Commentary for Bava Metzia 4:1

דאי תנא מציאה הוה אמינא מציאה הוא דרמו רבנן שבועה עליה משום דמורי ואמר חבראי לאו מידי חסר בה איזל אתפיס ואתפליג בהדיה אבל מקח וממכר דליכא למימר הכי אימא לא

For if the Tanna had dealt solely with the case of finding I might have said that only in such a case would the Rabbis impose an oath, because each disputant might permit himself [to claim the garment] by saying to himself, 'My neighbour loses nothing through my action [as it cost him nothing to acquire the garment]; I shall go and take hold of it and share it with him.'<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The oath would then act as a deterrent, as even if he did not hesitate to put forward a wrong claim he would not be ready to commit perjury. ');">¹</span>

Explore commentary for Bava Metzia 4:1. In-depth commentary and analysis from classical Jewish sources.