Bava Metzia 9a

בבא מציעא ט׳ ע״א

Learn Bava Metzia 9a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Does riding (רכוב) on an animal acquire it? The גמרא tests this through several ברייתות: pulling and driving, the rider and the reins, and רבי אליעזר's rider in the field.

Overview

This amud asks whether sitting on an animal (רכוב) is a valid way to acquire it. The גמרא first tries to prove from a ברייתא that only pulling (משיכה) and driving (הנהגה) acquire, but each proof is pushed off by explaining how the תנא קמא differs from רבי יהודה. Next, a ברייתא about one person riding a donkey and another holding the reins seems to prove that riding acquires. The גמרא answers that the rider was driving with his feet, and then rereads the ברייתא several times to work out who gets the reins. רב אשי gives a final reading in which each person gets only what he is truly connected to. רבי אבהו's attempt to keep the original wording is rejected as an error. A ברייתא of רבי אליעזר, where riding in the field acquires, is also explained as driving with the feet. Finally, רב אשי shows that an unusual act still acquires, so the ruling that riding in the city does not acquire is limited to a sale where the seller asked for the normal way of acquiring.

Opening lines

The steps (27)

1. StatementEnd of the ברייתא and רבי יהודה's view
2. ProofInference that riding does not acquire
3. RejectionRiding may work too; the list is aimed at רבי יהודה
4. ChallengeThen the ברייתא should have combined the cases
5. ResolutionOne reversed method does not acquire
6. ProofSecond version: 'in this manner' excludes riding
7. Rejection'In this manner' excludes the reverse
8. ChallengeThen the תנא קמא equals רבי יהודה
9. ResolutionThey differ on one reversed method
10. ProofProof that riding acquires
11. RejectionThe rider was also steering with his feet
12. ChallengeThen the rider should get part of the reins too
13. ResolutionRead it as the rider getting half the reins
14. ChallengeHow does the holder acquire his half?
15. ResolutionThe holder gets only what is in his hand
16. ChallengeThe holder lifted the reins for himself, not for the rider
17. ResolutionRider gets the donkey and head-strap, the holder gets only what is in his hand
18. ResolutionKeep the original wording: the holder can pull the reins to himself
19. Rejectionרבי אבהו's reasoning is a mistake, as the garment case shows
20. ProofAttempted proof from רבי אליעזר that riding acquires
21. RejectionThe rider here is driving the animal with his feet
22. ChallengeThen riding is the same as leading
23. ResolutionThere are two kinds of leading
24. ChallengeWhy doesn't riding in the city acquire?
25. ResolutionPeople don't usually ride in the city
26. ChallengeLifting a purse on שבת still acquires
27. ResolutionThe ברייתא is about buying and selling