Commentary for Bava Metzia 41:16
קב שומשמין בארבע אמות מהו קב בארבע אמות טעמא מאי משום דלא חשיבי ושומשמין כיון דחשיבי לא מפקר להו או דלמא משום דנפיש טרחייהו וכ"ש שומשמין כיון דנפיש טרחייהו טפי מפקר להו
BUNDLES OF FLAX AND STRIPES OF PURPLE,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Long strips of wool dyed purple, a common article in the days of the Mishnah. ');"><sup>14</sup></span>
Rashi on Bava Metzia
Sesame [seeds] - are very small, so there is more exertion than [with] wheat; but their value is high.
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Rashba on Bava Metzia
One kav of sesame in four cubits, what is [the law], etc. One kav of dates, what is [the law], etc. - This is a wonder to me, why do I need all of these [questions]? Behold the main question of all of them is only whether the reason is because the exertion is great or because the [lost items] are not significant. And if you answered one of them, you have answered all of them. And does he need to go on like a peddler [to list all of the questions]? And one can say that not all of them were said in one study hall, but rather each and every one was inquired in its [own] study hall; and Rav Ashi (the editor of the Talmud) came and arranged them all like this. And there are many [cases] similar to this in the gemara. Or also (another answer), it is possible that there is a little bit of a reason that is in one that is not in the other. So even if you say that the reason is because they are not significant, whereas sesame is significant - nevertheless since there is excessive exertion, he would surely render it ownerless; or maybe the whole thing depends on significance, and since they are significant, he would not render them ownerless even if their exertion is excessive. And [with] a kav of dates or pomegranates - even though they are not significant, since there is only a little exertion, he would not render them ownerless; or perhaps the whole thing depends on significance, and since they are not significant, he would render them ownerless even if there is only a little exertion.
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