Bava Metzia 88a

בבא מציעא פ״ח ע״א

Learn Bava Metzia 88a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

When טבל becomes fixed for מעשר (בית or חצר), and how this fits the ברייתא about the owner, the worker and the buyer

Overview

This amud asks when untithed produce (טבל) becomes 'fixed,' so that even a snack needs מעשר first. רבי ינאי says this happens only once the produce 'sees the front of the house,' based on 'בערתי הקדש מן הבית.' רבי יוחנן says even a חצר is enough, based on 'ואכלו בשעריך ושבעו.' Each side explains the other's פסוק. For רבי יוחנן, 'house' teaches that the חצר must be guarded like a house. For רבי ינאי, 'your gates' teaches that the produce must come in through the gate, not over rooftops or through enclosures. רב חנינא חוזאה then challenges both views from a ברייתא. It says the owner and the worker may eat without מעשר, which implies that a buyer is obligated even in the field. רב פפא answers that the case is a fig tree whose branches lean into a חצר or a בית. The owner is still exempt because he focuses on his tree, which stands outside, while the buyer focuses on the fruit he bought. Finally the גמרא asks whether a buyer is obligated by Torah law at all, and begins quoting a ברייתא about the shops of בית הינו. That ברייתא continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (13)

1. Statementרבי ינאי: produce is obligated only once it sees the front of the house
2. Statementרבי יוחנן: even a courtyard fixes the obligation
3. ChallengeChallenge to רבי יוחנן: the verse says 'from the house'
4. ResolutionAnswer: the courtyard must be guarded like a house
5. ChallengeChallenge to רבי ינאי: the verse says 'in your gates'
6. ResolutionAnswer: produce must come in through the gate, not over roofs
7. Challengeרב חנינא חוזאה quotes a ברייתא about the worker eating
8. ChallengeA buyer is obligated, even in the field?
9. Resolutionרב פפא: a fig tree whose branches lean into the חצר
10. ChallengeThen the owner should be obligated too
11. ResolutionOwner looks at his tree, buyer looks at his purchase
12. ChallengeIs a buyer really obligated by Torah law?
13. ProofThe shops of בית הינו were destroyed for relying only on Torah law