Talmud Bavli
Talmud Bavli

Commentary for Shevuot 45:3

אלא אמר רב אחא בר יעקב מהכא (דברים יד, כו) ונתתה הכסף בכל אשר תאוה נפשך בבקר ובצאן וביין ובשכר יין חמרא הוא וכתיב ואכלת

Raba said: We have also learnt thus: 'I SWEAR I SHALL NOT EAT,' AND HE ATE AND DRANK, HE IS LIABLE ONLY ONCE. Granted, if you say that drinking is included in eating, it is necessary for the Tanna to teach us that [nevertheless] he is liable only once. But if you say that drinking is not included in eating, [if he says.] I SWEAR I shall not eat,' and he ate, and did work, would it be necessary [for the Tanna] to teach us that he is liable only once? Abaye said to him: What then, drinking is included in eating! [If so,] read the second clause, I SWEAR I SHALL NOT EAT, AND I SHALL NOT DRINK,' AND HE ATE AND DRANK, HE IS LIABLE TWICE. Now, since he said, I shall not eat,' he is already prohibited from drinking; then when he says, I shall not drink,' why should he be liable? If he had said, I shall not drink' twice, would be have been liable twice? - He replied to him: There [the Mishnah means] he [first] said, I shall not drink,' and then he said, I shall not eat;' for drinking is included in eating, but eating is not included in drinking. But if he said, I SWEAR I shall not eat and I shall not drink,' and he ate and drank, he would be liable only once? If so, why does he teach in the first clause: I SWEAR I SHALL NOT EAT,' AND HE ATE AND DRANK, HE IS LIABLE ONLY ONCE? Let him teach: I SWEAR I shall not eat and I shall not drink,' he is liable only once; and most certainly [we should know, when he says:] I shall not eat' alone [he is liable only once]! We must therefore read the Mishnah as it stands; but here it is different. Since he said, I shall not eat,' and then he said, I shall not drink,' he revealed his mind that this 'eating' that he mentioned meant eating only. <br>

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