Bava Batra 310

היינו דקאתו ואמרו ליה מהו לבודקו אלא אי אמרת מבן עשרים כי בדקו ליה מאי הוי והא תנן בן עשרים שלא הביא שתי שערות יביאו ראיה שהוא בן עשרים והוא הסריס לא חולץ ולא מיבם

one can well understand the reason why they came and asked whether the corpse might be examined.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Because if the signs of maturity could not be found on the body of the youth he would rightly be regarded as a minor. ');">¹</span> If, however, it is said, 'At twenty', what useful purpose could the examination serve?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'when they examined him, what is it?' ');">²</span> Surely we learnt:<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Nid. 47b; Yeb, 80a, 97a. ');">³</span> [If at the] age of twenty he<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Whose brother died childless and whose duty it is to marry his widow (V Deut. XXV, 5ff) or to perform halizah (V. Glos). ');">⁴</span> did not produce two hairs,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The legal signs of maturity. ');">⁵</span>

לאו איתמר עלה אמר ר' שמואל בר רב יצחק אמר רב והוא שנולדו בו סימני סריס אמר רבא דיקא נמי דקתני והוא הסריס שמע מינה

they<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The relatives of the widow, who desire to procure her freedom from the marriage or halizah. ');">⁶</span> shall bring evidence that he is twenty years old and he [becomes] a saris;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' [H] wanting in procreative power. ');">⁷</span> he may neither perform <i>halizah</i><span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. Glos. ');">⁸</span> nor the levirate marriage!<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Cf. p, 673. n. 10. From this it follows that once the age of twenty had been reached, a person is considered to have attained legal majority though his body did not develop any signs of maturity. What, then, would be the use of the exhumation? ');">⁹</span> — Has it not been stated in connection with this [Mishnah], 'R. Samuel, son of R. Isaac, said in the name of Rab: That<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The law that he is regarded as a saris. Described in Yeb. 80b. ');">¹⁰</span>

וכי לא נולדו לו סימני סריס עד כמה תני ר' חייא עד רוב שנותיו כי אתא לקמיה דרבי חייא אי כחיש אמר להו ליברי ואי אברי אמר להו ליכחוש דהני סימני זמנין דאתו מחמת כחישותא זמנין דאתו מחמת בריותא

only [applies to the case] where [other] symptoms of a saris<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. p. 673. n, 13. ');">¹¹</span> [also] appeared on his body!'<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' If these additional symptoms of a saris, however, did not appear. he is regarded as a minor provided the 'two hairs' have also not appeared. Hence an examination of the corpse could well reveal whether he was still a minor or not. ');">¹²</span> Raba said: [This; may] also [be arrived at by] deduction. For it was taught, 'And he [becomes] a saris', from which [this]<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' That the additional symptoms of a saris apart from the absence of two hairs are required. ');">¹³</span> may [well] be deduced. And. [in the case] where no symptoms of a saris developed, how long [is one regarded a minor]?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' If two hairs did not appear. ');">¹⁴</span>

איבעיא להו תוך זמן כלפני זמן או כלאחר זמן (אמר) רבא אמר רב נחמן תוך זמן כלפני זמן רבא בר רב שילא אמר ר"נ תוך זמן כלאחר זמן

— R. Hiyya taught: Until he has passed middle age.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'most of his years', i.e., until he is thirty-six years of age. Man's span of life is assumed to be seventy years. (Cf. Ps. XC, 10). ');">¹⁵</span> Whenever [such a case]<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Of one who developed symptoms of a saris. ');">¹⁶</span> came before R. Hiyya<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' For his decision as to whether it was a case of an established saris. ');">¹⁷</span> he used to tell them, if [the youth was] emaciated, 'Let him [first] be fattened'; and if he was stout, he used to tell them, 'Let him [first] be made to lose weight'; for these symptoms appear sometimes as a result of emaciation [and] sometimes they develop as a result of stoutness. The question was raised: [Is] the intervening period<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The eighteenth year of a person's age. according to Raba, or his twentieth year, according to R. Huna b. Hinena, where he has grown the two hairs. ');">¹⁸</span>

והא דרבא לאו בפירוש איתמר אלא מכללא איתמר דההוא תוך זמן דאזיל זבין נכסי ואתא לקמיה דרבא אמר להו לא עשה ולא כלום מאן דחזא סבר משום דתוך זמן כלפני זמן ולא היא התם שטותא יתירתא חזא ביה דהוה קא משחרר להו לעבדיה

[regarded] as that of under, or over age?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'as before time or as after time'. ');">¹⁹</span> — Raba said in the name of R. Nahman: The Intervening period is [regarded] as that of under age.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Cf. previous note. ');">²⁰</span> Raba son of R. Shila said in the name of R. Nahman: The intervening period is [regarded] as that of over age.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Cf. previous note. ');">²⁰</span> That [view] of Raba, however, was not stated<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'it was said'. ');">²¹</span> explicitly but was arrived at<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'it was said'. ');">²¹</span>

שלח ליה גידל בר מנשיא לרבא ילמדנו רבינו תינוקת בת ארבע עשרה שנה ויום אחד יודעת בטיב משא ומתן מהו שלח ליה אם יודעת בטיב משא ומתן מקחה מקח וממכרה ממכר

inferentially. For there was a certain [youth], who during [his] 'intervening period' went and sold the estate [of his deceased father]. He came before Raba<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' To obtain a ruling on the legality of his action. ');">²²</span> [who] decided<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'told them'. ');">²³</span> that the action was illegal.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'be did not do anything'. ');">²⁴</span> [The student] who saw [what had happened] thought [that Raba's reason was] because during the intervening period [one is regarded] as being under age;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Cf. p. 6740. 11. ');">²⁵</span> but this is not [so]. In this [particular] case<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'there'. ');">²⁶</span>

ולישלח ליה תינוק מעשה שהיה כך היה ולישלח ליה תינוקת בת שתים עשרה שנה ויום אחד מעשה שהיה כך היה

[Raba] observed excessive foolishness, for [the youth] was [also] liberating his slaves [without any apparent cause].<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' And it was for this reason only that he treated him as one under age. ');">²⁷</span> Giddal b. Menashya sent [the following enquiry] to Raba:<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Others, Rab. ');">²⁸</span> Will our Master Instruct us [as to] what [is the ruling in the case of] a girl [who is] fourteen years and one day old [and] understands how to carry on business.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'knows the nature of carrying and giving'. ');">²⁹</span> He sent [word] to him [in reply]: If she understands how to carry on a business, her purchase is [legal] purchase and her sale is [legal] sale.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Though she is under twenty, her intelligence entitles her to the rights of one who is of age. ');">³⁰</span> Why did he not enquire of him<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'and he should send to him'. ');">³¹</span>

(והא דרבא לאו בפירוש איתמר אלא מכללא איתמר ד) ההוא פחות מבן עשרים דאזל זבין נכסי [אבוהו כגידל בר מנשיא] אתא לקמיה דרבא אמרו ליה קרוביה זיל אכול תמרי ושדי ביה קשייתא בי רבא עבד הכי אמר להו זביניה לאו זביני

[about the case of] a boy? — The incident happened to be such.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'the incident that was, was so'. ');">³²</span> Why did he not address his enquiry<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'and he should send to him'. ');">³¹</span> [with reference to] a girl [who is] twelve years and one day old?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' At which age she becomes subject to the obligation of performing the commandments. ');">³³</span> — That case happened to be of such a nature.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'the incident that was, was so'. ');">³²</span> A certain [youth who was] under twenty [years of age] sold the estate [he inherited] from his father in accordance with [the decision sent to] Giddal b. Menashya. [When] he appeared before Raba<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Desiring to withdraw the sale on the plea that he did not understand the nature of buying and selling. ');">³⁴</span>

כי קא כתבו ליה שטרא אמרו ליה לקוחות זיל אימא ליה לרבא מגלת אסתר בזוזא שטרא דמר בזוזא אזל א"ל אמר להו זביניה זביני אמרו ליה קרוביה לקוחות אגמרוהו אמר להו מסברי ליה סבר כיון דמסברי ליה וסבר מידע ידע והאי דעבד הכי חוצפא יתירא הוא דהוה ביה

his relatives told him,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The youth. ');">³⁵</span> 'Go [and] eat dates, and throw the stones at Raba'.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' That be might in consequence be regarded as irresponsible for his actions. ');">³⁶</span> He did so; [and Raba] said to them, 'His sale is not a [legal] sale'. When the verdict<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' [H], 'written document'. ');">³⁷</span> had been written out for him, the buyers said to him, 'Go tell Raba: The scroll of Esther<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Which is a lengthy document. ');">³⁸</span> [may be obtained] at a <i>zuz</i> [and] the master's written verdict<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Which is a very short document. (CF. n. 16, supra.) ');">³⁹</span>

אמר רב הונא בריה דרב יהושע ולעדות עדותו עדות אמר מר זוטרא לא אמרן אלא למטלטלי אבל למקרקעי לא

[cannot be obtained] at [less than] a <i>zuz</i>!' He went and told him [so]. [Thereupon. Raba] said to them, 'His sale is a [legal] sale'.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' By the argument he advanced the youth revealed that he was not lacking in intelligence. His sale must consequently be regarded as valid. ');">⁴⁰</span> [When] the relatives told him<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Raba. ');">⁴¹</span> [that] the buyers had taught him,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' That argument; but that the youth himself was incapable of any such reasoning. ');">⁴²</span> he<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Raba. ');">⁴¹</span> replied to them, '[But] he understands [that which] is explained; [and] since he understands when explained, he possesses intelligence,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'to know he knows'. ');">⁴³</span>

א"ל רב אשי למר זוטרא מ"ש מטלטלי דזביניה זביני אלא מעתה הא דתנן הפעוטות מקחן מקח וממכרן ממכר במטלטלין ה"נ דעדותן עדות א"ל התם בעינא (דברים יט, יז) ועמדו שני האנשים וליכא

and his [previous] action<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' His throwing of the date stones. ');">⁴⁴</span> was due to<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'and that is why he did so'. ');">⁴⁵</span> his excessive impudence. R. Huna son of R. Joshua said: As regards [the giving of] evidence, his<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The evidence of a youth under twenty years of age but over thirteen, who produced the signs of maturity. though he is incapable of carrying on business transactions ');">⁴⁶</span> testimony [is legal] evidence. Mar Zutra said: This applies only<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'he did not say them but'. ');">⁴⁷</span>

אמר אמימר ומתנתו מתנה א"ל רב אשי לאמימר השתא ומה זביני דמקבל זוזי אמרת דלא דלמא מוזיל ומזבין כל שכן מתנה דלא מטי ליה ולא מידי א"ל

to [the case of] movables<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Only when the evidence is given in connection with a dispute concerning movable objects is his evidence valid. ');">⁴⁸</span> but not to [that of] real estate. Said R. Ashi to Mar Zutra: Why only movables? [Is it] because his sale [of these] is a [legal] sale?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The Mishnah which regards his sale as invalid speaks of real estate and not of movables. ');">⁴⁹</span> If so,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'but from now'. ');">⁵⁰</span> [would] the evidence of little children,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Of the ages of six or seven. ');">⁵¹</span> of whom<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'that'. ');">⁵²</span> we learnt [that] their purchase [is a valid] purchase and their sale [is a legal] sale in [the case of] movables,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Keth. 70a, Git. 59a, 65a. ');">⁵³</span> also [be regarded as legal] evidence?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Surely a child can hardly be relied upon as a witness! ');">⁵⁴</span> — He replied to him: There<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' In the case of the evidence of witnesses. ');">⁵⁵</span> it is required [that] both the men shall stand<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Deut., XIX, 17, referring to witnesses. (Cf. Shebu. 30a). ');">⁵⁶</span> which is not [the case].<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Where children of six or seven give evidence. ');">⁵⁷</span> Amemar said: His<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' That of a boy who is thirteen years and one day old, who is unable to carry on transactions and whose sale of real estate is invalid. ');">⁵⁸</span> gift [is a valid] gift. Said R. Ashi to Amemar: [How] now! If in the case of a sale, where he receives money, it has been said that it is not [valid] because it is possible [that] he might sell too cheaply, how much more so [in the case of] a gift where he receives nothing! He replied to him: