Commentary for Bava Metzia 193:14

<big><strong>מתני׳</strong></big> השואל את הפרה שאלה חצי יום ושכרה חצי יום שאלה היום ושכרה למחר שכר אחת ושאל אחת ומתה המשאיל אומר שאולה מתה ביום שהיתה שאולה מתה

But neither was entirely correct. He was lent to them during the Kallah days,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Kallah, general assembly, refers to the months of Adar and Ellul, before Passover and the High Festivals respectively, when popular lectures were given on the coming Festivals. During this time the teacher was restricted to those particular subjects, and therefore stood in the service of his disciples. On Kallah v. B.B. (Sonc. ed.) p. 60, n. 7. ');">⁹</span> whilst they were loaned to him for the rest of the year. Meremar b. Hanina hired a mule to inhabitants of Be Hozae<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. p. 508, n. 2. ');">¹⁰</span> and went forth to assist them in loading it, but through a negligent act on their part it died. When they came before Raba, he held them liable. His disciples objected: But it is negligence with the owner [in service]! So he was ashamed. Subsequently it was ascertained that he had gone forth to supervise the loading.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' To see that it was not overloaded. Hence he was not in their service at all, and so Raba's verdict was just. ');">¹¹</span> Now, on the view that for negligence with the owner in service there is no responsibility, it is well; for that reason he was ashamed. But on the view that one is liable, why was he ashamed? — They were not negligent with respect thereto, but it was stolen, and it died a natural death in the thief's possession; and they came before Raba, who ruled them responsible. Thereupon the Rabbis protested to Raba: But it was theft whilst the owner was in their service! But subsequently it was ascertained that he had gone out to supervise its loading. <b><i>MISHNAH</i></b>. IF ONE BORROWS A COW, BORROWING IT FOR HALF A DAY AND HIRING IT FOR HALF A DAY; OR IF HE BORROWS IT FOR ONE DAY AND HIRES IT FOR THE NEXT; OR IF HE HIRES ONE AND BORROWS ANOTHER, AND ONE COW DIES, THE LENDER ASSERTING THAT THE BORROWED ONE DIED, OR IT DIED ON THE DAY WHEN IT WAS BORROWED,

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