Bava Batra 227

אבל בלילה אפילו שלשה כותבין ואין עושין דין מאי טעמא דהוו להו עדים ואין עד נעשה דיין אמר ליה אין הכי נמי קאמינא:

at night, however, even three [persons] may [only] write down [instructions] but are not [permitted] to constitute themselves into a court.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Even on the following day. ');">¹</span> What is the reason? Because they have become witnesses,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' At night, when listening to the testator's instructions, they were unqualified to act as judges and have thus inevitably become witnesses. cf. 469, n. 14. ');">²</span> and a witness may not act as a judge'.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Thus it has been proved that matters of inheritance, like other civil law cases, require a law court of three and may be heard in the day-time only. ');">³</span> — He said unto him: 'Yes, I indeed mean the same'.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'I say so also'. ');">⁴</span> It was stated: [With regard to symbolical] acquisition,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Symbolical acquisition is one of the forms of binding a party or parties to an agreement or an arrangement it is effected by handing over a scarf or some similar object is the person whose word thus becomes legally confirmed. V. Halifin, v. Glos. s. v. ');">⁵</span>

איתמר קנין עד אימתי חוזר רבה אמר כל זמן שיושבין רב יוסף אמר כל זמן שעוסקין באותו ענין

how long<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'until when'. ');">⁶</span> may one withdraw?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' And cancel or change the agreement. ');">⁷</span> — Rabbah said: So long as the session<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Of the court that dealt with the matter. ');">⁸</span> is in progress. R. Joseph said: So long [only] as they are dealing with that subject. R. Joseph said: Logical reasoning supports my view. For Rab Judah said:<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Supra 113b. ');">⁹</span>

אמר רב יוסף כוותי דידי מסתברא דאמר רב יהודה שלשה שנכנסו לבקר את החולה רצו כותבין רצו עושין דין ואי סלקא דעתך כל זמן שיושבין ליחוש דלמא הדר ביה

Three [persons] who came to visit a sick man may, if they wish, [either] write down [his instructions with reference to the disposal of his estate, or], if they prefer it, give judgment.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. p. 469, n. 16 supra. ');">¹⁰</span> Now, if it is assumed<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'if it enters your mind'. ');">¹¹</span> [that the testator may withdraw] during the whole time the session is in progress, [how can they give judgment?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Which has the power to make the testator's instructions legally and irrevocably binding at once. ');">¹²</span> Surely it may he apprehended that he might withdraw!<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Before the session was over, the testator might change his mind, and thus annul all the work of the court. ');">¹³</span> — R. Ashi said: Discussing this tradition in the presence of R. Kahana, [I argued:] Is this<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The statement of Rab Judah which R. Joseph quoted in support of his view. ');">¹⁴</span>

אמר רב אשי אמריתה לשמעתא קמיה דרב כהנא ולרב יוסף מי ניחא וליחוש דלמא הדר ביה אלא מאי אית לך למימר דיסליקו

right, then, according to R. Joseph? Surely [according to his view also], it may be apprehended that he<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The testator. ');">¹⁵</span> might withdraw!<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' While the court was still dealing with the matter. ');">¹⁶</span> But what have you to say [in reply]?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' According to R. Joseph. ');">¹⁷</span> That they<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The members of the court. ');">¹⁸</span> would he passing