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Prepared by Rabbi P. Feldman of Kollel Iyun Hadaf, Yerushalayim Rosh Kollel: Rabbi Mordecai Kornfeld
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Shevuos 37
1) ONE WHO WAS WARNED NOT TO SWEAR
(a) Question (Rav Kahana): If Levi was warned not to swear
falsely Shevu'as ha'Pikadon (and intentionally did so),
what is the law?
1. Since Shevu'as ha'Pikadon is a Chidush - a sacrifice
is brought for Mezid, which is against the general
rule - the law is the same even if he was warned;
2. Or, perhaps that is only if he was not warned, but
if he was warned, he is lashed, he does not bring a
sacrifice;
3. Or, perhaps he is lashed and brings a sacrifice'
(b) Answer #1 (Rav Acha, Rav Shmuel and R. Yitzchak -
Beraisa): Shevu'as ha'Pikadon is more stringent (than
Shevu'as ha'Edus), he is lashed if he was Mezid, he
brings an Asham if he was Shogeg.
1. Since he is lashed, surely he was warned; it only
says he is lashed (for Mezid), implying that he does
not bring a sacrifice;
2. This is more stringent than Shevu'as ha'Edus (for
which one brings a Chatas if Mezid) since a person
prefers to bring a sacrifice than to be lashed.
(c) Rejection #1 (Rava bar Isi): This Beraisa is like R.
Shimon, who says that there is no atonement (sacrifice)
for Mezid Shevu'as ha'Pikadon; Chachamim would say that
he also brings a sacrifice.
(d) Rejection #2 (Rav Kahana): I myself recited that Beraisa;
the correct text says 'Whether he was Mezid or Shogeg, he
brings an Asham that costs at least two Shekalim.';
1. This is more stringent than Shevu'as ha'Edus, for
which one may bring a Chatas costing as little as a
Ma'ah (a sixth of a Dinar).
2. Question: Rav Kahana should have settled his
question from the Beraisa!
3. Answer: Perhaps the Beraisa is when he was not
warned.
(e) Answer #2 (Mishnah): He is exempt if he believed that he
was swearing truthfully.
1. When liable, he brings an Asham that costs at least
two Shekalim.
2. Suggestion: The case is, he was warned.
(f) Rejection: No, he was not warned.
(g) Answer #3 (Beraisa): No, perhaps a Tamei Nazir brings a
sacrifice because he is also lashed, but one does not
bring a sacrifice for (Mezid) Shevu'as ha'Pikadon, for
one is not lashed for this!
1. Since the Tamei Nazir is lashed, the case must be
that he was warned - and it says that he is not
lashed for Shevu'as ha'Pikadon (but brings a
sacrifice)!
(h) Rejection: The Beraisa means, regarding Shevu'as
ha'Pikadon, one does not get full atonement through
lashes (he also needs a sacrifice).
1. Question: This implies that a Nazir Tamei gets full
atonement through lashes - but the Torah explicitly
says that he brings a sacrifice!
2. Answer: That sacrifice is not for atonement, rather
in order to enable him to begin Nezirus in Taharah.
2) IF WITNESSES KNOW THAT HE OWES
(a) Rabah was told of Rav Kahana's question.
(b) Rabah: If he was warned, this implies that witnesses know
that he is liable - if so, his denial is useless (since
the witnesses will force him to pay)!
(c) Inference: Rabah holds that one who denies money that
witnesses know about is exempt.
(d) Support (R. Chinena - Beraisa): "V'Chichesh Bah" - this
excludes one who admits to one of the brothers or
partners who claimed from him.
1. "V'Nishba Al Shaker" - this excludes one who
borrowed with a document or witnesses (he is exempt
because he will have to pay).
(e) Rejection (Rabah): No, the case is he admits that he
borrower, he only denies that there was a document or
witnesses on the loan.
1. Question: Why should we assume that that is the
case?
2. Answer: Presumably, it is similar to the first
clause, admitting to one of the partners.
3. Question: What is that case?
i. Suggestion: If he admitted that he owed half to
one partner - he should be liable for denying
the other half!
4. Answer: Rather, they say that they lent him
together, and he admits to borrowing the entire
amount from one partner.
i. Just as he does not save himself money through
this denial, also in the second clause.
(f) Question (Mishnah): He is exempt if he believed that he
was swearing truthfully.
1. When Mezid, he brings an Asham that costs at least
two Shekalim.
2. Suggestion: This means, we know through witnesses
that he was Mezid (i.e. they warned him).
(g) Answer: No, it only means that he intentionally swore
falsely.
(h) Question (Mishnah): If there were two pairs of witnesses,
and one pair denied after the other (both pairs are
liable).
1. We understand why the second pair is liable - the
first pair already denied, so the denial of the
second pair stops the claimant from collecting;
2. But when the first pair denied, this did not stop
the claimant from collecting, the second pair could
have testified!
3. We conclude that one is liable for denying, even
though there are (other) witnesses who (if they
testify) will enable the claimant to get what he
deserves!
37b---------------------------------------37b
(i) Answer (Ravina): The case is, when the first pair denied,
the second pair were invalid witnesses, because they were
related (Rashi - to each other; R. Chananel - to a party
of the case) through their wives, who were Gosesos (close
to death);
1. One might have thought, since most Gosesos die, the
second pair is standing to become valid and the
first pair is exempt - the Mishnah teaches, this is
not so, since now they are alive.
(j) Question (Beraisa): A watchman claimed that the deposit
was stolen; he swore falsely, admitted that he lied, and
witnesses testified that the watchman himself took it:
1. If he admitted before witnesses came, he pays
principle, an added fifth, and brings an Asham.
2. If he admitted after witnesses came, he pays double
and brings an Asham.
(k) Answer: Here also, we can answer as Ravina answered (when
he denied, there witnesses were invalid because they were
related through their wives).
(l) Question (Ravina - Beraisa): Shevu'as ha'Pikadon is more
stringent (than Shevu'as ha'Edus), he is lashed if he was
Mezid, he brings an Asham if he was Shogeg.
1. Since he is lashed, surely there were witnesses -
and if he was Shogeg; he brings a sacrifice!
(m) Answer (Rav Mordechai): Rav Kahana recited the correct
text of that Beraisa: 'Whether he was Mezid or Shogeg, he
brings an Asham that costs at least two Shekalim.';
(n) Question (Beraisa): No, perhaps a Tamei Nazir brings a
sacrifice because he is also lashed, but one does not
bring a sacrifice for (Mezid) Shevu'as ha'Pikadon, for
one is not lashed for this!
1. Since the Tamei Nazir is lashed, surely there were
witnesses;
2. Inference: In the corresponding case of Shevu'as
ha'Pikadon, he is not lashed - but he brings a
sacrifice!
3. This refutes Rabah.
3) SPECIAL LAWS OF LAND
(a) (R. Yochanan): One who denies money that witnesses know
about is liable; if there is a document, he is exempt.
(b) Question (Rav Papa): Question: What is R. Yochanan's
reason?
(c) Answer #1 (Rav Papa): He obligates regarding witnesses,
for they might die (and he will avoid paying through his
denial);
1. He exempts regarding a document, for the claimant
will surely collect (the defendant gains nothing by
denying).
(d) Objection (Rav Huna brei d'Rav Yehoshua): A document can
be lost (the claimant is not guaranteed to collect)!
(e) Answer #2 (Rav Huna brei d'Rav Yehoshua): A document
creates a lien on land; we do not swear about (land or)
money which can be collected from (even sold) land.
(f) (R. Yochanan or R. Elazar): Witnesses about land falsely
swore (Shevu'as ha'Edus) - they are liable;
(g) (The other of R. Yochanan and R. Elazar): They are
exempt.
(h) Inference: R. Yochanan must hold that they are exempt,
since he taught that one who denies money that witnesses
know about is liable; if there is a document, he is
exempt, as Rav Huna brei d'Rav Yehoshua explained.
(i) Suggestion: (R. Yirmeyah): R. Yochanan and R. Elazar
argue as R. Eliezer and Chachamim argue.
1. (Gemara - Beraisa - R. Eliezer): (Reuven stole
Shimon's field and) the river flooded it - he must
give him another field;
2. Chachamim say, he can say, your field is in front of
you.
3. Question: On what do they argue?
4. Answer: R. Elazar expounds through the method of
inclusions and exclusions;
i. "He will deny his neighbor" - this is an
inclusion; "by a deposit" - exclusion;
"anything he will swear about" - inclusion;
ii. From the inclusion, exclusion, inclusion we
include everything (that one must swear about
them, and return them if stolen), we only
exclude documents.
5. Chachamim expound by the method of generalities and
specifics;
i. "He will deny his neighbor" - this is a
generality; "by a deposit" - specific;
"anything he will swear about" - generality;
ii. From the generality, specific, generality we
include everything similar to the specific -
things that can be moved and have intrinsic
value;
iii. We exclude land, for it cannot be moved, and
also slaves, for these are equated to land;
iv. We exclude documents, for these have no
intrinsic value.
6. R. Elazar obligates the witnesses - this is like R.
Eliezer; R. Yochanan exempts - this is like
Chachamim.
(j) Rejection (R. Avahu): Indeed, Chachamim must hold like R.
Yochanan, but R. Eliezer could also agree to R. Yochanan.
1. It says "*Mi*'Kol (that he will swear about)" - not
everything, to exclude land from oaths (even though
it can be stolen).
(k) (Rav Papa): Our Mishnah is according to the opinion that
one is exempt for land.
1. It teaches that one who denied stealing an ox is
liable - but one who denied stealing a slave would
be exempt!
2. Suggestion: This is because slaves are equated to
land, and our Tana holds that we do not swear about
land!
(l) Rejection (Rav Papi - end of the Mishnah): The general
rule is: if the defendant would have had to pay by his
own admission he is liable, if not, he is exempt.
1. Suggestion: 'The general rule' comes to include
stealing slaves!
(m) Conclusion: The inferences contradict each other; we do
not know which is correct.
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