Bava Metzia 58b

בבא מציעא נ״ח ע״ב

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Topic

Overcharging exceptions under רבי יהודה, then אונאת דברים (wronging with words) and how serious public shaming is.

Overview

The עמוד opens with רבי יצחק בר אבא objecting that a ברייתא about a false שבועה over קדשים seems backwards. He then explains that each half of the ruling comes from a different phrase in the פסוק. Next the גמרא explains רבי יהודה's view in the משנה that a ספר תורה, a pearl, and an animal have no אונאה, and אמימר sets a limit on how far the price may be off. רבי יהודה בן בתירא adds that a horse, sword, or helmet sold during war also has no אונאה. A new משנה then teaches that there is also אונאה with words, such as reminding a בעל תשובה of his past. A ברייתא proves this from the פסוק 'לא תונו איש את עמיתו' and lists more examples, ending with רבי יהודה's warning that even acting interested in merchandise you cannot buy is forbidden. Three אמוראים explain why אונאת דברים is worse than אונאת ממון. The גמרא then teaches that shaming someone in public is like spilling blood, and that whoever does it goes down to גיהנם and never comes up. The עמוד ends by introducing a new teaching of רבה בר בר חנה in the name of רבי יוחנן, which continues on the next עמוד.

Opening lines

The steps (30)

1. ChallengeThe opposite makes more sense
2. QuestionShould I erase it?
3. ResolutionNo, each half comes from a different phrase
4. Statementרבי יהודה's ruling in the משנה
5. StatementThe ברייתא gives רבי יהודה's reasons
6. ChallengePeople want to pair everything
7. ResolutionMatching matters much more for these items
8. QuestionHow far can the price be off?
9. Responseאמימר: up to their full value
10. StatementWartime gear also has no overcharging law
11. StatementThe משנה teaches wronging with words
12. StatementThe פסוק 'Do not wrong one another' is about words
13. QuestionMaybe the פסוק is about money instead?
14. ResponseMoney wronging already has its own פסוק
15. StatementExamples of wronging with words
16. StatementDo not tell a suffering person that he must have sinned
17. StatementDo not send buyers to someone who never sells
18. Statementרבי יהודה: do not even look at merchandise you cannot buy
19. StatementWronging with words is worse because the תורה says 'fear your God'
20. Statementרבי אלעזר: words hurt the person himself
21. Statementרבי שמואל בר נחמני: money can be returned, words cannot
22. StatementShaming someone in public is like spilling blood
23. Proofרב נחמן בר יצחק agrees: the red leaves and the white comes
24. Questionאביי asks what people in ארץ ישראל are careful about
25. ResponseThey are careful not to shame people
26. ChallengeDoes everyone really go down to גיהנם?
27. ResolutionCorrected reading: three who go down and never come up
28. ChallengeIsn't calling names the same as shaming?
29. ResolutionEven when the victim is already used to the nickname
30. StatementIntroducing a teaching of רבה בר בר חנה in the name of רבי יוחנן