Bava Metzia 5a

בבא מציעא ה׳ ע״א

Learn Bava Metzia 5a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Bava Metzia 5a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Two rules of רבי חייא about the oath of מודה במקצת: whether 'הילך' is exempt, and whether witnesses proving part of a claim create an oath, ending with the case of the shepherd.

Overview

The גמרא continues the argument between רבי חייא and רב ששת about a defendant who says 'הילך', here it is. It asks רב ששת why the Torah needs to exclude land from the oath, since land is always 'הילך'. It gives two answers: the land was damaged by digging, or the land itself was denied. Next it tries to prove רבי חייא's view from רמי בר חמא's teaching about the four שומרים, but pushes the proof away with a case of a cow that died through negligence. Then a ברייתא from the father of רבי אפטוריקי challenges רבי חייא's other rule, that witnesses proving part of a claim create an oath. The גמרא answers that רבי חייא is a תנא and reads the words 'הוא' and 'זה' in the פסוק differently. Finally comes the story of a shepherd who denied receiving animals, and witnesses said he ate two. רבי זירא ties the owner's oath to רבי חייא's rule. The גמרא asks why רב נחמן's שבועת היסת would not be enough, and begins answering that רב נחמן's oath is only a rabbinic תקנה. That answer continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (22)

1. ChallengeWhy would the Torah need to exclude land if land is always 'here it is'?
2. ResolutionThe verse is needed when the land was damaged by digging
3. ResolutionOr: the verse is needed when the land itself was denied
4. ProofProof attempt for רבי חייא from רמי בר חמא's teaching on the four שומרים
5. ProofThe proof: a שומר admitting part is really saying 'here it is'
6. RejectionRejected: the admitted cow died, so he owes money and is not handing anything back
7. ChallengeA ברייתא against רבי חייא's first rule: witnesses prove half the claim
8. ChallengeThe פסוק teaches: only his own admission makes him swear, not witnesses
9. Resolutionרבי חייא is a תנא and may argue
10. ChallengeBut the ברייתא is based on a verse
11. Resolutionרבי חייא reads the פסוק differently
12. ResolutionTwo words, two rules for the ברייתא
13. QuestionWhat does רבי חייא do with the second word
14. Responseרבי חייא: the admission must be the same kind
15. ResponseThe father of רבי אפטוריקי holds like רבן גמליאל
16. StatementThe story of the shepherd who denied receiving the animals
17. Statementרבי זירא: an oath is required on the rest of the animals
18. Challengeאביי: how can a robber swear?
19. Resolutionרבי זירא: I meant the other side swears
20. ChallengeWhy do we need רבי חייא? רב נחמן's rule already requires an oath
21. ChallengeThe source for רב נחמן's oath on someone who denies everything
22. Resolutionרב נחמן's oath is only a rabbinic enactment