Bava Batra 312:1

אמרו לו מעשה באמן של בני רוכל שהיתה חולה ואמרה תנו כבינתי לבתי והיא בשנים עשר מנה ומתה וקיימו את דבריה אמר להן בני רוכל תקברם אמן:

THEY<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The Sages. ');">¹</span> SAID UNTO HIM: THE MOTHER OF THE SONS OF ROKEL ONCE FELL ILL; AND SHE SAID, 'LET MY BROOCH WHICH IS WORTH TWELVE <i>MANEH</i> BE GIVEN TO MY DAUGHTER', AND WHEN SHE DIED, HER INSTRUCTIONS WERE CARRIED OUT!<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Cf. Supra, 151b, q.v. for notes. Since the verbal instructions of the mother were in this case carried out, how could R. Eleazar maintain that the word of a dying man has no more force than that of one in good health? ');">²</span> HE REPLIED TO THEM: [AS TO] THE SONS OF ROKEL, MAY THEIR MOTHER BURY THEM!<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' They were wicked men and the instructions of their mother, who deprived them of a portion of her estate in favour of her daughter, were carried out, (though there was no legal acquisition on behalf of the daughter), as some sort of punishment for their wickedness. No inference, therefore, as regards the case of other testators, may be derived from this special one. ');">³</span>

<big><strong>גמ׳</strong></big> תניא אמר להן רבי אליעזר לחכמים מעשה במרוני אחד שהיה בירושלים והיו לו מטלטלין הרבה וביקש ליתנם במתנה אמרו לו אין להם תקנה עד שיקנה על גב קרקע

<b><i>GEMARA</i></b>. It was taught: R. Eliezer<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Cf. supra, note 1, ');">⁴</span> said to the Sages, 'Once there lived<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'was'. ');">⁵</span> a man of Meron<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' [In Galilee near Gush Halab, v. Neubauer, Geographie, 228ff.] ');">⁶</span>

הלך ולקח בית סלע אחד סמוך לירושלים ואמר צפונו לפלוני ועמו מאה צאן ומאה חביות ודרומו לפלוני ועמו מאה צאן ומאה חביות ומת וקיימו חכמים את דבריו אמרו לו משם ראיה מרוני בריא היה:

in Jerusalem and he possessed much movable property which he desired to give away as gift[s]. He was told, [however. that] there was no means [of carrying out his wish] unless he transferred possession [to the donees]<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Who were not themselves present to acquire possession. ');">⁷</span> by virtue of land [transferred to them at the same time]. He consequently<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'he went ');">⁸</span> purchased a rocky<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Unsuitable for cultivation and, therefore, obtainable at a very low price. ');">⁹</span>

אמר להן בני רוכל תקברם אמן וכו': מאי טעמא קא לייט להו אמר רב יהודה אמר שמואל מקיימי קוצים בכרם היו ורבי אליעזר לטעמיה דתנן המקיים קוצים בכרם רבי אליעזר אומר קדש וחכמים אומרים לא קדש אלא דבר שכמוהו מקיימין

piece of land near Jerusalem and gave the following instructions:<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'and said', ');">¹⁰</span> "Its northern side [shall be given] to X, and [together] with it a hundred sheep and a hundred casks; and its southern side [shall be given] to Y, and together with it a hundred sheep and a hundred casks". And when he died the Sages carried out his instructions'.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' R. Eliezer assumed that the Meronite was a dying man, when he disposed of his property. and since he was compelled to transfer possession by means of land, it is to be inferred that the mere verbal instructions of a dying man have no legal force. How, then, R. Eliezer argued, could the Sages maintain that the verbal disposition of his estate by a dying man is legally valid? ');">¹¹</span> They<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The Sages. ');">¹²</span>

בשלמא כרכום חזי אלא קוצים למאי חזי אמר רבי חנינא מאי טעמא דר' אליעזר שכן בערביא מקיימין קוצים בשדות לגמליהן

replied to him, '[Is there any] proof from there? The Meronite was in good health'!<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Had he been in a dying condition his verbal Instruction alone would have been sufficient. ');">¹³</span> HE REPLIED TO THEM: [AS TO] THE SONS OF ROKEL, MAY THEIR MOTHER BURY THEM! Why did he curse them? — Rab Judah said in the name of Samuel: They allowed thistles to grow in [their] vineyard; and R. Eliezer [is thereby consistent] with his view. For we learnt: If [a person] allows thistles to grow in a vineyard he [thereby], R. Eliezer says, causes [the fruit] to be forbidden;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' It is forbidden to grow in the same vineyard heterogeneous plants even though one is used for human, and the other only for animal consumption. ');">¹⁴</span> and the Sages say: one does not cause [the fruit of a vineyard] to be forbidden unless [he grows] a plant the like of which [people] usually allow to grow.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., plants for human consumption or use. Thistles are mere weeds and as a rule are not allowed to grow among the vines, V. Kil. v, 8. ');">¹⁵</span>

אמר רבי לוי קונין קנין משכיב מרע אפי' בשבת ולא לחוש לדברי ר' אליעזר אלא שמא תטרוף דעתו עליו:

Said<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Current editions insert the following, 'Saffron is well suitable, but of what use are thistles'. It is wanting in most MSS, and is unintelligible in this context. ');">¹⁶</span> R. Hanina: What is R. Eliezer's reason? Because in Arabia they allow thistles to grow in their fields [as fodder] for their camels.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' R. Eliezer, therefore, regards thistles as a proper plant that comes under the prohibition of the growing of heterogeneous kinds, The Sages, however, do not class them as a plant since in most parts of the world they are not grown. ');">¹⁷</span> R. Levi said: [Symbolic] acquisition may be acquired from a dying man<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Whether he left some of his estate for himself or not. ');">¹⁸</span>

<big><strong>מתני׳</strong></big> רבי אליעזר אומר בשבת דבריו קיימין מפני שאין יכול לכתוב אבל לא בחול רבי יהושע אומר בשבת אמרו קל וחומר בחול

even on the Sabbath;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' When it is forbidden to arrange legal transactions. ');">¹⁹</span> but [this is] not due to a consideration of the view of R. Eliezer,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Who requires legal acquisition even in the case of the gift of a dying man. ');">²⁰</span> but to the possibility that his<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The dying man's. ');">²¹</span>

כיוצא בו זכין לקטן ואין זכין לגדול דברי רבי אליעזר רבי יהושע אומר לקטן אמרו קל וחומר לגדול:

[peace of] mind might be disturbed.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Seeing that no legal acquisition is being arranged he will feel that he is already being regarded as a dying man. As this mental anguish might accelerate his death, the Sages have allowed legal acquisition to be performed even on the Sabbath in order to ensure the patient's peace of mind. Legally, however, the mere word of a dying man transfers possession to the donees. ');">²²</span> <b><i>MISHNAH</i></b>. R. ELIEZER<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Others, 'The Sages'. cf. supra p. 679. n. 1. ');">²³</span> SAID: ON THE SABBATH, HIS [VERBAL] INSTRUCTIONS<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Those of a dying man distributing his property. ');">²⁴</span>

<big><strong>גמ׳</strong></big> מתני' מני רבי יהודה היא דתניא רבי מאיר אומר ר' אליעזר אומר בחול דבריו קיימין מפני שיכול לכתוב אבל לא בשבת

ARE LEGALLY VALID, BECAUSE HE IS UNABLE TO WRITE,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Writing is one of the manual labors that are forbidden on the Sabbath. ');">²⁵</span> BUT NOT ON A WEEK-DAY.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Since a written document may be prepared, and symbolic acquisition may be arranged. ');">²⁶</span> R. JOSHUA SAID: [IF] THEY SAID [THIS]<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' That no written deed or symbolic acquisition is necessary. ');">²⁷</span>

רבי יהושע

IN [RESPECT OF] THE SABBATH<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' When these are forbidden, and the rule, 'whenever something is suitable for fusion, actual fusion is not essential', cannot be applied. ');">²⁸</span> HOW MUCH MORE SO IN [THE CASE OF] A WEEK-DAY?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' When writing and acquisition are permissible and possible, and the rule, 'Whenever something is suitable etc.' (V. previous note) may be applied. ');">²⁹</span> SIMILARLY: ONE MAY ACQUIRE OWNERSHIP ON BEHALF OF A MINOR<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Because he himself is not legally entitled to acquire possessions. ');">³⁰</span> BUT NOT ON BEHALF OF [A PERSON WHO IS] OF AGE,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Since he is himself able to acquire possession. ');">³¹</span> THESE ARE THE WORDS OF R. ELIEZER. R. JOSHUA SAID: [IF THEY ALLOWED POSSESSION<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' In his absence. ');">³²</span> TO BE ACQUIRED] ON BEHALF OF A MINOR,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Who cannot himself acquire. ');">³³</span> HOW MUCH MORE SO ON BEHALF OF [A PERSON WHO IS] OF AGE.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Since he himself is entitled to acquire and be may also appoint an agent to act on his behalf, others also, much more than in the case of a minor, are entitled to acquire possession for him in his absence. ');">³⁴</span> <b><i>GEMARA</i></b>. Whose [version is represented in] our Mishnah? — It [is that of] R. Judah. For it was taught: R. Meir stated, 'R. Eliezer said: On a week-day his [verbal] instructions<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. supra p. 681, n. 7. ');">³⁵</span> are legally valid because he is able to write,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' And the rule, 'Whenever fusion is possible. actual fusion is not essential', can be applied. Since writing and acquisition are possible on a week-day, actual writing and acquisition are not indispensable. ');">³⁶</span> but not on the Sabbath.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. supra p. 681, n. 11. ');">³⁷</span> R. Joshua