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Shevuos 43a

שבועות מ״ג ע״א

Shevuot 43a

Learn Shevuos 43a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Shevuos 43a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Items excluded from the oaths of שומרים, the rule that an oath needs a measured claim and a measured admission, and a lost מַשְׁכּוֹן

Overview

This amud starts in the middle of a ברייתא that uses כלל ופרט וכלל to show that the laws of guardians cover only movable things that are worth money in themselves. That is why קרקעות, עבדים, שטרות and הקדש are left out, for a שומר חנם and for a שומר שכר alike. The גמרא then explains רבי מאיר in the משנה. He and the רבנן argue only about grapes that are ready to be picked, which רבי מאיר treats as if they were already picked. Next comes the rule that an oath is taken only on something measured. אביי says a claim of 'this house, full' would bring an oath, but רבא disagrees: both the claim and the admission must be measured by size, weight or number. A ברייתא backs רבא. The גמרא then asks why a large versus small מנורה brings no oath while ten versus five ליטרין does, and answers that a heavier מנורה can be scraped down to the lighter weight. A new משנה about a lost מַשְׁכּוֹן follows. It teaches that a full denial brings no oath and a partial admission does, and that the one who held the מַשְׁכּוֹן is the one who swears.

Opening lines

״כִּי יִתֵּן אִישׁ אֶל רֵעֵהוּ״ – כְּלָל,

'If a man gives to his fellow' is a general statement,

״כֶּסֶף אוֹ כֵּלִים״ – פְּרָט,

'silver or vessels' is a specific detail,

״לִשְׁמֹר״ – חָזַר וְכָלַל.

'to guard' — it went back and made a general statement.

כְּלָל וּפְרָט וּכְלָל –

A general statement, a specific detail, and a general statement:

The steps (25)

  1. ResponseThe guardian verse covers only movable items worth money in themselves
  2. ConclusionLand, slaves, documents and consecrated property are excluded
  3. QuestionWhere do we learn that a paid guardian does not pay for these items?
  4. ResponseThe same method applied to the paid guardian's verse
  5. StatementQuoting רבי מאיר: some things are like land and not like land
  6. ChallengeWhy argue about vines full of fruit instead of empty vines?
  7. ResolutionThe argument is only about grapes ready to be picked
  8. Statementאביי limits the 'house full' case to an unspecified house
  9. Challengeרבא asks why the משנה did not make אביי's distinction
  10. Statementרבא's rule: both claim and admission must be measured
  11. ProofA ברייתא supporting רבא: cases where there is no oath
  12. ProofCases in the ברייתא where there is an oath
  13. ProofThe ברייתא's general rule: measured claim and measured admission
  14. ProofThe general rule adds the case of 'this house, full'
  15. QuestionWhy is a large versus small menorah exempt?
  16. ResponseBecause he admitted to a different object
  17. ChallengeThen the 10 versus 5 ליטרין case should also be exempt
  18. ResolutionA menorah made of detachable segments
  19. RejectionThe ברייתא does not deal with joined-piece cases
  20. ResolutionA menorah can be scraped down to five ליטרין
  21. StatementLost collateral: the lender claims, the borrower fully denies
  22. StatementLost collateral: the borrower admits part of the lender's claim
  23. StatementReverse case: the borrower claims, the lender fully denies
  24. StatementReverse case: the lender admits part of the borrower's claim
  25. StatementWho takes the oath: the one who held the deposit