Talmud Bavli
Talmud Bavli

Commentary for Bava Metzia 107:1

הבעלים נותנין עשרים ושש עשרים ושנים הבעלים נותנין עשרים ושבע בעשרים ושלש הבעלים נותנין עשרים ושמונה בעשרים וארבע הבעלים נותנין עשרים ותשע

the owners must give twenty-six; 'for twenty-two,' the owners must give twenty-seven; 'for twenty-three,' the owners must pay twenty-eight; 'for twenty-four,' the owners must pay twenty-nine; 'for twenty-five,' the owners must pay thirty; because a fifth is not added on this man's higher valuation.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' If a man consecrated an inherited field when the Jubilee laws were in force, the redemption was according to a fixed scale, as stated in Lev. XXVII, 16-19. If, however, he consecrated it when the Jubilee laws had fallen into desuetude, he had to value it for the purpose of redemption, whilst at the same time others too might redeem it and keep the field for themselves. Now, the owner had to add a fifth to his valuation, but not strangers. Consequently, if both he and strangers valued it equally, it was for him to redeem it, since he would add thereto. But if strangers made a higher offer, the owner had to redeem it at their assessment, adding a fifth on the basis of his own, as stated in the Mishnah quoted. In order that the price might not be unduly forced up, the Mishnah concludes that if the owner valued it at 20, whilst another valued it at 26, i.e., more than the owner's offer plus a fifth, the latter offer was accepted. Thus both the Temple treasury and the owner were safeguarded. ');"><sup>1</sup></span> This proves that the fifth is calculated on the outer sum.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Five on twenty. ');"><sup>2</sup></span>

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