Jewish%20thought for Bava Kamma 6:19

ושמואל נמי הא תנא ליה שור אמר רב יהודה תנא שור לקרנו ומבעה לשינו והכי קאמר לא ראי הקרן שאין הנאה להזיקו כראי השן שיש הנאה להזיקה

But did not Raba question whether the half-damage of Pebbles is collected only from the body of the animal or from any of the defendant's possessions?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Infra p. 83. ');">¹³</span> — This was doubtful [only] to Raba, whereas R. Papa was [almost] certain about it [that the latter is the case]. But according to Raba, who remained doubtful [on this point], on account of what [legal] consequence is it termed 'derivative of Foot'?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. p. 8, n. 10. ');">¹⁴</span> — So that it may also enjoy exemption [where the damage was done] on public ground.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Just as is the case with Foot, cf. infra p. 17. ');">¹⁵</span> THE SPOLIATOR [<i>MAB'EH</i>] AND THE FIRE etc. What is [meant by] <i>MAB'EH</i>? — Rab said: <i>MAB'EH</i> denotes Man [doing damage], but Samuel said: <i>MAB'EH</i> signifies Tooth [of trespassing cattle]. Rab maintains that <i>MAB'EH</i> denotes Man,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' As possessing freedom of will and the faculty of discretion and enquiry, i.e., constituting a cultural and rational being; idiots and minors are thus excluded, cf. infra p. 502. ');">¹⁶</span> for it is written: The watchman said: The morning cometh, and also the night — if ye will enquire, enquire ye.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' [H] Isa. XXI, 12; the root in each case being the same. ');">¹⁷</span> Samuel [on the other hand] holds that <i>MAB'EH</i> signifies Tooth, for it is written: How is Esau searched out! How are his hidden places sought out!<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' [H] Ob. I, 6; the root in each case being the same. ');">¹⁸</span> But how is this deduced?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., how could a term denoting 'seeking out' stand for Tooth? ');">¹⁹</span> As rendered by R. Joseph:<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Who was exceptionally well conversant with Targumic texts. Some explain it on account of his having been blind (v. infra p. 501), and thus unable to cite the original Biblical text because of the prohibition to recite orally passages from the Written Law, cf. Git. 60a. [Others ascribe the edition of the Targum on the prophets to him, v. Graetz (Geschichte IV, 326.] ');">²⁰</span> How was Esau ransacked? How were his hidden treasures exposed?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' [H] (E.V.: sought out), translated exposed, indicates exposure and may therefore designate Tooth which is naturally hidden but becomes exposed in grazing. ');">²¹</span> Why did not Rab agree with [the interpretation of] Samuel? — He may object: Does the Mishnah employ the term <i>NIB'EH</i><span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' In the passive voice. ');">²²</span> [which could denote anything 'exposed']? Why [on the other hand] did not Samuel follow [the inter pretation of] Rab? — He may object: Does the Mishnah employ the term <i>BO'EH</i><span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' In the kal denoting mere action; the causative (hiph'il) is used with reference to Tooth which the animal exposes in grazing. ');">²³</span> [which could denote 'an enquirer']? But in fact the Scriptural quotations could hardly bear out the interpretation of either of them. Why then did not Rab agree with Samuel? — THE OX [in the Mishnah] covers all kinds of damage done by ox.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Cattle, including Tooth. ');">²⁴</span> How then will Samuel explain the fact that ox has already been dealt with? — Rab Judah explained: THE OX [in the Mishnah] denotes Horn, while <i>MAB'EH</i> stands for Tooth; and this is the sequence in the Mishnah: The aspects of Horn, which does not afford gratification from the injury [are not of such order of gravity] as those of Tooth which does afford gratification from the damage;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' And therefore the liability of Tooth could not he derived from that of Horn. ');">²⁵</span>

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