Bava Batra 345:1

ואלא הא דתניא כשם שאין מוציאין שטר חוב זה על זה כך אין מוציאין על אחרים במאי קמיפלגי

Since it was taught, however, 'As they cannot produce a bond of indebtedness against one another so they cannot produce [a bond] against others'<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Because it is possible that one of them lost the bond and the other, who presents it at court, accidentally found it. ');">¹</span> [the question arises]<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Since, as has been said, loss of the bond is not suspected. ');">²</span> wherein [lies the principle of] their disagreement?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' That between the Baraitha and Our Mishnah, from the latter of which it was deduced, supra, that either of the Josephs may produce a bond against others, a deduction with which, since it referred to the case of a particular individual, even Abaye agreed. ');">³</span>

באותיות נקנות במסירה קמיפלגי

— They differ on [the question whether] 'letters'<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' A bond. ');">⁴</span> [may] be acquired by means of delivery.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Mesirah, v. Glos. ');">⁵</span> Our Tanna holds [that] 'letters' are acquired by means of delivery<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Since loss of the bond is not suspected, it can only be assumed that Joseph the creditor delivered the bond to the other Joseph. As 'letters' are acquired by delivery, the holder of the bond is legally entitled to the loan. ');">⁶</span>

תנא דידן סבר אותיות נקנות במסירה ותנא ברא סבר אין אותיות נקנות במסירה

and the external<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The Tanna of the Baraitha. ');">⁷</span> Tanna holds [that] 'letters' are not acquired by means of delivery.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The debtor can consequently refuse payment of the bond, pleading that he does not owe the money to the holder of the bond but to the other Joseph; while to the other he can refuse payment on the ground that he has no bond to prove his claim. ');">⁸</span> And if you prefer I would say that all<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The authors of the Baraitha under discussion and of our Mishnah. ');">⁹</span>

ואי בעית אימא דכולי עלמא אותיות נקנות במסירה והכא בצריך להביא ראיה קא מיפלגי תנא דידן סבר אין צריך להביא ראיה ותנא ברא סבר צריך להביא ראיה

[agree that] 'letters' may be acquired by delivery,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Mesirah, v. Glos. And no deed of sale is necessary (v. supra 77a). ');">¹⁰</span> but they differ here on [the question whether] it is necessary<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' For the holder of the bond. ');">¹¹</span> to produce proof.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' That he received the bond as a gift or purchase and that he did not merely find it or receive it as a deposit. ');">¹²</span>

דאיתמר אותיות נקנות במסירה אביי אמר צריך להביא ראיה ורבא אמר אינו צריך להביא ראיה

Our Tanna<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The author of our Mishnah. ');">¹³</span> 'holds that proof need not be produced<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The possession of the bond is sufficient evidence that the debt is owing to its holder. Hence the inference from our Mishnah, that one of the Josephs may present a bond of indebtedness against a third person who cannot consequently refuse payment by demanding additional proof of the holder's title to ownership. ');">¹⁴</span> while the external Tanna<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The author of the Baraitha. ');">¹⁵</span>

אמר אביי מנא אמינא לה דתניא אחד מן האחין שהשטר חוב יוצא מתחת ידו עליו להביא ראיה מאי לאו הוא הדין לאחריני

holds that proof must be produced,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Otherwise the debtor can plead that the holder has found the bond in the street or that it was only deposited with him. Hence the statement in the Baraitha that none of the Josephs may present a bond against a third person who could plead that the bond belongs to the other Joseph and that the one who presented it received it only as a deposit or found it. ');">¹⁶</span> for it was stated: 'Letters' are acquired by delivery; Abaye said: He<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The holder of the deed. ');">¹⁷</span> must, however, produce proof;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Cf. supra note 2. ');">¹⁸</span>

ורבא אמר שאני אחין דשמטו מהדדי

and Raba said: He need not produce proof.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Cf. supra note 4. ');">¹⁹</span> Said Abaye: Whence do I derive this?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' That proof is required apart from the production of the deed. ');">²⁰</span> — For it was taught: 'The brother<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'one of the brothers'. ');">²¹</span>

איכא דאמרי אמר רבא מנא אמינא לה דתניא אחד מן האחין שהשטר חוב יוצא מתחת ידו עליו להביא ראיה אחין הוא דשמטו מהדדי אבל אחריני לא

who presents<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'that goes out from under his hand'. ');">²²</span> the bond of indebtedness<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Which bears the name of his father as creditor or which has been acquired by the father from another creditor. ');">²³</span> must<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' If the other brothers claim that the bond was bequeathed to all of them, and that the holder has unlawfully appropriated it for himself. ');">²⁴</span>

ואביי אחין איצטריכא ליה סלקא דעתך אמינא כיון דשמטו מהדדי אימא מיזדהר זהירי ולא צריכי להביא ראיה קמ"ל

produce proof'.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' That the bond lawfully belongs to him only. ');">²⁵</span> Obviously, this applies also to the case<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'what not? The same law'. ');">²⁶</span> of others.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Strangers. who dispute his claim to the bond he holds. ');">²⁷</span>

ואלא הא דתניא כשם שמוציאין הן שטר חוב על אחרים כך מוציאין זה על זה במאי קמיפלגי

Raba, however, said: Brothers are different because they pilfer from one another.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' In the case of a bequeathed estate. All the brothers being heirs to it, every one considers himself entitled to appropriate as much of it as he possibly can. It is for this reason only that it was ordained that the brother who claims, against the statement of the other brothers, to be the sole owner of an inherited bond, must produce proof. As this unlawful appropriation could not apply to the case of a stranger, proof in that case is not required. ');">²⁸</span> Others say, Raba said: Whence do I derive this?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' That apart from the production of the bond no other proof is required. ');">²⁹</span> — For it was taught: 'The brother who presents the bond of indebtedness must produce proof'.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. supra notes, 11, 15. ');">³⁰</span>

בכותבין שטר ללוה ואע"פ שאין מלוה עמו קמיפלגי

[from which it is obvious that this applies to] brothers [only] since they pilfer from one another but not [to] others.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Who could have no plausible excuse or justification for such an appropriation. Hence no proof is required in the case of a stranger. ');">³¹</span> And Abaye<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Who requires proof in the case of a stranger also. ');">³²</span> [explains that] it was necessary [to specify] brothers<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Though the law applies to strangers also. ');">³³</span>

תנא דידן סבר כותבין שטר ללוה ואף על פי שאין מלוה עמו זימנין דאזיל לגבי ספרא וסהדי ואמר להו כתבו לי שטרא דבעינן למיזף מיוסף בן שמעון חברי ובתר דכתבי וחתמי ליה נקיטא ליה ואמר ליה הב לי מאה דיזפת מינאי

[because] it might have been assumed [that], as they pilfer from one another, they are [all] particularly alert<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' In watching one another. ');">³⁴</span> and should not [therefore] require to produce proof;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Apart from the presentation of the bond. The fact that one of them is actually holding it should be sufficient proof that it belongs to him. ');">³⁵</span> hence [it was necessary] to teach us [that it is not so].<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' But that brothers as well as strangers must produce proof of lawful acquisition. ');">³⁶</span>

תנא ברא סבר אין כותבין שטר ללוה עד שיהא מלוה עמו:

As regards, however, the following wherein it was taught. 'As they<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Two Josephs living in the same town. Cf. our Mishnah. ');">³⁷</span> may present a bond of indebtedness against others so may they present [bonds] against each other', [the question arises] wherein lies [the principle of] their<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' This Baraitha on the one hand and the Baraitha previously cited and our Mishnah on the other. ');">³⁸</span> disagreement?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' According to this Baraitha the two Josephs may present bonds against one another while according to the previously cited Baraitha and our Mishnah, they may not. ');">³⁹</span>

נמצא לאחד בין שטרותיו שטרו של יוסף בן שמעון פרוע שטרות שניהם פרועין וכו': טעמא דנמצא הא לא נמצא מצי מפיק והאנן ולא אחר יכול להוציא עליהן שטר חוב תנן

They differ on [the question whether] a bond [may] be written for a borrower though the creditor be not with him. Our Tanna<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Of our Mishnah; and so the Tanna of the previously cited Baraitha. ');">⁴⁰</span> holds [that] a bond may be written for a borrower although the creditor be not with him. [Consequently it may] sometimes [happen] that one<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Of the two Josephs. ');">⁴¹</span> would go to a scribe and witnesses and tell them, 'Write for me a bond because I intend borrowing [money] from my friend Joseph son of Simeon'; and, after they had written and signed [it] for him, he would take hold of it and demand from him,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' His namesake whose name would appear in the bond as the debtor. ');">⁴²</span>

אמר רבי ירמיה במשולשין

'Give me the hundred [<i>zuz</i>] which you borrowed from me'.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' In order to avoid such a fraud it had been instituted that, in the case of two Josephs, bonds may not be presented by one against the other. ');">⁴³</span> The external Tanna,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The author of the last-mentioned Baraitha. ');">⁴⁴</span> holds that no bond may be written for a borrower unless the creditor be with him.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Consequently, the one Joseph would not be able to obtain a bond unless the other Joseph should be present. Hence there would be no possibility to practise the fraud described. The Josephs, therefore, may present bonds against one another. ');">⁴⁵</span>

ונחזי תברא בשמא דמאן דכתיב אמר רב הושעיא במשולשין בשטר ואין משולשין בשובר

[IF] A MAN FOUND AMONG HIS DEEDS [A RECORD TO THE EFFECT THAT] THE BOND OF JOSEPH SON OF SIMEON [WAS] DISCHARGED, THE BONDS OF BOTH [ARE CONSIDERED TO BE] DISCHARGED etc. The reason<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Why the bonds of both are considered as discharged and no claim may be advanced against either of them. ');">⁴⁶</span> is thus because [a record] was found, but had there been found none, [a bond] could be presented [against one of them]? Surely we have learnt, NOR MAY ANOTHER [PERSON] PRODUCE A BOND OF INDEBTEDNESS AGAINST THEM! — R. Jeremiah replied: In [the case where the bonds record the names of] the third [generation].<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Cf. our Mishnah. In such a case bonds may be presented against them. ');">⁴⁷</span> Then let us see in whose name the discharge was made out!<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'written'. Why, then, should the bonds of both be considered discharged. ');">⁴⁸</span>

אביי אמר הכי קאמר נמצא ללוה בין שטרותיו שטרו של יוסף בן שמעון עלי פרוע שטרות שניהם פרועין:

— R. Hoshaia replied: Where the third [generation] is indicated in the bond but not in the discharge.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Each Joseph is consequently in a position to claim that the name of his grandfather was omitted from the discharge though it was mentioned in the bond. ');">⁴⁹</span> Abaye said: This is the meaning<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit.,' thus he said'. ');">⁵⁰</span> [of our Mishnah]; [IF<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' BaH inserts, 'they may present (bonds) against others'. ');">⁵¹</span>

כיצד יעשו ישלשו כו': תנא אם היו שניהם כהנים יכתבו דורות:

a borrower]<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Not, as has been previously assumed, a creditor. ');">⁵²</span> FOUND AMONG HIS DEEDS [A QUITTANCE SHOWING] THAT THE BOND OF JOSEPH SON OF SIMEON [against him<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'against me'. ');">⁵³</span> WAS] DISCHARGED, THE BONDS OF BOTH [ARE CONSIDERED TO BE] DISCHARGED.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Since the debtor can produce the same quittance whenever either of the two Josephs should present his bond. On the question of mutual authorisation or the simultaneous presentation of the bonds of the two, v. Rashb. a l. ');">⁵⁴</span>

<big><strong>מתני׳</strong></big> האומר לבנו שטר בין שטרותי פרוע ואיני יודע אי זהו שטרות כולן פרועין נמצא לאחד שם שנים הגדול פרוע והקטן אינו פרוע:

HOW SHOULD THEY PROCEED? THEY SHOULD INDICATE THE THIRD [GENERATION] etc. A Tanna taught: If both were priests<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' And their names also were alike up to the third generation. ');">⁵⁵</span> they enter [the names of previous] generations.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Until the names of ancestors are reached whose names differ. ');">⁵⁶</span> <b><i>MISHNAH</i></b>. IF [A FATHER]<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lying on his death-bed. ');">⁵⁷</span>

<big><strong>גמ׳</strong></big> אמר רבא שטר לך בידי פרוע הגדול פרוע והקטן אינו פרוע חוב לך בידי פרוע שטרות כולן פרועין

SAID TO HIS SON,' ONE<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'bond'. ');">⁵⁸</span> AMONG MY BONDS IS DISCHARGED BUT I DO NOT KNOW WHICH', THE BONDS OF ALL HIS DEBTORS<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'all of them'. ');">⁵⁹</span> ARE [CONSIDERED] DISCHARGED.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' It is left to the conscience of those debtors who did not yet repay their loans to admit their liabilities. ');">⁶⁰</span>

אמר ליה רבינא לרבא אלא מעתה שדי מכורה לך שדה גדולה מכורה לו שדה שיש לי מכורה לך כל שדותיו מכורין לו

IF AMONG THEM<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'there'. ');">⁶¹</span> WERE FOUND TWO [BONDS, PERTAINING] TO ONE [DEBTOR], THE LARGER<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The one containing the bigger amount. ');">⁶²</span> [ONE IS DEEMED] DISCHARGED AND THE SMALLER UNDISCHARGED.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The debtor is given the benefit of the doubt. He must, however, repay the smaller amount since the creditor declared that one bond only was discharged. ');">⁶³</span>

התם יד בעל השטר על התחתונה:

<b><i>GEMARA</i></b>. Raba said: [If a person declared], 'The bond against you, [which I have] in my possession is discharged', the larger [one is deemed] discharged and the smaller undischarged. [If, however, he declared], 'The debt you owe me is paid', all<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' 'Debt' implies all that the debtor owes irrespective of the number of the written bonds. ');">⁶⁴</span> his bonds [are deemed] discharged.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' 'Debt' implies all that the debtor owes irrespective of the number of the written bonds. ');">⁶⁴</span> Said Rabina to Raba: Consequently<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'but from now'. ');">⁶⁵</span>

<big><strong>מתני׳</strong></big> המלוה את חבירו על ידי ערב לא יפרע מן הערב

[should one say to another],' My field is sold to you', his larger field [would be deemed to have been] sold to him, [but if he said,] 'The field that I have is sold to you', all his fields<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' 'Field', like 'debt', in Raba's statement, being regarded as a collective noun, implying all one's fields. ');">⁶⁶</span> [would then be deemed] sold! — There,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The case of sale and purchase. ');">⁶⁷</span> the holder of the deed is at a disadvantage.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'the hand of the owner of the deed is upon the lowest'. He seeks to deprive the owner of property in the possession of which he is confirmed. Hence he must produce convincing proof. In the case of a debt, however, the claimant is the creditor, while the debtor is the confirmed possessor of the sum claimed. Hence the advantage is on the side of the latter. ');">⁶⁸</span> <b><i>MISHNAH</i></b>. IF A MAN LENDS MONEY TO ANOTHER ON A GUARANTOR'S SECURITY,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'by the hands of a guarantor'. ');">⁶⁹</span> HE MUST NOT EXACT PAYMENT FROM THE GUARANTOR.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Before the debtor was sued and, the court having ordered him to pay, was found unable to meet his obligation. ');">⁷⁰</span>