Bava Metzia 135

קא פריק לה בארבעה זוזי הכא נמי לא שנא

that it should be redeemed at four <i>zuz</i>?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' That is the redemption price per annum of a field that requires a homer of barley seed. Shekel (Biblical) = sela' = 4 zuz. ');">¹</span>

ומאן דאסר אמר לך שדה אחוזה הקדש היא ורחמנא אוקמיה אפדיון הכא הלואה היא ומיחזי כרבית

So here too, it is in no way different.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I. e., the fixed deduction may be less than the average value of the crops. ');">²</span>

אמר רב אשי אמרו לי סבי דמתא מחסיא סתם משכנתא שתא למאי נפקא מינה דאי אכיל לה שתא מצי מסלק ליה ואי לא לא מצי מסלק ליה

But he who holds it forbidden argues thus: 'a field of possession' is a matter of sanctification, which the Divine Law based upon [a fixed] redemption;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., to sanctify an inherited field is equivalent to dedicating a certain sum fixed by Scripture. ');">³</span>

ואמר רב אשי אמרו לי סבי דמתא מחסיא מאי משכנתא דשכונה גביה למאי נפקא מינה לדינא דבר מצרא

here, however, it is a loan, and so it looks like interest.

אמר רבא לית הלכתא לא כטרשי פפונאי ולא כשטרי מחוזנאי ולא כחכירי נרשאי

R. Ashi said: The elders of the town Mehasia told me that an unconditional mortgage<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., where no conditions were stipulated as to its length. ');">⁴</span>

כטרשי פפונאי כטרשי דרב פפא

is for a year. What is the practical outcome [of this fact]? That, if he [the creditor] has enjoyed the usufruct for a year he can be forced to quit, but not otherwise.

שטרי מחוזנאי דזקפי ליה לרווחא אקרנא וכתבי ליה בשטרא מי יימר דהוה רווחא

R. Ashi also said: The elders of the town of Mehasia told me, What is the meaning of <i>mashkanta</i> [a pledge]? That it abides with him [the mortagee].<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' [H] is derived from [H], 'to abide.' ');">⁵</span>

א"ל מר בר אמימר לרב אשי אבא עביד הכי וכי אתו לקמיה מהימן להו א"ל תינח היכא דאיתיה לדידיה אי שכיב ונפל שטרא קמי יתמי מאי הוי (קהלת י, ה) כשגגה שיוצא' מלפני השליט ונח נפשיה דאמימר

In respect to what has this a practical bearing? — In respect to [the right of] pre-emption.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' When a person sells a field, the adjoining neighbour (of this field) has the first option to buy it. ');">⁶</span>

חכירי נרשאי דכתבי הכי משכן ליה פלניא ארעיה לפלניא והדר חכרה מיניה אימת קנאה דאקנייה נהליה

Raba said: The law permits neither the credit interests of R. papa, nor the bonds of the Mahuzeans, nor the Narshean tenancies. The credit interests of R. Papa means the credit sales arranged by R. Papa.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. supra 65a. ');">⁷</span>

והאידנא דקא כתבי הכי קנינא מיניה ושהינא כמה עידני והדר חכרה כדי שלא תנעול דלת בפני לווין שפיר דמי ולאו מלתא היא:

'The bonds of the Mahuzeans' they add the [estimated] profit to the principal and record it [the whole] in a bond;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., they supplied goods to their agents for sale on a profit-sharing basis, calculated their share, and then drew up a note against the agent for the entire amount. ');">⁸</span>

<big><strong>מתני׳</strong></big> אין מושיבין חנוני למחצית שכר ולא יתן מעות ליקח בהן פירות למחצית שכר אלא אם כן נותן לו שכרו כפועל

for who knows that there will be profit?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Hence they appear to be taking interest. ');">⁹</span>

אין מושיבין תרנגולין למחצה ואין שמין עגלין וסייחין למחצה אלא אם כן נותן לו שכר עמלו ומזונו

Mar, the son of Amemar, said to R. Ashi: My father does so, but when they [his agents] come before him [and declare that they have earned no profit], he believes them. He replied: That is well whilst he is alive: but what if he dies and the notes are transferred to his heirs?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' They would simply see the debt, and might not believe the agents. ');">¹⁰</span>

אבל מקבלין עגלין וסייחין למחצה ומגדלין אותן עד שיהו משולשין וחמור עד שתהא טוענת:

(This [supposition] was <i>'an unwitting order which proceedeth from the ruler'</i>,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Eccl. X, 5: such an order is nevertheless obeyed. ');">¹¹</span>

<big><strong>גמ׳</strong></big> תנא כפועל בטל מאי כפועל בטל

and Amemar died.) 'Narshean tenancies': — for they wrote thus: A mortgaged his field to B, and then he [the debtor] rented it from him.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' At a fixed rental, paid in produce. ');">¹²</span> But when did he [the creditor] acquire it, to transfer it to the debtor?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Hence it is direct interest thinly disguised. ');">¹³</span> Nowadays, however, that the note is drawn up thus: He [the creditor] hath acquired it from him, hath been in possession such and such a time,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Taking the usufruct at a fixed allowance on the debt. ');">¹⁴</span> and then re-rented it to him, so as not to shut the door in the borrowers' faces;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' A proverbial expression. Unless the creditor received certain privileges, no man could ever borrow. ');">¹⁵</span> it is well. But, still this is no justification.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Hence even this practice is forbidden. ');">¹⁶</span> <b><i>MISHNAH</i></b>. A MAN MAY NOT COMMISSION A TRADESMAN ON A HALF PROFIT BASIS,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., give him goods to sell in his shop and take half a share of the profits. Under this arrangement the retailer generally accepted complete responsibility for half the stock, and even if it depreciated, rendered payment in full. Consequently, the half is a loan, since its owner takes no risk whatsoever therein, and the labour of selling the second half for the owner's benefit is interest on the first, and hence forbidden. V. infra 104b. ');">¹⁷</span> NOR ADVANCE MONEY FOR PROVISIONS [TO BE SOLD] ON HALF PROFITS, UNLESS HE PAYS HIM A WAGE AS A WORKER. FOWLS MAY NOT BE SET TO BROOD ON HALF PROFITS,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., one may not give eggs to a fowl keeper for hatching, the latter to receive half the profits, but on the other hand, take full responsibility for half the eggs. ');">¹⁸</span> NOR MAY CALVES OR FOALS BE ASSESSED THUS,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' As before, one may not commission a farmer to breed them, to receive half the profits, whilst bearing full responsibility for the present value of half the stock. ');">¹⁹</span> UNLESS HE PAYS HIM FOR HIS LABOUR AND FOODSTUFFS. BUT CALVES AND FOALS MAY BE ACCEPTED [WITHOUT ASSESSING THEIR VALUE AT ALL] ON HALF PROFITS;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' No value was attached to them at all, but when grown, the breeder received half their worth for his labour. On the other hand, when they perished, he bore no responsibility: consequently it did not come within the category of a loan. ');">²⁰</span> AND THEY ARE BRED UNTIL A THIRD GROWN; WHILST AN ASS IS BRED UNTIL IT CAN BEAR BURDENS.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' It was customary to breed them to that stage before the profits were shared. ');">²¹</span> <b><i>GEMARA</i></b>. It has been taught: [Unless he is paid] as an unemployed worker.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Referring to the Mishnah. ');">²²</span> What is meant by, 'as an unemployed worker'? —