Commentary for Bava Metzia 157:9

דאתמר השוכר את החמור ומתה לו בחצי הדרך אמר רב אם יש בדמיה ליקח יקח לשכור אל ישכור ושמואל אמר אף לשכור ישכור

For it has been stated: If a man hires an ass and it perishes midway — Rab said: If its value [sc. of the carcase] is sufficient to buy [another], he must buy one; [if only] to hire, he [who engaged it] may not hire. But Samuel said: Even if only to hire, he may do so. Wherein do they differ? — Rab maintained: The principal may not be destroyed; Samuel maintained: The principal may be destroyed.

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