Nedarim 28a

נדרים כ״ח ע״א

Learn Nedarim 28a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Nedarim 28a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Vows made under pressure to robbers and tax collectors, דינא דמלכותא דינא, and the start of a new משנה on conditional קרבן declarations

Overview

This amud finishes a משנה about someone forced to make a vow to robbers or tax collectors to save his property. בית שמאי and בית הלל argue about whether he may use a שבועה, whether he may offer the vow first, and whether he may add more than he was asked. In every case בית הלל are more lenient. The גמרא then asks how one may mislead a tax collector when שמואל taught that the law of the kingdom is binding. It answers that the משנה means a collector with no fixed rate, or one who appointed himself. Next it explains how the vow that 'the produce is the king's' is worded: he says 'today' in his heart, and because he is forced, that unspoken limit counts. רב הונא then brings a ברייתא that seems to clash with the משנה about בית שמאי. The גמרא gives two answers, the second from רב אשי. Finally a new משנה begins about saplings or a garment declared a קרבן 'if not' or 'until' they are cut or burned, and its ruling on the 'until' case continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (23)

1. StatementCan an oath be used to trick a robber?
2. StatementMay he offer the vow before being asked?
3. StatementMay he add more than the robber demanded?
4. StatementExample: the wife and the children
5. ChallengeChallenge: isn't the law of the kingdom binding?
6. ResolutionThe tax collector takes whatever he wants
7. ResolutionThe tax collector appointed himself
8. QuestionHow can he vow that the produce is the king's?
9. ResponseThe vow forbids all produce if this is not the king's
10. ChallengeBut then all produce becomes forbidden to him
11. ResolutionHe limits the vow to today
12. ChallengeThe tax collector won't accept a one-day vow
13. ResolutionHe thinks 'today' but says the vow plainly
14. ResolutionUnspoken thoughts count when someone is forced
15. StatementIs the forced vow limited to what the tax collector demands?
16. StatementExample: adding the children to a vow about the wife
17. Statementרב הונא's ברייתא: may one offer a שבועה first?
18. ChallengeDoes the ברייתא imply בית שמאי allow offering a נדר first?
19. ChallengeDoes the ברייתא imply בית שמאי allow a שבועה when demanded?
20. ResolutionEach source shows the strongest form of one side's view
21. Resolutionרב אשי: The ברייתא is about asking for release from an oath
22. StatementNew משנה: Saplings or a garment declared a קרבן 'if not' cut or burned
23. StatementSecond wording: a קרבן 'until' they are cut or burned