Bava Metzia 55a

בבא מציעא נ״ה ע״א

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Topic

The חומש for a consecrated בהמה טמאה, and the משנה's list of laws measured by a פרוטה

Overview

The amud opens by finishing a discussion about a consecrated בהמה טמאה (non-kosher animal) and the extra חומש added when redeeming it. רבינא holds that the חומש applies only at the first stage of הקדש, not the middle stage. רב אחא מדיפתי and רב זוטרא challenge him. Logic could compare the middle stage to either the first or the last stage, so the גמרא settles it from the word ״הטמאה״, which means the first stage, just as רבא read ״העולה״. A ברייתא then supports רבי יהושע בן לוי and states that חומש is added only on the first הקדש. Next comes a new משנה giving the amounts for אונאה, a claim, an admission, and a list of five laws measured by a פרוטה. The גמרא explains why the משנה repeats earlier rules. It brings the argument between רב כהנא and לוי about whether אונאה applies to פרוטות, and compares our משנה's list with לוי's list to explain what each one leaves out. Finally the גמרא returns to רב קטינא, who says a בית דין hears even claims under a פרוטה. רבא begins an objection from a פסוק, and that objection continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (36)

1. QuestionIs the non-kosher animal not counted at the intermediate stage?
2. ResponseBecause it never reaches the final stage
3. Challengeרב אחא: It is at the middle stage, so add the fifth
4. ResolutionThe middle stage is treated like the final stage
5. Challengeרב זוטרא: Why compare it to the end and not the beginning?
6. ResolutionBoth got their holiness by transfer
7. ChallengeOn the contrary: both have another stage after them
8. ResolutionThe word 'the' points to the first stage
9. ProofA ברייתא supports רבי יהושע בן לוי: a swap for a הקדש item works
10. ProofThe ברייתא continues: a stated value, and חומש only on the first stage
11. StatementNew משנה: the amounts for אונאה, a claim, and an admission
12. StatementThe משנה lists five laws that use a פרוטה
13. ChallengeWhy repeat the measure of overcharging?
14. ResolutionThe repetition was needed for the oath rules
15. ChallengeThe oath rules were also taught already
16. ResolutionThe new point is the list of five פרוטות
17. ChallengeWhy is overcharging not on the list?
18. Resolutionרב כהנא: no overcharging for פרוטות
19. Statementלוי: there is overcharging for פרוטות
20. Proofלוי's version of the משנה lists overcharging
21. ChallengeWhy does our משנה leave out the court case?
22. ResolutionRobbery already covers it
23. ChallengeBut then why list lost property?
24. ResolutionRobbery and lost property each teach something new
25. ChallengeWhy does לוי leave out lost property?
26. ResolutionRobbery covers lost property for לוי
27. ChallengeBut then why does לוי list the court case?
28. ResolutionThe court case is listed to reject רב קטינא
29. ChallengeWhy does לוי leave out consecrated property?
30. Resolutionלוי only deals with ordinary property
31. ChallengeWhy doesn't our משנה list מעשר שני?
32. ResolutionOur משנה holds מעשר needs more than a פרוטה
33. ChallengeThen list 'the fifth of מעשר is a פרוטה'
34. ResolutionThe משנה deals with the main amount, not the fifth
35. Statementרב קטינא: a בית דין hears even cases under a פרוטה
36. Challengeרבא begins an objection from a פסוק about הקדש