Nedarim 122

לספיקא ורבי יוסי סבר מעייל איניש נפשיה לספיקא

in a doubtful position, whilst R. Jose maintains that he does place himself in a doubtful position?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The expression until pene — or lifene — is a doubtful one. v. supra p. 191. n. 3. R. Meir, on this hypothesis, holds that when one vows he intends his words to hear only that meaning which can with certainty be attributed to them, not desiring to be in a position of doubt; while R. Jose controverts it. ');">¹</span>

ורמינהי מי שיש לו שתי כיתי בנות משתי נשים ואמר קדשתי את בתי הגדולה ואיני יודע אם גדולה שבגדולות אם גדולה שבקטנות ואם קטנה שבגדולות שהיא גדולה מן הגדולה שבקטנות כולן אסורות דברי ר"מ חוץ מן הקטנה שבקטנות

But the following contradicts it: If a man has two groups of daughters by two wives, and he declares, 'I have given one of my elder daughters in betrothal,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' A father could betroth his daughter, if a minor, even without her knowledge; though v. Kid. 41a. ');">²</span>

רבי יוסי אומר כולן מותרות חוץ מן הגדולה שבגדולות

but do not know whether it was the eldest of the senior<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., by his first wife. ');">³</span>

אמר רבי חנינא בר אבדימי אמר רב מוחלפת השיטה והתניא זה הכלל כל שזמנו קבוע ואמר עד לפני ר"מ אומר עד שיצא ורבי יוסי אומר עד שיגיע:

group or of the junior group, or the youngest of the senior group, who is older than the eldest of the junior group': they are all forbidden,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Both to the groom, since they may be sisters of the betrothed, and to others, being possibly betrothed themselves. ');">⁴</span>

<big><strong>מתני׳</strong></big> עד הקציר עד הבציר עד המסיק אינו אסור אלא עד שיגיע זה הכלל כל שזמנו קבוע ואמר עד שיגיע אסור עד שיגיע אמר עד שיהא אסור עד שיצא וכל שאין זמנו קבוע בין אמר עד שיהא בין אמר עד שיגיע אינו אסור אלא עד שיגיע

except the youngest of the junior group:<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Who is permitted to strangers, since she is definitely not 'the elder'. ');">⁵</span>

עד הקיץ עד שיהא הקיץ עד שיתחילו העם להכניס בכלכלות עד שיעבור הקיץ עד שיקפילו המקצועות:

this is R. Meir's view. R. Jose said: They are all permitted except the eldest of the senior group.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' This shews that in R. Meir's view one intends his words or actions to bear even a meaning which can be attributed to it only with doubt, and R. Jose holds the opposite. ');">⁶</span>

<big><strong>גמ׳</strong></big> תנא כלכלה שאמרו כלכלה של תאנים ולא כלכלה של ענבים תניא הנודר מפירות הקיץ אין אסור אלא בתאנים רשב"ג אומר ענבים בכלל תאנים

— Said R. Hanina b. Abdimi in Rab's name: The passage must be reversed.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., the authorities of our Mishnah. ');">⁷</span>

מאי טעמא דתנא קמא קסבר תאנים מיקצצן בידא ענבים לא מיקצצן בידא רשב"ג סבר ענבים נמי כי מירדדן מיקצצן בידא:

And it was taught [even so]: This is a general principle: That which has a fixed time, and one vows, until the turn [pene] thereof, — R. Meir said: It means, until it goes; R. Jose maintained: Until it arrives.

עד שיעבור הקיץ עד שיכפלו המקצועות: תנא עד שיכפילו רוב המקצועות

<b><i>MISHNAH</i></b>. [IF HE VOWS,] 'UNTIL THE HARVEST, 'UNTIL THE VINTAGE, OR, UNTIL THE OLIVE HARVEST,' HE IS FORBIDDEN (ONLY UNTIL IT ARRIVES. THIS IS A GENERAL RULE WHATEVER HAS A FIXED TIME AND ONE VOWS, 'UNTIL IT ARRIVES, HE IS FORBIDDEN UNTIL IT ARRIVES; IF HE DECLARES, 'UNTIL IT BE', HE IS FORBIDDEN UNTIL IT GOES. BUT WHATEVER HAS NO FIXED TIME, WHETHER ONE VOWS, 'UNTIL IT BE,' OR 'UNTIL IT ARRIVES,' HE IS FORBIDDEN ONLY UNTIL IT ARRIVES. [IF HE SAYS,] 'UNTIL THE SUMMER [HARVEST],'<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The time for this is not fixed. ');">⁸</span> OR, 'UNTIL THE SUMMER [HARVEST] SHALL BE,' [HE IS FORBIDDEN] UNTIL PEOPLE BEGIN TO BRING [THE FIGS] HOME IN BASKETS;' UNTIL THE SUMMER [HARVEST] IS PAST,' [IT MEANS] UNTIL THE KNIVES<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Used for cutting off the figs from the tree. ');">⁹</span> ARE FOLDED UP [AND LAID AWAY].<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Other meanings: until the figs are arranged in layers; until the matting, on which the gigs are dried, is folded up. ');">¹⁰</span> <b><i>GEMARA</i></b>. A tanna taught: The basket referred to is the basket of figs, not of grapes.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., he is forbidden only until the figs are brought in in baskets, not the grapes, which are gathered in slightly later. ');">¹¹</span> It was taught: He who vows [abstinence] from summer fruits, is forbidden only figs. R. Simeon b. Gamaliel said: Grapes are include din figs.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., in summer fruits. ');">¹²</span> What is the reason of the first Tanna? He holds that figs are plucked off by hand, whilst grapes are not plucked off by hand;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' [H], the Heb. for summer (fruits), denotes the gathering or plucking (of the fruits). But as grapes are cut off from the vine with a pruning knife, the term is inapplicable in their case. ');">¹³</span> whereas R. Simeon b. Gamaliel maintains, Grapes too are plucked off by hand when quite ripe.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'when about to be detached' (from the tree). Asheri. [Rashi: 'overripe'. Jast: 'when their stems are thin', cf. Ran.] ');">¹⁴</span> UNTIL THE SUMMER [HARVEST] IS PAST,' [IT MEANS] UNTIL THE KNIVES ARE FOLDED UP [AND LAID AWAY]. A Tanna taught: Until most of the knives have been put away.