Bava Kamma 210

נשבע עליו מהו מי אמרינן כיון דאי מיגנב בעי שלומי ליה ממונא קא כפר ליה או דלמא השתא מיהת הא מנח ועפרא בעלמא הוא ולא כפר ליה ממונא

What would be the law where [instead of availing himself of this plea] the robber took a [false] oath<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' After Passover. ');">¹</span> [that he never misappropriated the leaven]? Shall we say that since if the leaven were to be stolen from him he would have to pay for it, there was therefore here a denial of money,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' For which he should be subject to Lev. V, 21-25. ');">²</span>

מילתא דאיבעיא ליה לרבא פשיטא ליה לרבה דאמר רבה שורי גנבת והוא אומר לא גנבתי

or perhaps since the leaven was still intact and was [in the eyes of the law] but mere ashes, there was no denial here of an intrinsic pecuniary value?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' And if this is the case the perjurer should be subject only to Lev. V, 4-10. ');">³</span> [It appears that] this matter on which Raba was doubtful was pretty certain to Rabbah, for Rabbah stated: [If one man says to another] 'You have stolen my ox'. and the other says. 'I did not steal it at all,' and when the first asks, 'What then is the reason of its being with you?' the other replies, 'I am a gratuitous bailee regarding it,' [and after affirming this defence by an oath he admitted his guilt], he would be liable,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' In accordance with Lev. V, 21-25. ');">⁴</span>

מה טיבו אצלך שומר חנם אני עליו חייב שהרי פטר עצמו מגניבה ואבידה

for by this [false] defence he would have been able to release himself from liability in the case of theft or loss;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' For which a thief is liable but not a bailee. ');">⁵</span> so also where the [false] defence was 'I am a paid bailee regarding it,' he would similarly be liable,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' In accordance with Lev. V, 21-25. ');">⁴</span>

שומר שכר אני עליו חייב שהרי פטר עצמו משבורה ומתה

as he would thereby have released himself from liability in the case where the animal became maimed or died;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' For which a thief is liable but not a bailee. ');">⁵</span> again, even where the false defence was that 'I am a borrower regarding it,' he would be liable,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' In accordance with Lev. V, 21-25. ');">⁴</span>

שואל אני עליו חייב שהרי פטר עצמו ממתה מחמת מלאכה

for he would thereby have released himself from any liability were the animal to have died merely because of the usual work performed with it.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Which is a valid defence in the case of a borrower but not in that of a thief. ');">⁶</span> Now, this surely proves that though the animal now stands intact, since if it were to be stolen<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' In the case he swore he was an unpaid bailee. ');">⁷</span>

אלמא אע"ג דהא קאים כיון דאי מיגניב ממונא קא כפר השתא נמי ממונא קא כפר הכא נמי אף על גב דעפרא בעלמא הוא כיון דאי מיגניב בעי שלומי ליה ממונא מעליא השתא נמי ממונא קא כפר ליה

the statement would amount to a denial of money, it is even now considered to be a denial of money.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' In accordance with Lev. V, 21-25. ');">⁴</span> So also here in this case though the leaven at present is considered [in the eyes of the law] to be equivalent to mere ashes, yet since if it were to be stolen he would have to pay him with proper value, even now there is a denial there of actual money.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' In accordance with Lev. V, 21-25. ');">⁴</span>

יתיב רבא וקאמר להא שמעתא איתיביה רב עמרם לרבא (ויקרא ה, כב) וכחש בה פרט למודה בעיקר

Rabbah<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' So in MS.M. [This is to be given preference to the reading 'Raba' of cur. edd. as Raba was doubtful on the matter under discussion.] ');">⁸</span> was once sitting and repeating this teaching when R. Amram pointed out to Rabbah a difficulty [from the following]: And lieth concerning it<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lev. V, 22. ');">⁹</span>

כיצד שורי גנבת והוא אומר לא גנבתי

[has the effect of] excepting a case where there is admission of the substance of the claim, as [where in answer to the plea] 'You have stolen my ox,' the accused says. 'I did not steal it,' but when the plaintiff retorts, 'What then is the reason of its being with you?' the defendant states, 'You sold it to me, you gave it to me as a gift, your father sold it to me, your father gave it to me as a gift, or the ox was running after my cow, or it came of its own accord to me, or I found it straying on the road, or I am a gratuitous bailee regarding it, or I am a paid bailee regarding it, or I am a borrower regarding it,' and after confirming [such a false defence] by an oath he admitted his guilt. But as you might say that he would be liable here, it is therefore stated further: And lieth concerning it,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lev. V, 22. ');">⁹</span> to except a case like this where there is an admission of the substance of the claim'!<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Why then has Rabbah made a statement to the contrary effect? ');">¹⁰</span>

מה טיבו אצלך אתה מכרתו לי אתה נתתו לי במתנה אביך מכרו לי אביך נתנו לי במתנה אחר פרתי רץ מאליו בא אצלי תועה בדרך מצאתיו שומר חנם אני עליו שומר שכר אני עליו שואל אני עליו ונשבע והודה יכול יהא חייב תלמוד לומר וכחש בה פרט למודה בעיקר

— He replied:<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., Rabbah to R. Amram. ');">¹¹</span> This argument is confused, for the teaching there dealt with a case where the defendant tendered him immediate delivery<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'said to him, here is thine.' In which case there is no denial of money. ');">¹²</span>

א"ל תדורא כי תניא ההיא דקאמר ליה הילך כי קאמינא דקיימא באגם

whereas the statement I made refers to a case where the animal was at that time kept on the meadow.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' And there is therefore a potential denial of money. ');">¹³</span> But what admission in the substance of the claim could there be in the defence 'You have sold it to me?' — It might have application where the defendant said to him, 'As I have not yet paid you its value, take your ox back and go.' But still what admission in the substance of the claim is there in the defence, 'You gave it to me as a gift or your father gave it to me as a gift'? — It might be [admission] where the defendant said to him, '[As the gift was made] on the condition that I should do you some favour and since I did not do anything for you, you are entitled to take your ox back and go.' But again, where the defence was, 'I found it straying on the road,' why should the plaintiff not plead, 'You surely have had to return it to me'? — But the father of Samuel<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., Abba b. Abba. ');">¹⁴</span>

אתה מכרתו לי מאי מודה בעיקר איכא לא צריכא דא"ל לא נתתי לך דמי שקיל תורך וזיל

said: The defendant was alleging, and confirming it by an oath: 'I found it as a lost article and was not aware that it was yours to return it to you.' It was taught: Ben 'Azzai said: [The following] three [false] oaths [taken by a single witness<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' So interpreted by Rashi, but v. Malbim on Lev. V, 22, n. 374. ');">¹⁵</span>

אתה נתתו לי אביך נתנו לי מאי מודה בעיקר איכא דאמר ליה על מנת דעבידנא לך נייח דנפשא ולא עבדי לך שקיל תורך וזיל

are subject to one law]:<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Referring to Lev. V, 1. On the question whether it refers to the law of liability or exemption v. the discussion that follows. ');">¹⁶</span> Where he had cognizance of the lost animal but not of the person who found it, of the person who found it but not of the lost animal, neither of the lost animal nor its finder.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Cf. Sifra on Lev. V, 22. ');">¹⁷</span>

תועה בדרך מצאתיו לימא איבעי לך לאהדוריה לי אמר אבוה דשמואל באומר שבועה אבידה מצאתי ולא הייתי יודע שהיא שלך שאחזירנה לך

But if he had cognizance neither of the lost animal nor of its finder, was he not swearing truly?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' And no perjury at all was committed. ');">¹⁸</span> — Say therefore: '[He had cognizance] both of the lost animal and of its finder.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' And took nevertheless an oath to the contrary. ');">¹⁹</span>

תניא אמר בן עזאי ג' שבועות הן הכיר בה ולא במוצאה במוצאה ולא בה לא בה ולא במוצאה

To what decision does this statement<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., whether to that of liability or to that of exemption. ');">²⁰</span> point? — R. Ammi said on behalf of R. Hanina: To exemption; but Samuel said: To liability. They are divided on the point at issue between the [following] Tannaim, as taught: 'Where a single witness was adjured<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' To deliver evidence on a pecuniary matter and he falsely denied any knowledge of it. ');">²¹</span>

לא בה ולא במוצאה קושטא אשתבע אימא בה ובמוצאה

[and the oath was subsequently admitted by him to have been false], he would be exempt, but R. Eleazar son of R. Simeon makes him liable.'<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Shebu. 32a. ');">²²</span> In what fundamental principle do they differ? — The [latter] Master<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e. R. Eleazar b. Simeon who follows the view of his father, cf. supra 71b. ');">²³</span>

למאי הלכתא רב אמי אמר רבי חנינא לפטור ושמואל אמר לחיוב

maintained that a matter which might merely cause some pecuniary liability<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., such as where the evidence in question would not directly have any bearing upon a pecuniary matter but might indirectly at a subsequent stage bring about a pecuniary liability; this is so in the case of one witness whose evidence is not sufficient to establish pecuniary liabilities as stated in Deut. XIX, 15, but whose testimony is accepted for the purpose of imposing an oath upon a defendant who, if unprepared to swear, would have to make full payment; v. Shebu. 40a and 41a. ');">²⁴</span> is regarded in law as directly touching upon money.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' And the law of Lev. V, 1 has to apply. ');">²⁵</span>

ובפלוגתא דהני תנאי דתניא המשביע עד אחד פטור ורבי אלעזר בר' שמעון מחייב

whereas the [other] Master maintained that it is not regarded as directly touching upon money.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The law of Lev. V, 1 could therefore not apply in the case of one witness. ');">²⁶</span> R. Shesheth said: He who [falsely] denies a deposit is [instantly] considered as if he had misappropriated it, and will therefore become liable for all accidents;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' In accordance with the law applicable to robbers. ');">²⁷</span>

במאי קא מיפלגי מר סבר דבר הגורם לממון כממון דמי ומר סבר לאו כממון דמי

this is also supported by the [following] Tannaitic teaching:<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Sifra on Lev. XIX, 11. ');">²⁸</span> [From the verse] And he lieth concerning it<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lev. V, 22. ');">²⁹</span>

אמר רב ששת הכופר בפקדון נעשה עליו גזלן וחייב באונסין ותנא תונא וכחש בה למדנו עונש אזהרה מנין תלמוד לומר (ויקרא יט, יא) לא תכחשו מאי לאו לעונש ממון

we could derive the penalty,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The restitution he is obliged to make, ibid. 23. ');">³⁰</span> but whence could the warning be derived? From the significant words: Neither shall ye deal falsely.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ibid. XIX, 11. ');">³¹</span>

לא לעונש שבועה הא מדקתני סיפא ואישתבע מכלל דרישא דלא אישתבע דקתני סיפא ונשבע על שקר למדנו עונש אזהרה מנין ת"ל לא תשקרו ומדסיפא דאישתבע רישא דלא אישתבע

Now, does this not refer to the 'penalty' for merely having denied the money?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., even before having committed perjury; the fine thus being his becoming liable for all accidents. ');">³²</span> — No, it refers to the 'penalty' for the [false] oath.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' In accordance with Lev. V, 21-24. ');">³³</span>

אמרי אידי ואידי דאישתבע כאן שהודה כאן שבאו עדים אתו עדים חייב באונסין אודויי אודי חייב בקרן וחומש ואשם:

But since the concluding clause refers to a case where an oath was taken, it surely follows that the commencing clause deals with a case where no oath was taken, for it was stated in the concluding clause:<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Sifra on Lev. XIX, 11. ');">²⁸</span> [From the text] 'And sweareth falsely'<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lev. V, 22. ');">²⁹</span>

מתיב רמי בר חמא ושכנגדו חשוד על השבועה כיצד אחד שבועת העדות ואחד שבועת הפקדון ואפילו שבועת שוא

we can derive the penalty;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The Fifth and Guilt offering. ');">³⁴</span> but whence can the warning be derived? From the injunction, 'Nor lie.'<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lev. XIX, 11. ');">³⁵</span>

ואם איתא בכפירה הוא דאיפסיל ליה

Now, since the concluding clause deals with a case where an oath was taken, must not the commencing clause deal with a case where no oath was taken?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The penalty thus being his becoming liable for all accidents. ');">³⁶</span> — It may, however, be said that the one clause as well as the other deals with a case where an oath was taken. But while in the case of the concluding clause the defendant admitted [his perjury], in that of the commencing clause witnesses appeared and proved it. Where witnesses appeared and proved the perjury,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' In which case Lev. V, 21-24 does not apply as gathered from Num. V, 7; v. infra 108b. ');">³⁷</span>

אמרי הכא במאי עסקינן דקאי באגם דלאו כפירה הוא דסבר אשתמיטנא ליה אדאזילנא ומייתינא ליה

the defendant would become liable for all accidents [from the very moment he took the false oath], whereas where he himself admitted his perjury he would be liable for the Principal and the Fifth and the trespass offering.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. p. 614, n. 13. ');">³⁸</span> Rami b. Hama raised an objection [from the following]:<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Shebu. VII, 4. ');">³⁹</span>

תדע דאמר רב אידי בר אבין הכופר במלוה כשר לעדות

'Where the other party was suspected regarding the oath.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The plaintiff will take the oath. ');">⁴⁰</span> How so? [Where he took falsely] either an oath regarding evidence<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Dealt with in Lev. V, 2 and Shebu. IV. ');">⁴¹</span> or an oath regarding a deposit<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Cf. Lev. V, 21-23. ');">⁴²</span> or an oath in vain.'<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Cf. ibid. V, 4. ');">⁴³</span> But if there is legal force in your statement,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' That by mere denial of a deposit the depositor becomes subject to the law of robbery. ');">⁴⁴</span> would not that party have become disqualified from the very moment of the denial?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Even before having taken the false oath. ');">⁴⁵</span> — It might, however, be said that we are dealing here with a case where the deposited animal was at that time placed on the meadow, so that the denial could not be considered a genuine one, since he might have thought to himself, 'I will get rid of the plaintiff for the time being [so that he should no more press me for it] and later I will go and deliver up to him the deposited animal.'<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' For the ruling of R. Shesheth applies only to a case where it was definitely proved that at the time of the denial the deposit was actually in the hands of the depositor. ');">⁴⁶</span> This view could even be proved [from the following statement]:<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' B.M. 4a, 5b and Shebu. 40b. ');">⁴⁷</span> R. Idi b. Abin said that he who [falsely] denies a loan<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Without, however, having taken an oath. ');">⁴⁸</span> is not yet disqualified from giving evidence,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' For since the denial was not confirmed by an oath it might have been made merely for the time being. i.e., to get rid of the plaintiff who pressed for immediate payment. ');">⁴⁹</span>