to rare cases. ריש לקיש holds that משיכה comes from the Torah, so he is forced to explain the משנה like רב ששת. Next, ריש לקיש's statement that a pouch of coins can be traded for a pouch of coins is explained by רב אחא as referring to coins that are no longer valid money, and the גמרא explains why both kinds of invalid coin had to be mentioned. The amud ends by opening a new teaching from רבה in the name of רב הונא about selling 'for these coins.'

Opening lines

The steps (17)

1. ResolutionThe new reading of the משנה: anything that is valued against another item
2. ProofSupport from the משנה's example of swapping animals
3. QuestionHow did the original coin reading explain 'how so'?
4. ResponseThe coin reading explained: goods also work
5. ChallengeThat answer works for רב ששת but not for רב נחמן
6. Resolutionרב נחמן reads the example as money turned into an animal
7. QuestionWhy does רב נחמן allow money to work here
8. Responseרב נחמן follows רבי יוחנן: by Torah law money buys
9. ResponseThe חכמים' decree does not cover rare cases
10. ChallengeHow would ריש לקיש explain the משנה
11. ChallengeIf ריש לקיש agrees with רב נחמן, how can he explain the משנה?
12. Resolutionריש לקיש must explain the משנה like רב ששת
13. Challengeריש לקיש himself said a pouch of coins can be traded for a pouch of coins
14. Resolutionרב אחא: he meant coins that are no longer valid money
15. ResponseWhy the government-banned coin alone would not be enough
16. ConclusionWhy the province-dropped coin alone would not be enough, so both are needed
17. StatementSelling for 'these coins' completes the sale