Bava Metzia 56b

בבא מציעא נ״ו ע״ב

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Topic

Which items and deals fall under אונאה, the meaning of 'hand' in the פסוק, rentals, and sown seeds

Overview

The amud opens with the end of the משנה. קדשים that a person must replace if lost have אונאה, and those he need not replace do not. רבי יהודה wants to add a ספר תורה, an animal, and a pearl to the list of items with no אונאה, but the חכמים refuse. The גמרא brings a ברייתא that learns each exclusion from ויקרא 25:14. 'From the hand' excludes land and slaves, 'something sold' excludes documents, and 'his brother' excludes הקדש. Along the way it teaches that even small sales of a few פרוטות have אונאה, against רב כהנא. רבה בר ממל argues that 'hand' means possession, but the גמרא uses two ברייתות to show that 'hand' normally means a real hand. אביי then rules that a rental counts as a sale for its time, so it has אונאה. Finally, רבא asks whether wheat sown in the ground still counts as loose grain or has become part of the land, and he applies that question to אונאה, oaths, and the עומר.

Opening lines

The steps (24)

1. StatementSacrifices one must replace have overcharging laws
2. Statementרבי יהודה adds a Torah scroll, an animal, and a pearl
3. RejectionThe Sages limit the list to the items already stated
4. QuestionThe גמרא asks for the source of the exclusions
5. ResponseFrom hand to hand excludes land and slaves
6. ResponseAn item that is itself sold excludes documents
7. StatementDocuments sold to a perfumer do have overcharging
8. ChallengeIsn't that obvious?
9. ResolutionThe ruling rejects רב כהנא: small sums have overcharging too
10. ResponseHis brother excludes consecrated property
11. ChallengeDoes 'his hand' always mean an actual hand?
12. Challengeרבה בר ממל argues 'hand' means possession, undermining the proof about land
13. ChallengeA ברייתא about a thief shows 'hand' means a real hand
14. ProofA second ברייתא about a גט shows the same thing
15. Conclusion'Hand' means a real hand, except where that is impossible
16. QuestionDoes אונאה apply to renting?
17. Responseאביי: a rental is a sale for its time
18. Questionרבא asks about wheat sown into the ground
19. ChallengeThe obvious case cannot be what רבא meant
20. ResolutionThe case is sowing 'as much as needed'
21. QuestionDo we take an oath over sown seeds?
22. QuestionDoes the עומר permit sown seeds?
23. ChallengeA משנה already covers both cases
24. ResolutionThe case: harvested and sown before the עומר, not yet rooted