(Permission is granted to print and redistribute this material
as long as this header and the footer at the end are included.)


BACKGROUND ON THE DAILY DAF

brought to you by Kollel Iyun Hadaf of Har Nof


Ask A Question on the daf

Previous daf

Bava Metzia 110

BAVA METZIA 109-110 - anonymously dedicated by an Ohev Torah and Marbitz Torah in Ramat Beit Shemesh, Israel.

1) [line 2] V'HIZKINU - and they aged prematurely

2a) [line 3] SHE'NAFLU LAH B'SADEH ACHERES - [it was a case in which] they (the trees) fell to her (as an inheritance) in somebody else's land (i.e. the trees belonged to her but not the land)
b) [line 4] D'KA KALYA KARNA - the principal value was going to be destroyed (i.e. if we permit the husband to take the trees for himself, the woman will not be left with anything)

3) [line 7] KARKA B'CHEZKAS BE'ALEHA KAIMA - the land is assumed to be in the possession of its owner (and therefore the creditor must bring proof that he was entitled to eat the fruits of the land for the year in doubt)

4) [line 14] ATRUCHEI BEI DINA TREI ZIMNEI LO MATRECHINAN - we do not trouble Beis Din two times (i.e. if we follow the normal rule and, out of doubt, have Beis Din make the creditor pay for the fruits that he ate for the third year, perhaps later the witnesses to the transaction will appear and testify that the loan indeed was for three years, and Beis Din will again have to convene and make the debtor pay the money back to the creditor)

5) [line 17] SHTARA IRKAS LI - I lost the document
6) [line 18] MIGO D'IY BA'I AMAR "LEKUCHAH HI B'YADI!" - [the creditor is believed to say that he is entitled to continue eating the fruits of the debtor's field as repayment for his loan] since, if he wanted [to lie and prevail], he could have said, "I purchased it from you!"

7) [line 21] L'GUVAINA KAI - its purpose is to be used to collect a debt
8) [line 22] MICHBASH HU D'CHAVSHEI LI'SHTAREI - he is certainly hiding the document

9) [line 24] MASHKANTA D'SURA - "The Mashkon of Sura," i.e. when the two parties specifically stipulate that when the years of the Mashkon terminate, the field will go back to the debtor and the debt is settled [giving the appearance that the produce has been sold -- see also Tosfos 67b DH b'Mishlam].

10) [line 25] B'MISHLAM SHENAYA ILEIN, TEIPUK AR'A DA B'LO CHESAF - at the end of this time period (lit. these years), this land will go out [of the creditor's possession] without any additional payments [on the part of the debtor]

11) [line 30] MAREI AR'A - the owner of the land (i.e. the debtor; since he pays the tax for the land, it is known that he is the owner)

12a) [line 30] YAHIV TASKA - pays the property tax
b) [line 30] KARI KARYA - [the owner] digs the furrows [around the borders of the land]

13) [line 32] IBA'I LEI LI'MECHUYEI - he should have protested (SHNEI CHAZAKAH / MECHA'AH)
A person who claims to have bought a piece of land from another person, but has no proof of purchase may, nevertheless, support his claim with a "Chazakah." A Chezkas Shalosh Shanim (a "Chazakah of three years") means that he has proof (witnesses) that he has been living and working on the land for three years, and his opponent has no witnesses to attest to the fact that he voiced any Mecha'ah (objection) during those three years. This Chazakah serves as proof to the claim that he bought the land (see Bava Basra 28a et seq.).

14) [line 39] RAV MARI BERAH D'VAS SHMUEL - Rav Mari, the son of [Rachel,] the daughter of Shmuel. He was referred to by his mother's name, and not by his father's name, because his mother, Rachel (the daughter of Shmuel) was taken captive by a Nochri who married her. After she conceived and before she gave birth, the Nochri converted and became Jewish, and was known as Isur Giyora (Isur the Ger). In deference to Rav Mari's honor, he is referred to by his mother's name.

15a) [line 42] SECHIRI - [he is] my regular hired laborer (and not a sharecropper)
b) [line 42] LEKITI - (a) my hired household helper (RASHI to Bava Kama 104a in the name of his teacher; (b) my hired laborer at reaping and harvesting time (RASHI to Eruvin 64a and Kesuvos 57b)

110b---------------------------------------110b

16) [line 4] KEIVAN DEL'GUVAINA KAIMA, K'MAN D'GAVYA DAMYA - since it (the land) is intended to be collected [by the creditor], it is as if it has been collected already (and is in the creditor's possession)

17) [line 7] SAFEK ZEH KODEM V'SAFEK ZEH KODEM - when there is a doubt whether this (the tree) was there first, or whether this (the city) was there first (IR V'ILAN - a city and a tree)
The Mishnah in Bava Basra (24b) teaches that one may not plant a large tree within fifty Amos of the city limits (in order to maintain the aesthetic beauty of the city by having an open area in front of the city). If one planted a tree within that space, he must cut it down and he does not receive compensation. If he had planted the tree first and then a city was established there, he must cut it down but he receives compensation for it. The Mishnah states that in a case of a doubt whether the tree was there first or whether the city was there first, the owner of the tree must cut it down and he does not receive compensation. He must cut it down because regardless of whether the tree was there first or the city was there first, he must cut down the tree. He does not receive compensation because, out of doubt, we do not extract money from one party and give it to the other, but rather we apply the principle of "ha'Motzi me'Chaveiro Alav ha'Ra'ayah."

18) [line 8] KOTZETZ - he must cut down [the tree]

19a) [line 14] B'AR'A MESALKINAN LEHU - we remove them (the heirs from the field which is pledged to the creditor, which the heirs improved) by giving them a parcel of land (equal to the value of the improvement that they made to the entire field)
b) [line 14] BI'DEMEI MESALKINAN LEHU - we remove them (the heirs from the field which is pledged to the creditor, which the heirs improved) by giving them money (equal to the value of the improvement that they made to the entire field)

20) [line 17] MA'ALIN OSAN B'DAMIM - we compensate them (for the improvements that they made to land that was a security for a debt) with money

21) [line 17] BECHOR L'PASHUT - the firstborn to an ordinary son (YERUSHAS BECHOR)
(a) The first viable male born to a father inherits a double portion of the estate upon his father's death (Mishnah Bechoros 46a). For example, if there are two brothers, the money is divided into three, and the Bechor receives two thirds; if there are three brothers, the money is divided into four, and the Bechor receives two quarters.
(b) A Bechor only receives a double portion from the assets that were in the possession of the father at the time of death, as it states, "Ki Es ha'Bechor Ben ha'Senu'ah Yakir, Lases Lo Pi Shenayim *b'Chol Asher Yimatzei Lo*." - "He must recognize the first-born son of the hated wife to give him a double portion *of everything in his possession* (lit. that is found with him)." (Devarim 21:17). Assets that will come into the possession of the estate after the father's death are termed "Ra'uy," i.e. "expected [to come into his possession]."
(c) When the Bechor caused the property to produce or increase before it was divided among the brothers, he does *not* receive a double portion of that produce. Rather, he must pay back the Pashut's (non-Bechor's) share of that produce. However, he may pay back with money, and he does not need to pay it back with land. (Rashi here says that the Bechor must give the Pashut "a fourth" of the produce from his, the Bechor's, share. For example, if the total value of the increase is 12, the law is that they split that increase and each receives 6. The Bechor's portion of the land, however, is two-thirds that of the Pashut's portion. Hence, the increase to the Bechor's portion is 8, and the increase to the Pashut's portion is 4. Since the Bechor does *not* receive a double share of the increase, he must pay 2 out of his 8 (i.e. a fourth) to the Pashut, so that they each receive 6.) (See also Background to Bava Kama 43:3, regarding Yerushas Bechor b'Shevach she'Shibechu Nechasim l'Achar Misas Avihem - A first-born son does not receive a double portion of the appreciation of property after the father's death.)

22) [line 18] BA'AL CHOV (U'CHESUVAS ISHAH) L'YESOMIM (based on Girsa of the Rishonim and manuscripts)
When a lender collects his debt from the heirs of the borrower, if the heirs worked the land and caused it to produce fruits, the lender (who collects the land with the fruits) must compensate the heirs for that produce. He need not give land, though, but may pay back with money.

23) [line 18] BA'AL CHOV LI'LEKUCHOS
When a lender is owed money (and has a deed of debt), he may collect his debt from the land that the borrower owned at the time of the loan and that he later sold to buyers. If the buyers worked the land and caused it to produce fruits, the lender (who collects the land with the fruits) must compensate the buyers for that produce. He need not give land, though, but may pay back with money.

24) [line 23] SHEVACH HA'MAGI'A LA'KESEFAYIM - (a) produce that is fully grown and just about ready to be harvested and carried on the shoulders to the marketplace. However it still needs to grow in the ground a bit more, for if it would truly be fully grown then it would be considered Peiros (from which the lender may not collect), and not Shevach. (RASHI Bava Metzia 15b, ARUCH, TOSFOS Bava Kama 95b DH Shevach and Sotah 25b DH k'Gavuy); (b) produce that was produced by the toil of the shoulders, and did not grow on its own (RABEINU TAM, in TOSFOS Bava Kama 95b DH Shevach and Bava Basra 42b DH Shevach).

25) [line 24] KA MAGVI SHMUEL - Shmuel [rules that the lender] collects
26) [line 25] MASIK BEI - he holds against him [a debt of money]
27) [line 30] GERIVA D'AR'A - a measure of land (lit. the size of a field needed for a Geriva, or Se'ah, of seed (1 Se'ah = approximately 7.2, 8.29 or 14.4 liters, depending upon the differing Halachic opinions))

28) [line 30] SHAVYA NIHALEI APOTIKI - he (the borrower) made it an Apotiki for him (the lender) (APOTIKI)
A person may designate one of his pieces of land or possessions as security for a loan that he received or a debt that he owes without placing it in the possession of the creditor. This creates a Shi'abud, or lien, on the object, such that if the debt is not otherwise repaid, the creditor can collect his debt from the security. Such a security is called an "Apotiki." The debtor may specify (if the creditor agrees) that the creditor may *only* collect his debt from the Apotiki. In such a case, if it becomes impossible to collect the debt from the Apotiki, the debtor is no longer liable to the creditor.

29) [line 32] SHAVU'A ECHAD - one Shemitah cycle (of seven years)

30) [line 32] HA'SHEVI'IS - the seventh year of the Shemitah cycle, during which it is prohibited to work the land
See Background to Bava Metzia 30:36.

31) [line 33] SECHIR YOM GOVEH KOL HA'LAILAH - a day-worker may be paid his wages throughout the entire night (HALANAS SECHAR SACHIR / KOVESH SECHAR SACHIR)
(a) There are two places in the Torah in which an employer is commanded not to withhold the wages of his hired worker. First, the Torah commands, "Lo Sa'ashok Es Re'acha v'Lo Sigzol; Lo Salin Pe'ulas Sachir Itcha Ad Boker" - "You shall not defraud your neighbor, and you shall not rob him; you shall not leave overnight the wage of a worker with you until the morning" (Vayikra 19:13). The Gemara teaches that this verse refers to a Sechir Yom, a hired *day* worker. Such a worker comes in from his work at the end of the day, when the night has begun. The employer has all night to pay the worker his wages. If the morning arrives, though, and the employer has not yet paid the worker, then the employer transgresses the Lav of "Lo Salin." The employer also transgresses the additional Lavim mentioned in the verse of "Lo Sa'ashok" and "Lo Sigzol."
(b) Second, the Torah commands, "Lo Sa'ashok Sachir Ani v'Evyon me'Achecha O mi'Gercha Asher b'Artzecha bi'Sh'arecha. B'Yomo Siten Secharo v'Lo Savo Alav ha'Shemesh, Ki Ani Hu, v'Elav Hu Nosei Es Nafsho; v'Lo Yikra Alecha El HaSh-m, v'Hayah Vecha Chet" - "You shall not defraud the wages of a poor or destitute hired worker who is your brother or a convert living in your land within your gates. On his day you shall give him his wages, and you shall not let the sun set on him waiting, for he is poor, and on it his life depends; he should not have to cry out against you to HaSh-m and cause you to have a sin" (Devarim 24:14-15). The Gemara teaches that this verse refers to a Sechir Lailah, a hired *night* worker. Such a worker comes in from his work at the end of the night, when they day has begun. The employer has all day to pay the worker his wages. If the next night arrives (at sunset), and the employer has not yet paid the worker, then the employer transgresses the Lav of "Lo Savo Alav ha'Shemesh." The employer also transgresses the additional Lavim mentioned in the verse of "La Sa'ashok" and "Lo Sigzol" (in Vayikra 19:13).

32) [line 35] SECHIR SHABBOS - one who is hired for a week

33) [line 38] SECHIRUS EINAH MISHTALEMES ELA LEVA'SOF
The wages of a hired worker, or payment of rent, is not due until the work has been completed, or until the end of the term of rental.

34) [line 40] EINO OVER ELA AD BOKER RISHON BILVAD - the employer transgresses the prohibition of Bal Talin only upon the arrival of the first morning (after the end of the worker's work), but not if he continues to delay the wages for subsequent days

35) [line 41] MI'KAN VA'ELECH MAI? - After the first morning has passed (and the prohibition of Bal Talin no longer applies), what liability does the employer have to pay his worker?

36) [line 41] BAL TESHAHEH - the Rabbinical prohibition against delaying the payment of a worker's wages

Next daf

Index


For further information on
subscriptions, archives and sponsorships,
contact Kollel Iyun Hadaf,
daf@shemayisrael.co.il