Commentary for Kiddushin 40:12
משכחת לה לחומרא זבניה במאתן יהיב מאה פלגי דדמי ואיכסף וקם על מאה אי אמרת נגאל לחצאין יהיב ליה חמשין ונפיק ואי אמרת אין נגאל לחצאין הנך מאה פקדון נינהו גביה יהיב להו ניהליה ונפיק
Abaye said: Should you rule that he can be half redeemed, it will be found [both] to his advantage and disadvantage.' To his advantage': If he [the heathen] bought him for a hundred [zuz], and he [the slave] then refunded him fifty, half of his Value,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Not yet having served at all.');"><sup>18</sup></span>
Daf Shevui to Kiddushin
Abaye now explains how being able to be half redeemed could lead to a stringency. If he is worth 200 he will need to pay 100 to redeem half of his value. If his value then decreases to 100, he will pay another 50 and go free, for a grand total of 150.
But if we said he cannot be half-redeemed, even if he paid 100 when his value stood at 200, this payment is considered only a deposit. In the end, when he is worth 100, he can go out free without paying any more.
But if we said he cannot be half-redeemed, even if he paid 100 when his value stood at 200, this payment is considered only a deposit. In the end, when he is worth 100, he can go out free without paying any more.
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