Commentary for Bava Metzia 218:4
אי אמרת בשלמא ריבעא דהוא דנקא שפיר אלא אי אמרת ריבעא ממש קא מטי ליה פסידא לבעל הבית פלגא דנקא
which is a sixth [of the whole]. For R. Minyomi, the son of R. Nehumi, said: Where it is the practice for a gardener to receive half profits and an <i>aris</i> one third,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' A gardener plants the vineyard, whereas an aris comes to a vineyard already in existence, hence he receives a smaller portion. ');"><sup>6</sup></span> and a gardener wishes to quit, he is given [his share of the] profits and dismissed, [a share being computed in such a way] that the employer sustains no loss [through having to engage an arts]. Now, should you assume that he meant a quarter [of the residue after paying the <i>aris</i> his share], which is a sixth of the whole, it is well; but if you say that it means a literal quarter, the employer loses a twelfth!<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' E.g., if the profits are six denarii, the gardener and the employer would each have received three. But now an aris must be engaged, who receives a third of the net profits, i.e., two denarii. Hence, if the gardener receives a quarter of the whole, i.e., 1 1/2 denarii, the employer is left with 2 1/2, a twelfth of the whole less than his due; but if he is allotted only a quarter of the residue, i.e., of 7 denarii, the employer is still left with his full share. ');"><sup>7</sup></span>
Explore commentary for Bava Metzia 218:4. In-depth commentary and analysis from classical Jewish sources.