Talmud Bavli
Talmud Bavli

Commentary for Bava Metzia 125:3

הגיע זמן יין למכור ואמר לו תן לי ייני שאני רוצה למוכרו וליקח בו שמן אמר לו שמן יש לי שאני נותן לך צא ועשהו עלי כשער של עכשיו כולם אם יש לו מותר אין לו אסור ומאי לקח לקח בהלואתו

which I wish to sell and purchase wine with the proceeds;' to which he replied, 'I have wine; go and assess it for me at the current price.' Then the time came for selling wine, and he said to him, 'Give me my wine, for I wish to sell it and purchase oil for it;' to which he replied, 'I have oil to supply you; go and assess it for me at the current price:' in all these cases, if he possesses [these commodities] it is permitted; if not, it is forbidden.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' If the debtor actually possesses these commodities, as soon as he agrees to furnish him with a certain quantity thereof, that quantity belongs to the creditor, even if he does not actually take it; and if it appreciates, his own appreciates, and there is no suggestion of usury, even if the transaction is made several times, each time at an enhanced value. But if the debtor lacks them, and when the bargain is struck, actually receives no money, it has the appearance of a ruse to increase his indebtedness (v. p. 373, nn. 4, 6), and is thus like usury, and consequently forbidden. ');"><sup>3</sup></span>

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