Kiddushin 42b

קידושין מ״ב ע״ב

Learn Kiddushin 42b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Dividing an inheritance, and the limits of agency for a sin

Overview

The גמרא first settles two rulings of רב נחמן about orphans dividing property. A value mistake of a sixth cancels the division, and without such a mistake the orphans can only complain about which plots they got. רב נחמן then rules that brothers who divide an inheritance are like buyers, so the usual sixth-rules of אונאה apply. רבא adds limits to this. A brother who sent a שליח can undo even a small loss. Brothers who chose a court appraisal cannot undo even a big mistake, which matches רבן שמעון בן גמליאל in a משנה. Returning the overcharge applies only to movable things, but land divided by measurement is corrected for any error, as רבה teaches. The גמרא then turns to שליחות and explains, from the משנה about sending fire, that אין שליח לדבר עבירה. מעילה is an exception learned from תרומה. Together with שליחות יד, whose source is 'על כל דבר פשע' according to בית הלל, the two are 'two verses that come as one' and do not teach a general rule. The amud ends by asking how this works for בית שמאי, and that question continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (23)

1. ResolutionOne ruling is where the court erred, the other where it did not
2. ChallengeIf there was no mistake, what could the orphans protest about?
3. ResolutionThe protest is about locations, not value
4. StatementBrothers who divide an inheritance are like buyers
5. StatementA brother who sent an agent can undo even a small loss
6. StatementDividing by a court appraisal stands even with a big mistake
7. ProofSupport from the משנה about a court's appraisal sale
8. StatementThe sixth rule applies only to movable property
9. StatementLand divided by measurement is different
10. ProofSupport from רבה about measured items
11. ChallengeFire sent with a competent messenger
12. ResolutionNo agency for a sin
13. ChallengeMisusing הקדש through an agent
14. Resolutionמעילה is special because it is learned from תרומה
15. ChallengeWhy not learn a general rule from מעילה?
16. ResolutionTwo verses that teach the same thing do not teach beyond themselves
17. QuestionWhere is the verse for שליחות יד?
18. ResponseThe ברייתא: בית שמאי and בית הלל on 'על כל דבר פשע'
19. Challengeבית שמאי challenge בית הלל from 'על כל דבר פשע'
20. Resolutionבית הלל answer from 'אם לא שלח ידו'
21. ChallengeThen why do we need 'על כל דבר פשע'?
22. Resolution'על כל דבר פשע' teaches liability through a slave or שליח
23. ChallengeThis works for בית הלל, but what about בית שמאי?