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Nedarim 24a

נדרים כ״ד ע״א

Learn Nedarim 24a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Nedarim 24a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Whether חכמים disagree with רבי אליעזר בן יעקב about נדרי זירוזין (vows said only to pressure someone), using the משנה about a vow made to push a friend to accept a gift for his son.

Overview

The גמרא quotes a משנה: someone vows not to benefit from his friend unless the friend accepts a gift for his son, and the friend can cancel the vow without a חכם by saying, 'Not taking it is my honor.' The גמרא infers that without this claim the vow would bind. That seems to go against רבי אליעזר בן יעקב, who holds that נדרי זירוזין (vows said only to pressure someone) do not count, so it seems the רבנן disagree with him. The גמרא answers that he agrees this vow is real, because the vower means it: 'I'm not a dog who only takes.' The same pattern repeats with the reverse case of רבי מאיר and חכמים, and the answer there is 'I'm not a king who only gives.' מר קשישא then tries a third proof from the משנה of נדרי אונסין, about a vow to come eat at a friend's meal. רב אשי answers that there the guest made the host vow, so it was a real promise and not pressure. Finally the גמרא brings a ברייתא where רבי אליעזר בן יעקב adds a case of hospitality vows and 'the חכמים did not agree with him.' The גמרא begins asking what exactly they rejected, and the answer comes on the next עמוד.

Opening lines

״קֻוֽנָּם שֶׁאֵינִי נֶהֱנֶה לְךָ

"Konam that I will not benefit from you

אִם אִי אַתָּה נוֹטֵל לְבִנְךָ

if you do not take for your son

כּוֹר שֶׁל חִיטִּין וּשְׁתֵּי חָבִיּוֹת שֶׁל יַיִן״,

a kor of wheat and two barrels of wine"

הֲרֵי זֶה יָכוֹל לְהַתִּיר אֶת נִדְרוֹ

this one can release his vow

The steps (10)

  1. StatementA vow to make a friend accept a gift for his son
  2. ProofInferring that the רבנן disagree with רבי אליעזר בן יעקב
  3. Rejectionרבי אליעזר בן יעקב admits this case is a real vow
  4. ProofA new test: the reverse case with רבי מאיר and חכמים
  5. ProofInference from the חכמים: without 'as if I received it,' the vow would bind
  6. Rejectionרבי אליעזר בן יעקב agrees here: 'I am not a king'
  7. Proofמר קשישא's proof from נדרי אונסין
  8. RejectionThe guest made the host vow, so it was not urging
  9. ProofA ברייתא about a host who vows unless his friend stays for a meal
  10. QuestionWhat exactly did the חכמים reject?