## Bava Kamma Daf 39b

###### Bava Kamma 39b:1
[Bava Kamma 39b:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Kamma/r/39b:1)

מִמַּנְעִי וְלָא עָבְדִי. רַבִּי יוֹסֵי בַּר חֲנִינָא אָמַר מֵעֲלִיַּית אַפּוֹטְרוֹפּוֹס – וְחוֹזְרִין וְנִפְרָעִין מִן הַיְּתוֹמִים לְכִי גָדְלִי.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
people **will refrain from becoming** stewards, fearing that they would incur a financial loss by having to pay for damage caused by the orphans’ animals. By contrast, **Rabbi Yosei bar Ḥanina says** that it is collected **from the superior-quality** property **of the steward, and** there is no concern that people will refrain from becoming stewards, because if they pay for the orphans **they are subsequently repaid by the orphans when they grow up.**


###### Bava Kamma 39b:2
[Bava Kamma 39b:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Kamma/r/39b:2)

וּ״מַעֲמִידִים לָהֶן אַפּוֹטְרוֹפִּין לְתָם לִגְבּוֹת מִגּוּפוֹ״ – תַּנָּאֵי הִיא,

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara notes: **And** the matter of whether or not the court **appoints stewards for** the halakhically incompetent owners **of an innocuous** ox **for** the purpose of **collecting** damages **from** the sale of **its body** if it gores **is** subject to a dispute between ***tanna’im*.**


###### Bava Kamma 39b:3
[Bava Kamma 39b:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Kamma/r/39b:3)

דְּתַנְיָא: שׁוֹר שֶׁנִּתְחָרְשׁוּ בְּעָלָיו, וְשֶׁנִּשְׁתַּטּוּ בְּעָלָיו, וְשֶׁהָלְכוּ בְּעָלָיו לִמְדִינַת הַיָּם – יְהוּדָה בֶּן נְקוֹסָא אָמַר סוֹמְכוֹס: הֲרֵי הוּא בְּתַמּוּתוֹ עַד שֶׁיָּעִידוּ בּוֹ בִּפְנֵי הַבְּעָלִים. וַחֲכָמִים אוֹמְרִים: מַעֲמִידִין לָהֶן אַפּוֹטְרוֹפִּין, וּמְעִידִין בָּהֶן בִּפְנֵי אַפּוֹטְרוֹפִּין.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**As it is taught** in a *baraita*: With regard to **an ox whose owner became a deaf-mute, or whose owner became an imbecile, or whose owner went overseas,** if the ox gores, **Yehuda ben Nakosa** said that **Sumakhos said: It retains its** status of **innocuousness until** the court **renders it forewarned in the presence of the owner. And the Rabbis say:** The court **appoints stewards for them, and** the ox **is rendered forewarned in the presence of the stewards.**


###### Bava Kamma 39b:4
[Bava Kamma 39b:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Kamma/r/39b:4)

נִתְפַּקֵּחַ הַחֵרֵשׁ, נִשְׁתַּפָּה הַשּׁוֹטֶה וְהִגְדִּיל הַקָּטָן – וּבָאוּ בְּעָלָיו מִמְּדִינַת הַיָּם, יְהוּדָה בֶּן נְקוֹסָא אָמַר סוֹמְכוֹס: חָזַר לְתַמּוּתוֹ, עַד שֶׁיָּעִידוּ בּוֹ בִּפְנֵי בְעָלִים. רַבִּי יוֹסֵי אָמַר: הֲרֵי הוּא בְּחֶזְקָתוֹ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
If **the deaf-mute regained his hearing,** or **the imbecile became** halakhically **competent, or the minor reached majority, or its owner came** back **from overseas, Yehuda ben Nakosa** said that **Sumakhos said:** The ox **has reverted to its** previous status of **innocuousness, until it is rendered forewarned in the presence of the owner. Rabbi Yosei said:** The ox **retains its status** of being forewarned.


###### Bava Kamma 39b:5
[Bava Kamma 39b:5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Kamma/r/39b:5)

אֲמַרוּ: מַאי ״הֲרֵי הוּא בְּתַמּוּתוֹ״ דְּקָאָמַר סוֹמְכוֹס? אִילֵּימָא דְּלָא מִיַּיעַד כְּלָל – הָא מִדְּקָתָנֵי סֵיפָא ״חָזַר לְתַמּוּתוֹ״, מִכְּלָל דְּאִיַּיעַד!

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Sages **said: What did Sumakhos** mean **by saying** that **it retains its** status of **innocuousness? If we say that** he meant that **it is not rendered forewarned at all,** and is still considered innocuous, **from** the fact **that** Sumakhos himself **teaches** in **the latter clause** of the *baraita* that the ox **has reverted to its** previous status of **innocuousness,** it is clear **by inference that** previously **it was rendered forewarned.**


###### Bava Kamma 39b:6
[Bava Kamma 39b:6](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Kamma/r/39b:6)

אֶלָּא מַאי ״הֲרֵי הוּא בְּתַמּוּתוֹ״ – הֲרֵי הוּא בִּתְמִימוּתוֹ, דְּלָא מְחַסְּרִינַן לֵיהּ. אַלְמָא אֵין מַעֲמִידִין אַפּוֹטְרוֹפּוֹס לְתָם לִגְבּוֹת מִגּוּפוֹ. וַחֲכָמִים אוֹמְרִים: מַעֲמִידִין לָהֶן אַפּוֹטְרוֹפּוֹס, וּמְעִידִין לָהֶן בִּפְנֵי אַפּוֹטְרוֹפּוֹס – אַלְמָא מַעֲמִידִין אַפּוֹטְרוֹפּוֹס לְתָם לִגְבּוֹת מִגּוּפוֹ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Rather, what** did Sumakhos mean by saying that **it retains its** status of **innocuousness [*betammuto*]?** He meant that **it retains its completeness [*bitmimuto*], as we do not reduce its** owner’s share of it by collecting compensation from the sale of its body. Rather, the injured party must wait until the owner becomes competent or returns. **Apparently,** the court **does not appoint a steward for** the owner **of an innocuous** ox to enable the injured party **to collect** damages **from its body. And the Rabbis,** who disagree with Sumakhos, **say** that the court **appoints a steward for** the owner **and renders** the ox **forewarned in the presence of the steward. Apparently,** they hold that the court **does appoint a steward for** the owner **of an innocuous** ox to enable the injured party **to collect** damages **from its body.**


###### Bava Kamma 39b:7
[Bava Kamma 39b:7](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Kamma/r/39b:7)

וְסֵיפָא בְּמַאי קָמִיפַּלְגִי? רְשׁוּת מְשַׁנָּה אִיכָּא בֵּינַיְיהוּ – סוֹמְכוֹס סָבַר: רְשׁוּת מְשַׁנָּה, וְרַבִּי יוֹסֵי סָבַר: רְשׁוּת אֵינָהּ מְשַׁנָּה.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara asks: **And** in **the latter clause** of the *baraita*, **with regard to what** principle **do they disagree?** The Gemara answers: The difference **between them** is with regard to whether a change of **custody changes** the status of the ox. **Sumakhos holds** that a change of **custody changes** the status of the ox, **whereas Rabbi Yosei holds** that a change of **custody does not change** it; rather, it is determined by the actions of the ox itself, regardless of its custody.


###### Bava Kamma 39b:8
[Bava Kamma 39b:8](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Kamma/r/39b:8)

תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: שׁוֹר חֵרֵשׁ שׁוֹטֶה וְקָטָן שֶׁנָּגַח – רַבִּי יַעֲקֹב מְשַׁלֵּם חֲצִי נֶזֶק.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
§ **The Sages taught** in a *baraita*: With regard to **an ox that gored** that belonged to **a deaf-mute, an imbecile, or a minor, Rabbi Ya’akov pays half** the cost of **the damage.**


###### Bava Kamma 39b:9
[Bava Kamma 39b:9](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Kamma/r/39b:9)

רַבִּי יַעֲקֹב מַאי עֲבִידְתֵּיהּ? אֶלָּא אֵימָא, רַבִּי יַעֲקֹב אוֹמֵר: מְשַׁלֵּם חֲצִי נֶזֶק.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara asks: **What did Rabbi Ya’akov do** that he should pay for the damage? **Rather,** emend the *baraita* and **say: Rabbi Ya’akov says** that **he pays half** the cost of **the damage.**


###### Bava Kamma 39b:10
[Bava Kamma 39b:10](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Kamma/r/39b:10)

בְּמַאי עָסְקִינַן? אִי בְּתָם – פְּשִׁיטָא, דְּכוּלֵּי עָלְמָא נָמֵי חֲצִי נֶזֶק הוּא דִּמְשַׁלֵּם! וְאִי בְּמוּעָד, אִי דְּעָבְדִי לֵיהּ שְׁמִירָה – כְּלָל כְּלָל לָא בָּעֵי לְשַׁלּוֹמֵי, וְאִי דְּלָא עָבְדִי לֵיהּ שְׁמִירָה – כּוּלֵּיהּ נֶזֶק בָּעֵי שַׁלּוֹמֵי!

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara asks: **With what are we dealing? If** it is **with regard to an innocuous** ox, **isn’t** this **obvious? Everyone** else **also** holds that one **pays half** the cost of **the damage** caused by their ox that gored, so what is the novel element of Rabbi Ya’akov’s statement? **And if** it is **with regard to a forewarned** ox it is unclear why the owner pays half the cost of the damage, as **if** it is a case **where he provided** adequate **safeguarding for it he is not required to pay at all, and if** it is a case **where he did not provide** adequate **safeguarding for it he is required to pay the entire** cost of the **damage.**


###### Bava Kamma 39b:11
[Bava Kamma 39b:11](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Kamma/r/39b:11)

אָמַר רָבָא: לְעוֹלָם בְּמוּעָד, וְהָכָא בְּמַאי עָסְקִינַן – דְּעָבְדִי שְׁמִירָה פְּחוּתָה, וְלָא עָבְדִי לֵיהּ שְׁמִירָה מְעוּלָּה.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Rava said: Actually,** Rabbi Ya’akov stated his ruling **with regard to a forewarned** ox, **and here we are dealing with** a case **where he provided reduced safeguarding and did not provide superior safeguarding for it.**


###### Bava Kamma 39b:12
[Bava Kamma 39b:12](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Kamma/r/39b:12)

וְרַבִּי יַעֲקֹב סָבַר לַהּ כְּרַבִּי יְהוּדָה – דְּאָמַר: צַד תַּמּוּת בִּמְקוֹמָהּ עוֹמֶדֶת; וְסָבַר לַהּ כְּרַבִּי יְהוּדָה – דְּאָמַר: מוּעָד סַגִּי לֵיהּ בִּשְׁמִירָה פְּחוּתָה;

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**And Rabbi Ya’akov holds in accordance with** the opinion of **Rabbi Yehuda, who says** that when an ox is rendered forewarned the liability for **its element of innocuousness remains in place.** In other words, with regard to half of the damages, it is treated like an innocuous ox, and it is treated as a forewarned ox only with regard to the other half of the damages. Therefore, half the cost of the damage is still collected from the proceeds of the sale of its body. **And** furthermore, with regard to another issue Rabbi Ya’akov **holds in accordance with** the opinion of **Rabbi Yehuda, who says** that although superior safeguarding is necessary for an innocuous ox, **reduced safeguarding is sufficient for a forewarned** ox. Consequently, one who safeguards his forewarned ox in this manner is exempt from paying the additional half that he would be liable to pay due to the ox’s forewarned status. He is liable with respect to the half that he pays due to its remaining element of innocuousness.


###### Bava Kamma 39b:13
[Bava Kamma 39b:13](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Kamma/r/39b:13)

וְסָבַר לַהּ כְּרַבָּנַן – דְּאָמְרִי: מַעֲמִידִין אַפּוֹטְרוֹפּוֹס לְתָם לִגְבּוֹת מִגּוּפוֹ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**And** Rabbi Ya’akov also **holds in accordance with** the opinion of **the Rabbis, who say** that the court **appoints a steward for** the owner **of an innocuous** ox to enable the injured party **to collect** damages **from its body.** Therefore, Rabbi Ya’akov rules that in the case in the *baraita*, where a forewarned ox owned by a halakhically incompetent person is safeguarded in a reduced fashion, half the cost of the damage must be paid from the proceeds of the sale of its body.


###### Bava Kamma 39b:14
[Bava Kamma 39b:14](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Kamma/r/39b:14)

אֲמַר לֵיהּ אַבָּיֵי: וְלָא פְּלִיגִי?! וְהָתַנְיָא: שׁוֹר שֶׁל חֵרֵשׁ, שׁוֹטֶה וְקָטָן שֶׁנָּגַח – רַבִּי יְהוּדָה מְחַיֵּיב, וְרַבִּי יַעֲקֹב אוֹמֵר: חֲצִי נֶזֶק הוּא דִּמְשַׁלֵּם! אָמַר רַבָּה בַּר עוּלָּא: מַה שֶּׁמְּחַיֵּיב רַבִּי יְהוּדָה פֵּירֵשׁ רַבִּי יַעֲקֹב.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Abaye said to** Rava: **But do** Rabbi Yehuda and Rabbi Ya’akov **not disagree** with regard to this matter? **But isn’t it taught** in a *baraita* that with regard to **an ox of a deaf-mute, an imbecile, or a minor, that gored, Rabbi Yehuda deems** the owner **liable, and Rabbi Ya’akov says that he pays** only **half** the cost of **the damage? Rabba bar Ulla says:** There is no disagreement here; **Rabbi Ya’akov** merely **explained what Rabbi Yehuda deems him liable** to pay.


###### Bava Kamma 39b:15
[Bava Kamma 39b:15](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Kamma/r/39b:15)

וּלְאַבָּיֵי דְּאָמַר פְּלִיגִי, בְּמַאי פְּלִיגִי?

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara asks: **And according to Abaye, who says** that Rabbi Ya’akov and Rabbi Yehuda **disagree, with regard to what** principle **do they disagree?**


###### Bava Kamma 39b:16
[Bava Kamma 39b:16](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Kamma/r/39b:16)

אָמַר לָךְ: הָכָא בְּמַאי עָסְקִינַן – בְּמוּעָד, וְלָא נַטְרֵיהּ כְּלָל.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara answers: Abaye could have **said to you** that **here we are dealing with a forewarned** ox whose owner **did not safeguard it at all** and that is consequently liable for the full cost of the damage.


###### Bava Kamma 39b:17
[Bava Kamma 39b:17](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Kamma/r/39b:17)

רַבִּי יַעֲקֹב סָבַר לַהּ כְּרַבִּי יְהוּדָה בַּחֲדָא, וּפְלִיג עֲלֵיהּ בַּחֲדָא. סָבַר כְּרַבִּי יְהוּדָה בַּחֲדָא – דְּאִילּוּ רַבִּי יְהוּדָה סָבַר: צַד תַּמּוּת בִּמְקוֹמָהּ עוֹמֶדֶת; וּפְלִיג עֲלֵיהּ בַּחֲדָא – דְּאִילּוּ רַבִּי יְהוּדָה סָבַר: מַעֲמִידִין לָהֶן אַפּוֹטְרוֹפּוֹס לְתָם לִגְבּוֹת מִגּוּפוֹ, וְרַבִּי יַעֲקֹב סָבַר: אֵין מַעֲמִידִין, וְלָא מְשַׁלֵּם אֶלָּא פַּלְגָא דְמוּעָד.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
And **Rabbi Ya’akov holds in accordance with** the opinion of **Rabbi Yehuda with regard to one** issue **and disagrees with him with regard to one** issue. **He holds in accordance with** the opinion of **Rabbi Yehuda with regard to one** issue, **as Rabbi Yehuda holds** that when an ox is rendered forewarned **its element of innocuousness remains in its place,** and Rabbi Ya’akov agrees. **And he disagrees with him with regard to one** issue, **as Rabbi Yehuda holds** that the court **appoints a steward for** the owner **of an innocuous** ox to enable the injured party **to collect** damages **from its body, whereas Rabbi Ya’akov holds** that the court **does not appoint** a steward. Therefore, the owner is exempt from paying the half for which he would be liable due to the ox’s element of innocuousness, **and pays only the half** damages he is liable to pay **due to** its **forewarned** status.


###### Bava Kamma 39b:18
[Bava Kamma 39b:18](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Kamma/r/39b:18)

אֲמַר לֵיהּ רַב אַחָא בַּר אַבָּיֵי לְרָבִינָא: בִּשְׁלָמָא לְאַבָּיֵי דְּאָמַר פְּלִיגִי – שַׁפִּיר; אֶלָּא לְרָבָא דְּאָמַר לָא פְּלִיגִי – אַדְּמוֹקֵי לַהּ בְּמוּעָד, נוֹקְמַהּ בְּתָם!

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Rav Aḥa bar Abaye said to Ravina: Granted, according to Abaye, who says** that **they disagree,** the explanation **works out well. But according to Rava, who says** that **they do not disagree, instead of interpreting** the *baraita* as referring **to a forewarned** ox, **he should have interpreted it** as referring **to an innocuous** ox.