Shevuot 66

שהוציא איש פלוני שם רע על בתי חייבין הודה מפי עצמו פטור

that So-and-So uttered an evil report about my daughter';<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' That he found her not a virgin when he married her; Deut. XXII, 14. If his allegation is false, he is fined 100 shekels of silver; ibid. 19.');">¹</span> [and the witnesses deny knowledge of testimony] they are liable. If he confessed himself, he is exempt!<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Apparently even if witnesses came later; yet if witnesses are adjured before the confession, and they withhold testimony, they are liable. Hence it is proved that if witnesses for a fine are adjured and withhold testimony they are liable.');">²</span>

הא מני ר' אלעזר בר' שמעון היא דאמר יבואו עדים ויעידו

- This is in accordance with the view of R'Eleazar son of R'Simeon, who says, let the witnesses come and bear testimony.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Even after confession (cf. p. 187, n. 10) , but the question is with reference to the Rabbis.');">³</span> Read then the latter clause: 'If he confessed himself, he is exempt'.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Apparently even if witnesses come later.');">⁴</span> We here thus come round to [the view of] the Rabbis! - It is all in accordance with the view of R'Eleazar son of R'Simeon; and thus he means: It is not possible that, if he confessed himself, he should be exempt, except when there are no witnesses at all, and he confessed himself.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' And the confession was not followed by witnesses. We cannot therefore decide the question (according to the Rabbis) whether or not witnesses who are adjured for a fine and withhold testimony, are liable.');">⁵</span>

אימא סיפא הודה מעצמו פטור אתאן לרבנן

<big><b>MISHNAH: </b></big>'I ADJURE YOU THAT YOU COME AND BEAR TESTIMONY FOR ME THAT I AM A PRIEST, OR, THAT I AM A LEVITE, OR, THAT I AM NOT THE SON OF A DIVORCED WOMAN, OR, THAT I AM NOT THE SON OF A HALUZAH;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' A woman (whose husband died without issue) released, by the ceremony of halizah (Deut. XXV, 9) , from marrying her husband's brother.');">⁶</span> THAT SO-AND-SO IS A PRIEST, OR, THAT SO-AND-SO IS A LEVITE, OR, THAT HE IS NOT THE SON OF A DIVORCED WOMAN, OR, THAT HE IS NOT THE SON OF A HALUZAH; THAT SO-AND-SO VIOLATED ANOTHER'S DAUGHTER, OR SEDUCED HIS DAUGHTER; THAT MY SON INJURED ME;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Causing a wound. Since death is inflicted, there is no money payment.');">⁷</span> THAT MY NEIGHBOUR INJURED ME,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' On the Sabbath: the penalty is death.');">⁸</span>

כולה ר' אלעזר בר' שמעון היא וה"ק לא משכחת לה הודה מפי עצמו דפטור אלא היכא דליכא עדים כלל והודה מעצמו:

OR SET FIRE TO MY HAYSTACK ON THE SABBATH,' - THEY ARE EXEMPT.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The witnesses, denying knowledge of testimony, are exempt in all these cases, for they are liable only if by their refusal to testify they cause a monetary loss to the claimant. In the case of 'So-and-so violated another's daughter', they are exempt (though causing monetary loss) because it is not the claimant himself who adjures them.');">⁹</span> <big><b>GEMARA: </b></big>The reason [they are exempt] is because [he adjured them:] 'SO-AND-SO IS A PRIEST, OR, SO-AND-SO IS A LEVITE',<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The issue is not monetary.');">¹⁰</span> but [if he adjured them:] 'So-and-So owes So-and-So a hundred zuz', they would be liable?

<big><strong>מתני׳</strong></big> משביע אני עליכם אם לא תבואו ותעידו שאני כהן שאני לוי שאיני בן גרושה שאיני בן חלוצה שאיש פלוני כהן שאיש פלוני לוי שאינו בן גרושה שאינו בן חלוצה שאנס

Surely he teaches in a later clause: [They are exempt] unless they hear [the adjuration] from the mouth of the claimant!<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Infra 35a.');">¹¹</span> - Samuel said: [It refers to a case where] he comes with power of attorney.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Our Mishnah, which implies that if it were a money claim the witnesses would be liable even if the person who adjured them was not the claimant, refers to a case where he who adjured the witnesses was authorised by the creditor to claim the debt on his behalf.');">¹²</span> But the Nehardeans say: We do not write an authorisation on movables!<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' B.K. 70a.');">¹³</span>

איש פלוני את בתו ופתה את בתו ושחבל בי בני ושחבל בי חבירי שהדליק גדישי בשבת הרי אלו פטורין:

- That is only when he denies it, but when he does not deny it, we do write.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Should then the debtor deny the claim after the authorisation was given, the witnesses, by withholding their testimony, would cause a loss to the claimant, and therefore be liable.');">¹⁴</span> Our Rabbis taught: How do we know that the verse refers only to a money claim? R'Eliezer said, Here<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' In connection with the oath of testimony.');">¹⁵</span>

<big><strong>גמ׳</strong></big> טעמא דאיש פלוני כהן דאיש פלוני לוי הא מנה לפלוני ביד פלוני חייבין הא קתני סיפא עד שישמעו מפי התובע

it is said: or. or;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' A woman (whose husband died without issue) released, by the ceremony of halizah (Deut. XXV, 9) , from marrying her husband's brother.');">⁶</span> and there<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' In connection with the oath of deposit.');">¹⁷</span>

אמר שמואל בבא בהרשאה והאמרי נהרדעי לא כתבינן אורכתא אמטלטלי ה"מ היכא דכפריה אבל לא כפריה כתבינן

it is said: or. or; just as there it refers only to a money claim, so here i refers only to a money claim. But let the or.

ת"ר מנין שאין הכתוב מדבר אלא בתביעת ממון ר' אליעזר אומר נאמר כאן (ויקרא ה, א) אואין ונאמר להלן (ויקרא ה, כא) אואין מה להלן אינו מדבר אלא בתביעת ממון אף כאן אינו מדבר אלא בתביעת ממון

or of a murderer<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Num. XXXV, 18-21: or if he smote him with a weapon of wood . . or hurled at him . . or in enmity smote him.');">¹⁹</span> prove [that a money claim is not intended], for they are or. or, and refer not to a money claim! We deduce or.

(במדבר לה, כא) אואין דרוצח יוכיחו שהן אואין ומדברים שלא בתביעת ממון

or which are concerned with an oath<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Oath of testimony.');">²⁰</span> from or. or which are concerned with an oath;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Oath of deposit.');">²¹</span>

דנין אואין שיש עמהן שבועה מאואין שיש עמהן שבועה ואל יוכיחו אואין דרוצח שאין עמהן שבועה

and let not the or. or of a murderer prove [anything], for they are not concerned with an oath. But let the or.

(במדבר ה, יד) אואין דסוטה יוכיחו שהן אואין ויש עמהן שבועה ומדברים שלא בתביעת ממון

or a sotah<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Woman suspected by husband of infidelity; Num. V, 12-31.');">²²</span> prove, for they are or. or,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Num. V, 14: or if the spirit of jealousy; ibid. 30: or when the spirit of jealousy.');">²³</span>

דנין אואין שיש עמהן שבועה ואין עמהן כהן מאואין שיש עמהן שבועה ואין עמהן כהן ואל יוכיחו אואין דרוצח שאין עמהן שבועה ואל יוכיחו אואין דסוטה שאע"פ שיש עמהן שבועה יש עמהן כהן

and are concerned with an oath,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ibid. 21, 22: the priest shall cause the woman to swear.');">²⁴</span> and refer not to a money claim!<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' But to make her drink the bitter waters; Num. V, 24.');">²⁵</span> We deduce or.

ר"ע אומר (ויקרא ה, ה) והיה כי יאשם לאחת מאלה יש מאלה שהוא חייב ויש מאלה שהוא פטור הא כיצד תבעו ממון חייב ד"א פטור

or which are concerned with an oath, and not concerned with a priest from or. or which are concerned with an oath, and not concerned with a priest; and let not the or. or of a murderer prove [anything], for they are not concerned with an oath; nor let the or.

ר' יוסי הגלילי אומר הרי הוא אומר (ויקרא ה, א) והוא עד או ראה או ידע בעדות המתקיימת בראיה בלא ידיעה ובידיעה בלא ראיה הכתוב מדבר

or of a sotah prove [anything], for, although they are concerned with an oath, they are also concerned with a priest. R'Akiba said: And it shall be, when he shall be guilty in one of these things<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lev. V, 5.');">²⁶</span> - in some of 'these things' he is liable, and in some of 'these things' he is exempt: how is this?

ראיה בלא ידיעה כיצד מנה מניתי לך בפני פלוני ופלוני יבואו פלוני ופלוני ויעידו זו היא ראיה בלא ידיעה

If he claimed from him money, he<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The witness who withholds testimony.');">²⁷</span> is liable, if something else, he is exempt. R'Jose the Galilean said, Behold Scripture says: He being a witness, whether he hath seen or known<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lev. V, 1.');">²⁸</span>

ידיעה בלא ראיה כיצד מנה הודיתה לי בפני פלוני ופלוני יבואו פלוני ופלוני ויעידו זו היא ידיעה בלא ראיה

- of such testimony as may be established by seeing without knowing, and by knowing without seeing, the verse deals.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' And this is only possible in a money claim, as he explains.');">²⁹</span> 'Seeing without knowing', how? 'A hundred zuz I counted out to you before So-and-so and So-and-so.'<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The claimant says to the debtor: 'The witnesses saw me counting out the money to you, but I did not tell them if it was a gift or loan or repayment of debt.'');">³⁰</span> 'Let So-and-so and So-and-so come and bear testimony.'<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The debtor replies: 'If they testify that they saw you counting out the money to me, I will pay you.'');">³¹</span>

ר"ש אומר חייב כאן וחייב בפקדון מה להלן אינו מדבר אלא בתביעת ממון אף כאן אינו מדבר אלא בתביעת ממון

This is seeing without knowing.' Knowing without seeing', how? 'You admitted that you owe me a hundred zuz before So-and-So and So-and-so.'<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' They did not see the transaction; they only heard your admission, and therefore know that you owe me the money.');">³²</span> 'Let So-and-so and So-and-so come and bear testimony.'<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' That they heard my admission, and I will pay you.');">³³</span>

ועוד ק"ו מה פקדון שעשה בו נשים כאנשים קרובים כרחוקים פסולים ככשרים וחייב על

This is knowing without seeing. R'Simeon said: He is liable here,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' In the case of oath of testimony.');">³⁴</span> and he is liable in [the case of] deposit; just as there it deals only w a money claim, so here it deals only with a money claim; and further, [we have an argument] from minor to major: Deposit, where the law makes women equal to men, relatives equal to non-relatives, those ineligible [to bear testimony] equal to those eligible, and where he is liable for