Commentary for Kiddushin 33:4
הא גופא קשיא אמרת חלה שלש ועבד שלש אין חייב להשלים הא ארבע חייב להשלים אימא סיפא חלה כל שש חייב להשלים הא ד' אין חייב להשלים הכי קאמר חלה ד' נעשה כמי שחלה כל שש וחייב להשלים :
Then consider the second clause: 'but if he was ill the whole of the six years, he is bound to make it up' - implying, if [only] four, he is not? - This is its meaning:<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Of the second clause.');"><sup>4</sup></span> if he was four years ill, it is accounted as though he were indisposed the whole of the six years, and he must make it up. Our Rabbis taught : With how much is he [the freed slave] presented?
Daf Shevui to Kiddushin
The baraita is somewhat unclear—does he have to serve at least three years (first clause) or not (second clause)? The Talmud resolves by saying essentially that he must serve three years. If he is sick for four years, it is as if he was sick for all six and he must make up the missed years.
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