Bava Metzia 30

Chapter 30

א המגיע לכתפים כאן בשבח שאינו מגיע לכתפים
1 which [has matured and] is ready to be carried away,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. B.B. (Sonc. ed.) p. 569, n. 8. Our Baraitha deals with a case where the improved produce of the field is nearly ready to be harvested, so that, although it is still attached to the field and still needs the soil, it may be regarded as 'ripe fruit' whose cost of production the creditor has to refund. ');"><sup>1</sup></span>
ב והא מעשים בכל יום וקא מגבי שמואל אפי' בשבח המגיע לכתפים
2 [but] there [the reference is] to an improvement which [has not yet matured and] is not ready to be carried away. But do not cases occur daily<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Cf. infra 110b; B.K. 95b. ');"><sup>2</sup></span>
ג לא קשיא הא דמסיק ביה כשיעור ארעא ושבחא הא דלא מסיק ביה אלא כשיעור ארעא דיהיב ליה שבחיה ומסליק ליה
3 where Samuel allows [creditors] to collect [their debts] even from improvements which [have matured and] are ready to be carried away?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Samuel was known to have repeatedly allowed creditors to seize property sold by the debtors and to appropriate the improvement made in it by the buyers, without compensation for the expense incurred, even though the improved produce was near harvesting. ');"><sup>3</sup></span>
ד הניחא למ"ד אי אית ליה זוזי ללוקח לא מצי מסליק ליה לבעל חוב שפיר אלא למאן דאמר כי אית ליה זוזי ללוקח מצי מסליק ליה לבעל חוב נימא ליה אילו הוה לי זוזי הוה מסלקינך מכולה ארעא השתא דלית לי זוזי הב לי גרבא דארעא בארעא שיעור שבחאי
4 — There is no contradiction: These [are cases] where [the creditor] claims from him [the seller] an amount equal to [the combined value of] the land and the improvement;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' In such cases Samuel does not award the buyer the expense of his improvement, as the creditor is entitled to the full repayment of the debt due to him from the seller. ');"><sup>4</sup></span>
ה הכא במאי עסקינן כגון שעשאו אפותיקי דאמר ליה לא יהא לך פרעון אלא מזו:
5 the other is [a case] where [the creditor] claims from him [the seller] an amount equal to the value of the land alone, in which case the creditor compensates him [the buyer] for [the value of] his improvement and dismisses him. [But, it is asked:] This is right and proper according to the view of him who says<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Cf. infra 110b; B.K. 96a. ');"><sup>5</sup></span>
ו הכיר בה שאינה שלו ולקחה אמר רב מעות יש לו שבח אין לו ושמואל אמר אפי' מעות אין לו
6 that when the buyer has money [to pay the seller's debt] he cannot dismiss the creditor [by paying him the money].<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The creditor cannot be prevented from seizing the land, if he prefers it to the money offered him by the buyer in settlement of his debt, as the creditor has a prior claim to the land. ');"><sup>6</sup></span>
ז במאי קמיפלגי רב סבר אדם יודע שקרקע אין לו וגמר ונתן לשום פקדון ונימא ליה לשום פקדון סבר לא מקבל
7 But according to the view of him who says that when the buyer has money [to pay the seller's debt] he can dismiss the creditor [by paying him the money], let him<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Let the buyer, in the case dealt with in our Baraitha, say to the creditor, who claims the field with the improvement: 'As I am entitled to keep the land if I am able to repay your debt, I am surely entitled to retain part of the field as compensation for the amount which I have spent on the improvement, and which I am entitled to recover from you.' ');"><sup>7</sup></span>
ח ושמואל סבר אדם יודע שקרקע אין לו וגמר ונתן לשום מתנה ונימא ליה לשום מתנה כסיפא ליה מילתא
8 say unto him [the creditor]: 'If I had money I would have kept you away from the whole field [by paying the amount due to you] — now that I have no money give me a piece<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' [H], in other places spelt [H], a measure of grain, or a piece of ground in which such an amount of grain can be sown. ');"><sup>8</sup></span>
ט והא פליגי ביה חדא זימנא דאיתמר המקדש את אחותו רב אמר מעות חוזרין ושמואל אמר מעות מתנה רב אמר מעות חוזרין אדם יודע שאין קידושין תופסין באחותו וגמר ונתן לשום פקדון ונימא לה לשום פקדון סבר לא מקבלה מיניה
9 of ground in the field corresponding to the value of my improvement'! — Here [in the Baraitha] we deal with a case where he [the seller] had made it [the field] an hypothec,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' In which case all would agree that the buyer cannot put off the creditor by paying the seller's debt, and that the creditor is entitled to seize the field. ');"><sup>9</sup></span>
י ושמואל אמר מעות מתנה אדם יודע שאין קידושין תופסין באחותו וגמר ונתן לשום מתנה ונימא לה לשום מתנה כסיפא לה מילתא
10 in that he said [to the creditor], 'You shall receive payment only from this.'
יא צריכא דאי איתמר בהא בהא קאמר רב דלא עבדי אינשי דיהבי מתנות לנוכראה אבל גבי אחותו אימא מודה ליה לשמואל
11 If [the buyer] knew that [the field] did not belong to him [who sold it], and [yet] he bought it, Rab says: He is entitled to the purchase-price<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The buyer is entitled to demand the return of the money he paid the seller for the field which the rightful owner has reclaimed. The fact that the buyer knew that the sale was illegal does not deprive him of the right to reclaim his money from the seller. ');"><sup>10</sup></span>
יב ואי איתמר בהך בהך קאמר שמואל אבל בהא אימא מודה ליה לרב צריכא
12 but not to the [value of the] improvement.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' As the sale of the field was illegal, the buyer never really acquired the field, and as he knew this to be the case he has only himself to blame for the loss he incurred in improving a field which was not his own. ');"><sup>11</sup></span>
יג בין לרב דאמר פקדון בין לשמואל דאמר מתנה האי לארעא במאי קא נחית ופירות היכי אכיל
13 But Samuel says: He is not entitled even to the purchase-price. Wherein do they differ? Rab is of the opinion that a person, knowing that [the seller] has no land, will make up his mind and give him [the money] as a deposit.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' For safe keeping — to be demanded back in due course. ');"><sup>12</sup></span>
יד סבר אנא איחות לארעא ואיעביד ואיכול בגויה כי היכי דהוה קא עביד איהו לכי אתי מריה דארעא זוזאי נהוו לרב דאמר פקדון פקדון לשמואל דאמר מתנה מתנה
14 But then he should say to him that it is to be regarded as a deposit? He is afraid that he [the seller] will not accept it [as such].<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' He will not undertake to look after somebody else's money. ');"><sup>13</sup></span>
טו אמר רבא הלכתא יש לו מעות ויש לו שבח ואע"פ שלא פירש לו את השבח הכיר בה שאינה שלו ולקחה מעות יש לו שבח אין לו
15 But Samuel is of the opinion that a person, knowing that [the seller] has no land, will make up his mind and give him [the money] as a present. But then he should say to him that it is to be regarded as a present? He [the recipient] might be bashful.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' It will make the recipient feel bashful of accepting the gift. ');"><sup>14</sup></span>
טז אחריות טעות סופר הוא בין בשטרי הלואה בין בשטרי מקח וממכר
16 But has not this difference of opinion [between Rab and Samuel] been expressed once already? Has it not been stated:<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Git. 45a; 'Ar. 30a; cf. Kid. 46b. ');"><sup>15</sup></span>
יז בעא מיניה שמואל מרב חזר ולקחה מבעלים הראשונים מהו אמר ליה מה מכר לו ראשון לשני כל זכות שתבא לידו
17 'If a man betrothed his sister to himself [by giving her money],<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Cf. Kid. 2a. ');"><sup>16</sup></span>
יח מאי טעמא מר זוטרא אמר ניחא ליה דלא נקרייה גזלנא רב אשי אמר ניחא ליה דליקו בהמנותיה
18 Rab says: The money has to be given back. But Samuel says: The money is to be regarded as a present. Rab says that the money has to be given back, [because he is of the opinion that] a person, knowing that one's betrothal to one's sister is not valid, will make up his mind and give [her the money] as a deposit. But then he should say to her that it is to be regarded as a deposit? He is afraid that she will not accept it [as such]. But Samuel says that the money is to be regarded as a present, [because he is of the opinion that] a person, knowing that one's betrothal to one's sister is not valid, will make up his mind and give [her the money] as a present. But then he should say to her that it is to be regarded as a present? She might feel bashful? — It is necessary [to have the difference of opinion recorded in both cases]. For if it were taught [only] in that case<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Where the buyer knew that the field did not belong to the seller. ');"><sup>17</sup></span>
יט מאי בינייהו איכא בינייהו דמית לוקח מאן דאמר ניחא ליה דלא לקרייה גזלנא
19 [we might think that only] in such a case does Rab say [that the money is to be returned],<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' In view of the fact that the money is regarded as a deposit, according to Rab. ');"><sup>18</sup></span> because people do not usually give presents to strangers, but as regards a sister [we might think that] he agrees with Samuel. And if it were taught [only] in this case,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., the case of a brother giving money to his sister for the purpose of betrothing her to him. ');"><sup>19</sup></span> [we might think that only] in such a case does Samuel say [that the money is not to be returned],<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' In view of the fact that the money is regarded as a present, according to Samuel, and one is apt to give a present to a sister. ');"><sup>20</sup></span> but as regards the other case<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Where a person pays money to a stranger for a field which he knows to have been wrongfully acquired. ');"><sup>21</sup></span> [we might think] that he agrees with Rab.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' That the money is not to be regarded as a gift, and must be returned. ');"><sup>22</sup></span> [Therefore] it is necessary [to state both cases]. [Now, behold,] both according to Rab, who says [that the money is to be regarded as] a deposit, and according to Samuel, who says [that the money is to be regarded as] a present — how does [the person who has given the money] go down [to the field] and how does he eat the fruit [thereof]?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' How can it be said that the reason why Rab says that the money is to be returned is that it has to be regarded as a deposit, and that the reason why Samuel says that the money is not to be returned is that it has to be regarded as a gift, seeing that in either case the person who handed over the money would not have deemed himself entitled to take possession of the field and to use its produce. If he did so, it would show that he meant to buy the field with the money, and that, not being familiar with the law, he deemed the sale valid. Rab and Samuel must therefore have given their decisions for reasons other than those stated above. ');"><sup>23</sup></span> He thinks, 'I shall go down to the field and work [in it] and shall eat [the fruit] thereof,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., he knows that it is not a sale, and the money was not handed over as purchase-money. He only intended to take possession of the field and use its produce until the rightful owner reclaimed it, and the money was to be treated as a deposit (in the view of Rab) or as a gift (in the view of Samuel). ');"><sup>24</sup></span> just as he [who acquired it wrongfully] would have done, and when the [rightful] owner of the field will come [and claim it] my money will be [treated] as a deposit, according to Rab, who says [that it is to be regarded as] a deposit, and as a gift, according to Samuel, who says [that it is to be regarded as] a gift.' Said Raba: The law [in regard to the above controversy] is that he [the buyer] is entitled to the purchase-price as well as to the [value of the] improvement, even if the improvement was not mentioned [in the indemnity clause in the deed of sale].<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Samuel's view that the scribe must consult the seller regarding the inclusion of 'improvement' in the indemnity clause, and that non-inclusion is not regarded as an accidental omission by the scribe, is thus rejected. ');"><sup>25</sup></span> If [the buyer] knew that [the field] did not belong to him [who sold it], he [the buyer] is entitled to the purchase-price but not to [the value of] the improvement, [and the omission of] the guarantee clause is [to be regarded as] an error of the scribe,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' So that in every case the buyer whose field is seized by the seller's creditors can claim indemnity from the seller's property, contrary to the view of Samuel. ');"><sup>26</sup></span> both in [the cases of] notes of indebtedness and in [the cases of] deeds of sale. Samuel asked Rab [the following question]: If [the robber who sold the field unlawfully] bought it subsequently from the original owners, what is the law [then]?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Is the robber entitled to take the field away from the person to whom he sold it unlawfully, just as any other person would have been who bought the field from the rightful owner? ');"><sup>27</sup></span> — [Rab] said to him [in reply]: What was it that the first person<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The robber. ');"><sup>28</sup></span> sold to the second person?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The person who bought the field from the robber. ');"><sup>29</sup></span> [Surely the former sold to the latter in advance] every right that he [the former] might subsequently acquire!<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' When the robber sold the field he made over to the buyer any right that he (the robber) might subsequently acquire in regard to the field, and therefore the robber has no right to claim the field from the person who bought it from him. It is assumed, indeed, that the robber only bought the field in order to legalise its sale to the first buyer. ');"><sup>30</sup></span> [And] for what reason?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' What was the motive that could have prompted the robber to secure the property for the buyer? ');"><sup>31</sup></span> — Mar Zutra said: [Because] he wished that he [the buyer] should not call him a robber. R. Ashi said: [Because] he wished to vindicate his honesty. What is the difference between them?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' What would be the effect of their difference in actual cases that may arise? ');"><sup>32</sup></span> — The difference would be seen [in a case] where the buyer died. According to the view [of Mar Zutra, viz.], 'he wished that he should not call him a robber,'