Bava Batra 346:1

ואם אמר לו על מנת שאפרע ממי שארצה יפרע מן הערב רשב"ג אומר אם יש נכסים ללוה בין כך ובין כך לא יפרע מן הערב

IF, HOWEVER, HE SAID TO HIM,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' 'To him' is omitted in the Gemara; v. infra, where it is also shown that the Mishnah contains a lacuna. ');">¹</span> 'ON CONDITION THAT I MAY EXACT PAYMENT FROM WHOM I WILL', PAYMENT MAY BE EXACTED FROM THE GUARANTOR. RABBAN SIMEON B. GAMALIEL SAID: IF THE BORROWER HAS PROPERTY, PAYMENT FROM THE GUARANTOR MAY IN NEITHER CASE<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'whether so or so'. ');">²</span>

וכן היה רבן שמעון בן גמליאל אומר הערב לאשה בכתובתה והיה בעלה מגרשה ידירנה הנאה שמא יעשו קנוניא על נכסים של זה ויחזיר את אשתו:

BE EXACTED.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' In the first instance. ');">³</span> AND SO SAID RABBAN SIMEON B. GAMALIEL: WHERE [A MAN] WAS GUARANTOR FOR A WOMAN IN [RESPECT OF] HER <i>KETHUBAH</i>, AND HER HUSBAND DIVORCED HER, [THE HUSBAND] MUST VOW TO DERIVE NO [FURTHER] BENEFIT FROM HER. [SINCE IT IS] POSSIBLE THAT THEY MIGHT FORM A CONSPIRACY AGAINST THE PROPERTY OF THE GUARANTOR<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' By staging a divorce, and the husband having no money, the woman would be enabled to exact the amount of her kethubah from the guarantor. ');">⁴</span>

<big><strong>גמ׳</strong></big> מאי טעמא רבה ורב יוסף דאמרי תרוייהו גברא אשלימת לי גברא אשלימי לך

AND THEN [THE HUSBAND] WOULD TAKE HIS WIFE BACK AGAIN.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' And divide the spoil with her. ');">⁵</span> <b><i>GEMARA</i></b>. What is the reason?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Why payment may not be exacted from the guarantor. At present it is assumed that so long as the borrower is alive and did not abscond the guarantor cannot be called upon to pay. ');">⁶</span>

מתקיף לה רב נחמן האי דינא דפרסאי

— Both Rabbah and R. Joseph explain: [Because the guarantor can say,] 'You have entrusted me with a man;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The debtor; i.e., the creditor has, so to speak, put the debtor in charge of the guarantor who has undertaken to present him when payment falls due. ');">⁷</span> and a man have I handed over to you'.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Since the debtor neither died nor absconded, the guarantor has carried out his obligation. As the debtor is present in person the claim is to be addressed to him and not to the guarantor. ');">⁸</span>

אדרבה בתר ערבא אזלי

R. Nahman demurred: [Is not] this<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The exemption of the guarantor from payment where the debtor himself is available. ');">⁹</span> the law of the Persians? — On the contrary; they [invariably] go after the guarantor!<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Even where the debtor is in possession of property. ');">¹⁰</span>

אלא בי דינא דפרסאי דלא יהבי טעמא למילתייהו

— [This,] however, [is the objection]: [Is not this ruling<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The exemption of the guarantor from payment where the debtor himself is available. ');">⁹</span> like that of] a Persian court of law [the judges of] which do not give [any] reason for their decisions?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'words'. As the decisions of a Persian court of law are arbitrary, so is the ruling which exempts a guarantor from payment where the debtor is available though destitute. Of what use is the guarantee if the guarantor cannot be called upon to pay where the debtor himself is unable to meet his obligation! ');">¹¹</span>

אלא אמר רב נחמן מאי לא יפרע מן הערב לא יתבע ערב תחלה

— But, said R. Nahman, the meaning of<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'what'. ');">¹²</span> HE [MUST] NOT EXACT PAYMENT FROM THE GUARANTOR [is that] he [may] not demand [payment from] the guarantor first.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' In the first instance the debtor must be called upon to pay. If the obligation, however, has not been met owing to the debtor's poverty, refusal to appear in court, or death, the guarantor must discharge the debt. ');">¹³</span>

תניא נמי הכי המלוה את חבירו על ידי ערב לא יתבע ערב תחלה ואם אמר על מנת שאפרע ממי שארצה יתבע ערב תחלה

Thus it was also taught [elsewhere]: If [a man] lends [money] to another on a guarantor's security, [payment] shall not be demanded [from the] guarantor [in the] first instance. If, however, [the creditor] said, 'On condition that I may exact payment from whom I will' the guarantor may be called upon first.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. infra. ');">¹⁴</span> Said R. Huna: Whence [may it be deduced] that a guarantor becomes responsible [for a debt he has guaranteed]?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' By his mere verbal undertaking, though it was not attended by a kinyan. ');">¹⁵</span>

א"ר הונא מנין לערב דמשתעבד דכתיב (בראשית מג, ט) אנכי אערבנו מידי תבקשנו

— For it is written, <i>I will be surety for him; of my hand shalt thou require him</i>.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Gen. XLIII. 9. Thus spake Judah to Jacob in urging him to entrust Benjamin to him. ');">¹⁶</span> R. Hisda demurred: [This], surely was [an unconditional] assumption [of obligation],<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' [H] 'unconditional assumption of obligation', acceptance'. V. p. 765. n. 10. ');">¹⁷</span>

מתקיף לה רב חסדא הא קבלנות היא דכתיב (בראשית מב, לז) תנה אותו על ידי ואני אשיבנו

for it is written, <i>Deliver him into my hand,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' 'Into my hand' implies unconditional responsibility. ');">¹⁸</span></i> and I will bring him back to thee!<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ibid. XLII, 37. [Although this was said by Reuben, it is unlikely that Judah's guarantee involved less responsibility than that of Reuben's which Jacob had rejected (Maharsha).] ');">¹⁹</span>

אלא אמר רבי יצחק מהכא (משלי כ, טז) לקח בגדו כי ערב זר ובעד נכריה חבלהו

— But, said R. Isaac: [It<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. supra, n. 3. ');">²⁰</span> may be deduced] from the following: <i>Take his garment that is surety,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' By mere verbal undertaking, since no legal agreement is mentioned. ');">²¹</span></i>

ואומר (משלי ו, א) בני אם ערבת לרעך תקעת לזר כפיך נוקשת באמרי פיך נלכדת באמרי פיך עשה זאת אפוא בני והנצל כי באת בכף רעך לך התרפס ורהב רעיך אם ממון יש לו בידך התר לו פיסת יד ואם לאו הרבה עליו ריעים

for a stranger; and hold him in pledge that is surety for an alien woman.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Prov. XX, 16. ');">²²</span> Furthermore, it is said, <i>My son, if thou art become surety for thy neighbour,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' In money matters. ');">²³</span></i>

אמר אמימר ערב דמשתעבד מחלוקת ר' יהודה ור' יוסי לרבי יוסי דאמר אסמכתא קניא ערב משתעבד לר' יהודה דאמר אסמכתא לא קניא ערב לא משתעבד

if thou hast struck thy hands for a stranger,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' By insulting or calumniating. ');">²⁴</span> [if] thou art snared by the words of thy mouth,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' By insulting or calumniating. ');">²⁴</span>

אמר ליה רב אשי לאמימר הא מעשים בכל יום דאסמכתא לא קניא וערב משתעבד

thou art caught by the words of thy mouth, do this now, my son, and deliver thyself, seeing that thou art come into the hand of thy neighbour; go, humble thyself, and urge thy neighbour.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ibid. VI. 1-3. ');">²⁵</span> If he has [a claim of] money upon you,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'in thy hand'. ');">²⁶</span>

אלא אמר רב אשי בההוא הנאה דקא מהימן ליה גמר ומשתעבד נפשיה:

open out<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'loosen'. ');">²⁷</span> for him the palm of [your] hand;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., pay him. [H], a play upon [H] (E.V. 'go humble thyself'). ');">²⁸</span>

ואם אמר על מנת שאפרע ממי שארצה כו': אמר רבה בר בר חנה אמר רבי יוחנן לא שנו אלא שאין נכסים ללוה אבל יש נכסים ללוה לא יפרע מן הערב

and if not,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' When the claim or grievance is not due to monetary matters. ');">²⁹</span> get at him through many friends.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Who may plead with him and obtain his pardon. [H] a play upon [H] (E.V. 'urge thy neighbour'). ');">³⁰</span>

והא מדקתני סיפא רבן שמעון בן גמליאל אומר אם יש נכסים ללוה לא יפרע מן הערב מכלל דתנא קמא סבר לא שנא הכי ולא שנא הכי

Amemar said: [The question] whether a guarantor is responsible<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'subjects himself'. ');">³¹</span> [for the payment of the debt he guaranteed, is a matter of] dispute [between] R. Judah and R. Jose. According to R. Jose. who said, 'asmakta<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. Glos. ');">³²</span>

חסורי מחסרא והכי קתני המלוה את חבירו על ידי ערב לא יפרע מן הערב ואם אמר על מנת שאפרע ממי שארצה יפרע מן הערב במה דברים אמורים בשאין נכסים ללוה אבל יש נכסים ללוה לא יפרע מן הערב וקבלן אף על פי שיש נכסים ללוה יפרע מן הקבלן

conveys title,'<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Supra 168a. ');">³³</span> a guarantor is responsible. According to R. Judah, [however], who said 'asmakta gives no title', the guarantor Is not responsible.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' His guarantee to repay the debt is regarded as a mere asmakta, it being assumed that what he meant to convey by it amounted to no more than an expression of his conviction that the debtor would meet his obligation. Had he known that the debtor would default, he would not have given his guarantee. ');">³⁴</span> Said R. Ashi to Amemar: Surely, it is the regular practice<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'actions every day'. ');">³⁵</span> [of the courts to rule] that <i>asmakta</i> gives no title,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' In accordance with the ruling of R. Judah. ');">³⁶</span> and [yet that] a guarantor is held responsible! — But, said R. Ashi having regard to the pleasure of being trusted [by the creditor] he determines to undertake the responsibility.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Though a similar undertaking would elsewhere be regarded as an asmakta which is not legally binding, the pleasure of being trusted transforms such an asmakta into a legal undertaking. ');">³⁷</span> IF, HOWEVER, HE SAID, 'ON THE CONDITION THAT<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' His guarantee to repay the debt is regarded as a mere asmakta, it being assumed that what he meant to convey by it amounted to no more than an expression of his conviction that the debtor would meet his obligation. Had he known that the debtor would default, he would not have given his guarantee. ');">³⁴</span> MAY EXACT PAYMENT FROM WHOM<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' His guarantee to repay the debt is regarded as a mere asmakta, it being assumed that what he meant to convey by it amounted to no more than an expression of his conviction that the debtor would meet his obligation. Had he known that the debtor would default, he would not have given his guarantee. ');">³⁴</span> WILL' etc. Rabbah b. Bar Hana said in the name of R. Johanan: This applies only in the case<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'they did not teach but'. ');">³⁸</span> where the debtor has no property,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' [I.e., it is not known whether the debtor has any property from which the creditor could recover his claim, in which case, having regard to the stipulation, the guarantor can immediately be called upon to pay the debt, whereas in the absence of such a stipulation, the creditor would still have first to sue the debtor (Yad Ramah).] ');">³⁹</span> but where the debtor has property no payment may be exacted from the guarantor. Since, however, it is stated in the final clause: RABBAN SIMEON B. GAMALIEL SAID: IF THE BORROWER HAS PROPERTY, PAYMENT FROM THE GUARANTOR MAY IN NEITHER CASE BE EXACTED,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. BaH, a l. ');">⁴⁰</span> one might infer that in the opinion of the first Tanna there is no difference whether he had or had not<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'no difference thus'. ');">⁴¹</span> [any property]!<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' But in either case the guarantor may be called upon to pay. How, then, could Rabba b. Bar Hana assert that the first Tanna speaks only of the case where the debtor had no property? ');">⁴²</span> — There is a lacuna [in our Mishnah].and the proper reading is as follows:<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'and thus it teaches'. ');">⁴³</span> IF [A MAN] LENDS [MONEY] TO ANOTHER ON A GUARANTOR'S SECURITY HE [MUST] NOT EXACT PAYMENT FROM THE GUARANTOR. IF, HOWEVER, HE SAID 'ON THE CONDITION THAT I MAY EXACT PAYMENT FROM WHOM I WILL', PAYMENT MAY BE EXACTED FROM THE GUARANTOR. This law applies only to the case<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'in what (are the) words said'. ');">⁴⁴</span> where the debtor has no property, but where the debtor has property, payment from the guarantor may not be exacted. And [in the case of] a kabbelan,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' [H], a guarantor who accepts unconditional responsibility, an 'acceptor'. ');">⁴⁵</span> even though the debtor has property, payment may be exacted from the kabbelan.