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1) ATTRIBUTING NEZIRUS TO DIFFICULT TASKS

i. One might have thought, when he vows to bring from barley - he thinks, if this may be done, just as the Omer and Sotah offerings are brought from barley, I will bring; if not, I will be exempt.
ii. We hear, this is not so, he is obligated in this case also.

(b) (Mishnah): A man says - 'This cow said, 'I am a Nazir if I will get up'; or, this door said, 'I am a Nazir if I will be opened' - Beis Shamai say, he is a Nazir; Beis Hillel say, he is not a Nazir.
(c) R. Yehudah says, Beis Shamai only say he is a Nazir when he says 'This cow is upon me as a sacrifice if it will stand.'
(d) (Gemara) Question: Can a cow talk?!
(e) Answer #1 (Rami Bar Chama): The case is, a cow was crouching in front of him: He said, 'This cow thinks that it will not stand - I am a Nazir from its flesh if it stands on its own', and it stood on its own.

1. Beis Shamai and Beis Hillel are consistent with their opinions in the previous Mishnah.

i. Beis Shamai say, one who accepts to be a Nazir from dried figs and pressed dates, is a Nazir - here also, when he says he will be a Nazir from its flesh, he is a Nazir; Beis Hillel say, he is not a Nazir.

2. Question: We can infer the law of our Mishnah from the previous Mishnah!
3. Answer (Rava, R. Chiya, R. Oshiya): The same idea was taught 2 or 3 times (also regarding the door).
4. It was necessary to repeat the law.

i. If it was only taught by figs and dates - one might have thought, only there Beis Shamai say he is a Nazir, since these may be confused with grapes - but meat is not confused with grapes.
ii. If it was only taught by meat - one might have thought, only there Beis Shamai say he is a Nazir, since meat and wine go together - but if he said he will be a Nazir from figs and dates, it takes no effect - therefore, the law had to be taught by figs and dates.
iii. If only these 2 were taught - one might have thought, by a door, which has no connection to grapes or wine, Beis Shamai would admit that he is not a Nazir - thus, a Nazir from a door had to be taught.
iv. If only the case of a door was taught - one might have thought, Beis Hillel would admit that he is a Nazir by fruits or meat - thus, all cases had to be taught.

(f) Objection (Rava): The Mishnah does not say 'If it will get up by itself'!
(g) Answer #2 (Rava): Rather, the case is, a cow was crouching in front of him: He said, 'It is upon me a sacrifice'.
(h) Objection: This explains the case of the cow - but we cannot explain the case of the door thusly, a door cannot be a sacrifice!
(i) Answer #3 (Rava): Rather, the case is, a cow was crouching in front of him: He said, 'I am a Nazir from wine if it will not stand', and the cow stood on its own.

1. Beis Shamai explain, he himself intended to make the cow stand, and he did not do this (and therefore he is a Nazir).
2. Beis Hillel say, he just wanted that the cow should get up, and this was fulfilled.

(j) Question: But the Mishnah continues, 'R. Yehudah says, Beis Shamai only said he is a Nazir when he says 'they are forbidden to me as a sacrifice' - but he did not put any prohibition on the cow!
(k) Answer #4 (Rava): Rather, the case is, a cow was crouching in front of him: He said, 'I am a Nazir from its flesh if it will not stand', and the cow stood on its own.

1. Beis Shamai explain, he himself intended to make the cow stand, and he did not do this (and therefore he is a Nazir).
2. Beis Hillel say, he just wanted that the cow should get up, and this was fulfilled.

(l) Question: Do Beis Hillel really say that had it not risen, he would be a Nazir?

1. Beis Hillel hold, one who vows to be a Nazir from its flesh is not a Nazir (as one who says 'I am a Nazir from figs')!

(m) Answer: Beis Hillel address Beis Shamai on their own terms.

1. Beis Hillel: We hold, even if it did not rise, he is not a Nazir.
2. Granted, you say he is a Nazir in that case - but you should agree, his concern was that the cow should get up (and any way it gets up, he is not a Nazir)!
3. Beis Shamai: No - his intent was to lift the cow himself.