Kiddushin 17a

קידושין י״ז ע״א

Learn Kiddushin 17a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

The עבד עברי who ran away or got sick, and the amount and type of his הענקה (parting gift)

Overview

This amud starts by finishing a ברייתא about an עבד עברי: a slave who got sick still goes free in the seventh year. רב ששת explains that a runaway slave set free by the יובל still loses his הענקה (parting gift). The גמרא then compares two ברייתות on sick slaves. One who can still do light work like sewing never makes up time, but one who could not work for four or more years must make up the time. Next a ברייתא gives three opinions on the size of the הענקה: רבי מאיר says fifteen סלעים, רבי יהודה says thirty, and רבי שמעון says fifty. The גמרא traces each amount to a גזירה שוה: ריקם from בכור, נתינה from the gored slave, and נתינה from ערכין. It also defends each choice against the other sources. Then it shows that the words צאן, גורן, יקב teach what kind of thing may be given: something 'blessed' that grows. רבי שמעון leaves out money and רבי אליעזר בן יעקב leaves out mules. The amud ends by asking why 'winepress' is needed, and the answer comes on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (37)

1. StatementA sick slave still goes free in the seventh year
2. ResolutionThe runaway case is one where the יובל freed him
3. StatementQuoting the sick-slave line again
4. ChallengeAnother ברייתא says a slave sick all six years must make up the time
5. ResolutionThe first ברייתא means a slave who can still do light work
6. ChallengeThe second ברייתא seems to contradict itself about four sick years
7. ResolutionFour sick years count like six
8. StatementThree opinions on the size of the parting gift
9. StatementQuoting רבי מאיר's words again
10. ChallengeWhy would רבי מאיר teach simple math?
11. ResolutionThe total matters, not the split
12. QuestionWhat is רבי מאיר's source?
13. ResponseLearning "empty" from the firstborn
14. ChallengeMaybe only five in total?
15. Resolution"Empty" comes first, so it applies to each type
16. ChallengeWhy not learn the empty-handed rule from the festival offering?
17. ResolutionThe words 'with which ה׳ blessed you' demand a real amount
18. Statementרבי יהודה says thirty, like a slave
19. QuestionWhat is רבי יהודה's source?
20. ResponseLearning 'giving' from the slave killed by an ox
21. ChallengeWhy not learn fifty from ערכין?
22. ResolutionFirst answer: when in doubt, take the smaller amount
23. ResolutionSecond answer: learn a slave law from a slave law
24. Statementרבי שמעון says the gift is fifty
25. QuestionWhat is רבי שמעון's reason?
26. ResponseHe learns 'giving' from ערכין
27. ChallengeWhy not the smallest amount in ערכין?
28. ResolutionThe gift must be generous
29. ChallengeWhy not learn thirty from the slave, like רבי יהודה?
30. Resolutionרבי שמעון has a link based on 'becoming poor'
31. ChallengeWhy do רבי יהודה and רבי שמעון need 'flock, threshing floor, and winepress'?
32. ResolutionThe words teach that the gift must be something that grows
33. Statementרבי אליעזר בן יעקב: mules are left out
34. ResponseWhy רבי שמעון does not leave out mules
35. ResponseWhy רבי אליעזר בן יעקב does not leave out money
36. StatementWhy the תורה needed both 'flock' and 'threshing floor'
37. ChallengeWhy is 'winepress' needed?