Bava Metzia 159

<big><strong>מתני׳</strong></big> השוכר את הפרה לחרוש בהר וחרש בבקעה אם נשבר הקנקן פטור בבקעה וחרש בהר אם נשבר הקנקן חייב לדוש בקטנית ודש בתבואה פטור לדוש בתבואה ודש בקטנית חייב מפני שהקטנית מחלקת

<b><i>MISHNAH</i></b>. IF A MAN HIRES A COW FOR PLOUGHING ON THE MOUNTAIN AND PLOUGHS [THEREWITH] ON THE PLAIN, IF THE COULTER BROKE, HE IS NOT LIABLE; FOR PLOUGHING ON THE PLAIN, BUT PLOUGHS ON THE MOUNTAIN, IF THE COULTER BROKE, HE IS LIABLE.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Because mountain soil is rockier and harder. — The implements were supplied by the owner of the cow. ');">¹</span>

<big><strong>גמ׳</strong></big> היכא דלא שני בה מאן משלם א"ר פפא דנקיט פרשא משלם רב שישא בריה דרב אידי אמר דנקיט מנא משלם והלכתא דנקיט מנא משלם ואי דוכתא דמחזקא גונדרי תרוייהו משלמין

[IF HE HIRES IT] TO THRESH PULSE, BUT THRESHES GRAIN, HE IS NOT LIABLE;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' If the animal slipped and was injured. ');">²</span>

אמר רבי יוחנן המוכר פרה לחבירו ואמר לו פרה זו נגחנית היא נשכנית היא בעטנית היא רבצנית היא והיה בה מום אחד וסנפו בין המומין הרי זה מקח טעות מום זה ומום אחר אין זה מקח טעות

BUT IF TO THRESH PULSE AND HE THRESHES GRAIN, HE IS LIABLE, BECAUSE PULSE IS SLIPPERY.

תניא נמי הכי המוכר שפחה לחבירו ואמר לו שפחה זו שוטה היא ניכפית היא משועממת היא והיה בה מום אחד וסנפו בין המומין הרי זה מקח טעות מום זה ומום אחר אין זה מקח טעות

<b><i>GEMARA</i></b>. But if he did not change [the conditions of the contract], who must pay?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Two labourers were needed for the ploughing; one who used the goad to direct the animal, and one who forced the coulter into the earth. These workers were furnished by the owner. Now, the Talmud asks, if the agreement was not broken, so that the hirer is free from liability, which of these two workers is liable? ');">³</span>

א"ל רב אחא בריה דרבא לרב אשי היו בה כל המומין הללו מהו אמר ליה רב מרדכי לרב אשי הכי אמרינן משמיה דרבא היו בה כל המומין הללו אין זה מקח טעות

— R. Papa said: He who handles the share; R. Shisha the son of R. Idi said: He who handles the coulter; and the law is that he who handles the coulter must pay.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' For even if the other had directed the plough badly, yet had not the coulter been forced too deeply into the soil, it would not have broken. ');">⁴</span>

<big><strong>מתני׳</strong></big> השוכר את החמור להביא עליה חטין והביא עליה שעורין חייב תבואה והביא עליה תבן חייב מפני שהנפח קשה כמשאוי להביא לתך חטין והביא לתך שעורין פטור ואם מוסיף על משאו חייב וכמה יוסיף על משאו ויהא חייב סומכוס אומר משום ר"מ סאה לגמל שלשה קבין לחמור

But if the place was known to abound in stony clods, both are responsible.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' For then the slightest deviation from the right course endangers the plough. ');">⁵</span>

<big><strong>גמ׳</strong></big> איתמר אביי אמר קשה כמשאוי תנן רבא אמר קשה למשאוי תנן אביי אמר קשה כמשאוי תנן נפחא כי תקלא ואי מוסיף שלשה קבין חייב רבא אמר קשה למשאוי תנן תקלא כי תקלא ונפחא הוי תוספת

R. Johanan said: If one sold a cow to his neighbour and informed him, 'This cow is a butter, a biter, a habitual kicker, and prone to break down [under a load],' and it possessed one of these defects, which he inserted amongst the other blemishes [of which it was free], it is a sale in error.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Which the purchaser can cancel. For the vendor, in enumerating a string of defects, which the buyer himself sees are absent, wishes him to assume that the one it actually has is also absent. ');">⁶</span>

תנן להביא לתך חטין והביא לתך שעורין פטור ואם הוסיף על משאו חייב מאי לאו שלשת קבין לא סאה והא עלה קתני וכמה יוסיף על משאו ויהא חייב סומכוס אומר משום ר"מ סאה לגמל שלשה קבין לחמור

[But if the vendor said.] 'It has this defect,' [which it actually had] 'and another too,' [not specifying which,] it is not a sale in error.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' For since he actually mentioned the defect by name, and no other specifically, the buyer should have examined the animal. ');">⁷</span>

הכי קאמר היכא דלא שני חטין והביא חטין שעורין והביא שעורין כמה יוסיף על משאו ויהא חייב סומכוס אומר משום ר"מ סאה לגמל שלשה קבין לחמור

It has been taught likewise: If one sold a maidservant to his neighbour. and informed him, 'This maidservant is an idiot, an epileptic, and a dullard;' and she possessed one of these defects, which he inserted amongst the others [which she did not have]; it is a sale in error. [But if the vendor said, 'She has] this defect' [which she actually possessed], 'and another too' [not specifying which], it is not a sale in error. Said R. Aha the son of Raba to R. Ashi: What if she had all these defects? — R. Mordecai observed to R. Ashi: Thus do we say in Raba's name: If she had all these defects, it is not a sale in error.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' For the buyer cannot plead that he thought that the vendor was enumerating many fictitious defects in order to deceive him about a real one. ');">⁸</span>

ת"ש להביא לתך חטין והביא

<b><i>MISHNAH</i></b>. IF A MAN HIRES AN ASS FOR BRINGING [A CERTAIN QUANTITY OF] WHEAT, AND HE BRINGS WITH IT [AN EQUAL WEIGHT OF] BARLEY INSTEAD, HE IS RESPONSIBLE.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' If the ass breaks down or is injured by the load. Barley is lighter than wheat, therefore an equal weight of barley is bulkier, and that imposes a greater strain on the ass. ');">⁹</span> [FOR CARRYING] CORN, AND HE BRINGS WITH IT STRAW, HE IS LIABLE [FOR DAMAGE]. BECAUSE BULK IS [AS GREAT] A STRAIN AS WEIGHT;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Therefore a greater bulk imposes a greater strain. ');">¹⁰</span> TO BRING A <i>LETHECH</i><span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Half a kor. ');">¹¹</span> OF WHEAT, AND HE BRINGS WITH IT A <i>LETHECH</i> OF BARLEY, HE IS EXEMPT.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The bulk being the same, and the weight less. ');">¹²</span> BUT IF HE INCREASES THE WEIGHT, HE IS LIABLE. BY HOW MUCH MUST HE INCREASE IT IN ORDER TO BE LIABLE? SYMMACHUS SAID ON R. MEIR'S AUTHORITY: BY A SEAH IN THE CASE OF A CAMEL, AND THREE <i>KABS</i> IN THE CASE OF AN ASS. <b><i>GEMARA</i></b>. It has been stated: Abaye said: We learnt, IS [AS GREAT] A STRAIN AS WEIGHT; Raba said: We learnt, IS A STRAIN [WHEN ADDED TO] WEIGHT. [Thus:] 'Abaye said: We learnt, IS [AS GREAT] A STRAIN AS WEIGHT:' bulk is equal to weight; therefore if he added three <i>kabs</i> [the bulk being equal], he is liable. 'Raba said: We learnt, IS A STRAIN [WHEN ADDED TO] WEIGHT: i.e., the weight being equal, the [greater] bulk is an additional strain.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' [Where however the bulk is equal, an additional weight of three kabs of barley involves no liability.] ');">¹³</span> We learnt: TO BRING A <i>LETHECH</i> OF WHEAT, AND HE BRINGS A <i>LETHECH</i> OF BARLEY, HE IS EXEMPT. BUT IF HE INCREASES THE WEIGHT, HE IS LIABLE. Surely that means, by three <i>kabs</i>?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Though even there, the total weight is less. This refutes Raba. ');">¹⁴</span> — No. It means by a <i>se'ah</i>.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Whereby the weights are equalised. ');">¹⁵</span> But thereon it is stated, BY HOW MUCH MUST HE INCREASE IT, IN ORDER TO BE LIABLE? — SYMMACHUS SAID ON R. MEIR'S AUTHORITY: A <i>SE'AH</i> IN THE CASE OF A CAMEL, AND THREE <i>KABS</i> IN THE CASE OF AN ASS! — It is thus meant: But if he did not alter [the terms of hiring]. I.e., [he engaged to] bring wheat, and brought wheat; barley, and brought barley: BY HOW MUCH MUST HE INCREASE IT [SC. THE WHEAT], IN ORDER TO BE LIABLE? — SYMMACHUS SAID ON R. MEIR'S AUTHORITY: BY A <i>SE'AH</i> IN THE CASE OF A CAMEL, AND THREE <i>KABS</i> IN THE CASE OF AN ASS. Come and hear: [It has been taught: If he hired an ass] to bring a <i>lethech</i> of wheat, and he brought