Talmud Bavli
Talmud Bavli

Commentary for Kiddushin 39:16

ואימא הני מילי לענין אכילה ושתיה כי היכי דלא ליצטער ליה הא לענין פדיון נחמיר עליה מדרבי יוסי בר' חנינא דתניא רבי יוסי ברבי חנינא אומר בא וראה כמה קשה אבקה של שביעית

Abaye said: Behold I am like Ben 'Azzai in the streets of Tiberias.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Said humorously 'I am ready to face all comers!' Ben 'Azzai was the keen scholar, able to answer all questions; cf. Bek. 28a.');"><sup>20</sup></span> One of the scholars said to Abaye: Consider: these verses may be interpreted leniently and stringently: why do you choose to interpret them leniently [to the slave's advantage]; let us interpret them stringently?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Applying v. 51 to a case of depreciation, and v. 52 to appreciation, so that the slave is always assessed on his higher value.');"><sup>21</sup></span>

Daf Shevui to Kiddushin

The other rabbis push back, and note that we could use another baraita to prove that we should rule stringently against one who sells himself into slavery. This baraita describes a long chain of events set into motion by a person who “sells sabbatical produce.” This is relatively small transgression, but nevertheless, it can lead to financial ruin. The baraita is based on the juxtaposition of verses. First the laws of the sabbatical year, and then laws describing a person selling his property. Later we will get to the context of selling oneself into slavery.
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