Bava Metzia 94a

בבא מציעא צ״ד ע״א

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Topic

How a שומר can use a תנאי to change his Torah obligations, the rules for a valid תנאי, and the start of פרק השואל את הפרה.

Overview

The amud opens by finishing the case of a shepherd who bragged to a thief about his men, dogs and slings and was then robbed. Bragging like this counts as leading the flock into a dangerous place, so the loss is his fault. A new משנה then teaches that each kind of שומר may make a condition freeing himself from a שבועה or from paying. It also gives general rules: a condition against the Torah is void, a condition said after the action is void, and a condition said first that can be fulfilled is valid. The גמרא asks how a שומר's condition can work if it goes against the Torah. It first says the משנה follows רבי יהודה. Then it settles on רבי מאיר: the שומר never took on the Torah's duties in the first place. A ברייתא adds that a שומר שכר can take on a שואל's liability, and שמואל and רבי יוחנן argue about whether a קנין is needed for this. Next, the גמרא shows that the rule about conditions that can be fulfilled is רבי יהודה בן תימא's view, and the הלכה follows him: an impossible condition is ignored. The chapter then closes, and a new chapter opens with the rule that a borrower whose owner is working with him does not pay.

Opening lines

The steps (23)

1. QuestionThe shepherd who boasted about his protection
2. ResponseBoasting is like leading the flock into danger
3. StatementBailees may stipulate their way out of obligations
4. StatementWhen a condition works and when it fails
5. ChallengeIsn't the bailee's condition against the Torah?
6. ResolutionThe משנה follows רבי יהודה
7. ProofThe ברייתא where רבי מאיר and רבי יהודה argue
8. ChallengeA later clause sounds like רבי מאיר
9. ResolutionThe later clause is about non-money matters
10. ChallengeAnother clause fits only רבי מאיר
11. ProofSource that רבי מאיר holds the condition must come first
12. ResolutionThe whole משנה is רבי מאיר, and the שומר never took on the duty
13. StatementA paid watchman can take on the liability of a borrower
14. QuestionHow do mere words obligate him?
15. Responseשמואל: a formal act of acquisition was done
16. Responseרבי יוחנן: his good reputation makes words enough
17. StatementWhose view is the rule about conditions that can be fulfilled?
18. ProofA גט with impossible conditions
19. Proofרבי יהודה בן תימא says an impossible condition is ignored
20. ConclusionThe הלכה follows רבי יהודה בן תימא
21. ProofThe משנה's wording supports רבי יהודה בן תימא
22. Conclusionהדרן — Closing the chapter השוכר את הפועלים
23. StatementA borrower who also has the owner working with him is exempt