Bava Metzia 153

פסידא דפועלים לא סיירא לארעיה מאורתא פסידא דבעל הבית ויהיב להו כפועל בטל

the loss is the workers; if not, the loss is the employer's, and he must pay them as unemployed workers.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' If the labourer had not inspected the land beforehand, he can plead. 'You know the nature of your soil and that work is impossible upon it after a heavy rain, and so should have informed me in time to find other work'; therefore the employer must bear the loss. If the labourer had seen it he should have known himself, therefore the loss is his. (So one interpretation of Asheri.) It may also refer to the employer's inspection, as in the previous note. (The weight of authority is in favour of referring the inspection to the employer himself. V. H.M. CCCXXX, 1 and [H], a.l.) ');">¹</span>

ואמר רבא האי מאן דאוגיר אגורי לדוולא ואתא מטרא פסידא דפועלים אתא נהרא פסידא דבעל הבית ויהיב להו כפועל בטל

Raba also said: If one engaged labourers for irrigation, and there fell rain [rendering it unnecessary], the loss is theirs.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Since rain is bound to obviate the need of irrigation, it is an implied condition that the employer may dispense with their services on account thereof. ');">²</span>

ואמר רבא האי מאן דאוגיר אגורי לדוולא ופסק נהרא בפלגא דיומא אי לא עביד דפסיק פסידא דפועלים עביד דפסיק אי בני מתא פסידא דפועלים לאו בני מתא פסידא דבעל הבית

But if the river overflowed,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'came'. ');">³</span>

ואמר רבא האי מאן דאגר אגורי לעבידתא ושלים עבידתא בפלגא דיומא אי אית ליה עבידתא דניחא מינה יהיב להו א"נ דכותה מפקד להו דקשה מינה לא מפקד להו ונותן להם שכרן משלם

the loss is the employer's,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Because the worker cannot know that the field is so situated, by means of canals leading thereto, that the river's overflow irrigates it. ');">⁴</span>

אמאי וליתיב להו כפועל בטל כי קאמר רבא באכלושי דמחוזא דאי לא עבדי חלשי

and he must pay them as unemployed labourers.

אמר מר שמין להם את מה שעשו כיצד היה יפה ששה דינרים נותן להם סלע קא סברי רבנן יד פועל על העליונה

Rab also said: If one engaged labourers for irrigation, and the river [whence the water was drawn] failed at midday; if such failure is unusual, the loss is theirs;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The employer not being responsible for an unforeseen event. ');">⁵</span>

או יגמרו מלאכתן ויטלו שני סלעים פשיטא לא צריכא דאייקר עבידתא ואימרו פועלים ואזל בעל הבית ופייסינהו מהו דתימא מצו אמרי ליה כי מפייסינן אדעתא דטפת לן אאגרא קמ"ל דאמר להו אדעתא דטרחנא לכו באכילה ושתיה

if usual: if [the labourers] are of that town [and so would know about it] the loss is theirs; if not, the loss is the employer's.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' It is a general principle that if something happens which might be foreseen by both employer and employee, the latter bears the loss of time. H.M. CCCXXXIV, 1 ');">⁶</span>

סלע נותן להם סלע פשיטא לא צריכא דזל עבידתא מעיקרא ואגרינהו בטפי זוזא ולסוף אייקר עבידתא וקם בטפי זוזא

Raba also said: If one engaged labourers for a piece of work, and they completed it in the middle of the day;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Having been engaged for the whole day. ');">⁷</span>

מהו דתימא אמרי ליה טפי זוזא אמרת לן טפי זוזא הב לן קמ"ל דאמר להו כי אמרי לכו טפי זוזא דלא הוה קים לכו השתא קים לכו

if he has some [other] work easier than the first, he can give it to them, or even if of equal difficulty, he can charge them [with it]; but if it is more difficult, he cannot order them to do it, and must pay them in full. But why? Let him pay them as unemployed workers! — Raba referred to the workers<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Jast.: public labourers: Maim.: field diggers: Rashi: navvies accustomed to continual portering. [Mahoza. where Raba had his school, was an important loading centre on the Tigris near Ktesiffon. V. Obermeyer. op. cit. p. 173.] ');">⁸</span>

רבי דוסא אומר שמין להן את מה שעתיד להיעשות היה יפה ששה דינרים נותן להם שקל קסבר יד פועל על התחתונה

of Mahuza, who, if they do not work, feel faint.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Idleness is a trial to them; therefore they are entitled to full pay. ');">⁹</span>

או יגמרו מלאכתן ויטלו שני סלעים פשיטא לא צריכא דזל עבידתא ואימר בעל הבית ואזול פועלים ופייסוהו מהו דתימא מצי אמר להו אדעתא דבצריתו לי מאגריי קמ"ל דאמרי ליה אדעתא דעבידנן לך עבידתא שפירתא

The Master said: 'The portion done is assessed for them. E.g., if it is worth six <i>denarii</i>, he must pay them a <i>sela'</i>.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' v. p. 442, n. 2. ');">¹⁰</span>

סלע נותן להם סלע פשיטא א"ר הונא בריה דרב נתן לא צריכא דאוזילו אינהו גביה זוזא מעיקרא ולסוף זל עבידתא

The Rabbis hold that the workers [always] have the advantage.

מהו דתימא בציר זוזא אמריתו לי בציר זוזא יהבינא לכו קמ"ל דאמרי ליה כי אמרנא לך בבציר זוזא דלא הוה קים לך השתא קים לך

'Or they can complete the work and receive two <i>sela's</i>.' Is this not obvious? — This is necessary only when labour costs advanced, and the workers retracted. Thereupon the employer went and persuaded them [to return]. I might think that they can say to him, 'When we allowed ourselves to be persuaded, it was on the understanding that you would increase our remuneration.' Therefore we are informed that he [the employer] can answer them, 'It was on the understanding that I should take particular pains over your food and drink.'<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' But not pay you more. ');">¹¹</span>

אמר רב הלכה כר' דוסא ומי אמר רב הכי והאמר רב פועל יכול לחזור בו אפילו בחצי היום וכי תימא שאני ליה לרבי דוסא בין שכירות לקבלנות ומי שאני ליה והתניא השוכר את הפועל ולחצי היום שמע שמת לו מת או שאחזתו חמה אם שכיר הוא

'If it is worth a <i>sela'</i>, he must pay them a <i>sela'</i>.' Is this not obvious? — This is necessary only if labour was cheap originally [when he hired them], whilst he engaged them for a <i>zuz</i> above [the usual cost], but subsequently<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., by the time they had done half the work. ');">¹²</span> labour appreciated and stood at more than a <i>zuz</i>; I might think that they can plead. 'You promised us a <i>zuz</i> above [the usual price]; give us a <i>zuz</i> more [than was stipulated, since that is now the usual wage].' We are therefore told that he [the employer] may answer them,' When did I promise you an extra <i>zuz</i>, only when you did not agree;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' To work for less than a sela'. ');">¹³</span> but now you have agreed.'<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' To receive it. I cannot pay more, as that is my maximum. ');">¹⁴</span> 'R. Dosa said: That which still remains to be done is assessed [thus]: if it be worth six <i>denarii</i>, he pays them a <i>shekel</i>.' In his opinion, the labourer is at a disadvantage.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' v. p. 437. n. 8. ');">¹⁵</span> 'Or they can complete their work and receive two <i>sela's</i>.' Is this not obvious? — This is necessary only when labour costs diminished, and the employer retracted; whereupon the labourers went and persuaded him. I might think, he can say to them, '[I re-engaged you] on the understanding that you allow a rebate on your wages': therefore we are taught that they can answer him, 'It was on the understanding that we perform our work particularly well.' 'If a <i>sela'</i>, he must pay them a <i>sela'</i>.' Is this not obvious? — R. Huna. the son of R. Nathan, said: It is necessary only in a case where they [the labourers] contracted for a <i>zuz</i> below [the usual wage] in the first place, and subsequently labour costs fell. I might think that [the employer can plead.] 'You agreed with me for a <i>zuz</i> less [than usual], hence I will give you a <i>zuz</i> less;'<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Than the present price, hence, a zuz below the agreed figure. ');">¹⁶</span> so we are taught that they can reply. 'We agreed upon a <i>zuz</i> less only when you would not agree [to pay the full price]; but now you have agreed.' Rab said: The <i>halachah</i> is as R. Dosa. But did Rab really rule thus? Did not Rab say: A worker can retract even in the middle of the day? And should you answer, R. Dosa draws a distinction between time work and piece work,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' If a labourer engages himself by the day or week, he can retract and lose nothing; but if he contracts to do a particular piece, he is thereby at a disadvantage; for the reason of the first (stated supra 10a, q.v.) does not apply to a contractor, since not being tied he is his own master. ');">¹⁷</span> [I can rejoin,] Did he really admit a distinction? Has it not been taught: If one engages a labourer, and in the middle of the day he [the labourer] learns that he has suffered a bereavement,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'one had died unto him', viz., one of the relatives for whom a week of mourning must be observed, during which all labour is forbidden. ');">¹⁸</span> or is smitten with fever: then if he is a time worker,