## Bava Kamma Daf 52a

###### Bava Kamma 52a:1
[Bava Kamma 52a:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Kamma/r/52a:1)

כֵּיוָן שֶׁמָּסַר לוֹ מַפְתֵּחַ – קָנָה.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**once he has conveyed the key to him, he has acquired** it.


###### Bava Kamma 52a:2
[Bava Kamma 52a:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Kamma/r/52a:2)

הֵיכִי דָמֵי? אִי בְּכַסְפָּא – לִיקְנֵי בְּכַסְפָּא! אִי בַּחֲזָקָה – לִיקְנֵי בַּחֲזָקָה! לְעוֹלָם בַּחֲזָקָה, וּבָעֵי לְמֵימַר לֵיהּ ״לֵךְ חֲזֵק וּקְנֵי״; וְכֵיוָן שֶׁמָּסַר לוֹ מַפְתֵּחַ, כְּמַאן דַּאֲמַר לֵיהּ ״לֵךְ חֲזֵק וּקְנֵי״ דָּמֵי.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
Here too, the Gemara asks: **What are the circumstances** involving this sale? **If** it was a transaction **by** payment of **money,** then **let** him **acquire** it **by** paying **money. If** it was **by taking possession** of it, **let** him **acquire** it **by taking possession.** What is the significance of transferring the key? The Gemara answers: **Actually,** the transaction occurred by **taking possession, and** in that case, the seller usually **must say to him: Go, take possession, and** thereby **acquire** it for yourself. **And** in this case, **once he conveys the key to him,** he is considered **like one who says to him: Go, take possession, and** thereby **acquire** it.


###### Bava Kamma 52a:3
[Bava Kamma 52a:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Kamma/r/52a:3)

אָמַר רֵישׁ לָקִישׁ מִשּׁוּם רַבִּי יַנַּאי: הַמּוֹכֵר עֵדֶר לַחֲבֵירוֹ, כֵּיוָן שֶׁמָּסַר לוֹ מַשְׁכּוּכִית – קָנָה.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
Similarly, **Reish Lakish says in the name of Rabbi Yannai:** With regard to one **who sells a flock** of sheep **to another, once he conveys the *mashkukhit* to** the buyer, **he has acquired** the flock.


###### Bava Kamma 52a:4
[Bava Kamma 52a:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Kamma/r/52a:4)

הֵיכִי דָמֵי? אִי בִּמְשִׁיכָה – לִיקְנֵי בִּמְשִׁיכָה! אִי בִּמְסִירָה – לִיקְנֵי בִּמְסִירָה! לְעוֹלָם בִּמְשִׁיכָה, וּבָעֵי לְמֵימַר לֵיהּ: ״לֵךְ מְשׁוֹךְ וּקְנֵי״, וְכֵיוָן דְּמָסַר לוֹ מַשְׁכּוּכִית – כְּמַאן דְּאָמַר לֵיהּ: ״לֵךְ מְשׁוֹךְ וּקְנֵי״ דָּמֵי.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara asks: **What are the circumstances** of this case? **If** the transaction occurred **by pulling** the flock into his possession, then **let** the buyer **acquire** it **by pulling. If** it was **by conveying** it, **let** the buyer **acquire** it **by** the seller **conveying** it. The Gemara answers: **Actually,** it was a transaction **by pulling, and** in that case, the seller usually **must say to him: Go, pull** it **and acquire** it for yourself. **And** in this case, **once he conveys the *mashkukhit* to him,** he is **like one who says to him: Go, pull** it **and acquire** it.


###### Bava Kamma 52a:5
[Bava Kamma 52a:5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Kamma/r/52a:5)

מַאי מַשְׁכּוּכִית? הָכָא תַּרְגִּמוּ: קַרְקַשְׁתָּא. רַבִּי יַעֲקֹב אוֹמֵר: עִיזָּא דְּאָזְלָא בְּרֵישׁ עֶדְרָא – כְּדִדְרַשׁ הַהוּא גָּלִילָאָה עֲלֵיהּ דְּרַב חִסְדָּא: כַּד רָגֵיז רָעֲיָא עַל עָנָא, עָבֵיד לְנַגָּדָא סַמְוָתָא.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara asks: **What** is this ***mashkukhit*? Here,** in Babylonia, **they translate** it as **a bell [*karkashta*]** that the shepherd rings and whose sound the flock follows. **Rabbi Ya’akov says:** It is referring to **the goat that goes at the front** of **the flock** that they follow. The Gemara notes: This explanation of Rabbi Ya’akov is similar to **that which a certain Galilean taught in the presence of Rav Ḥisda concerning** this goat: **When a shepherd is angry with his flock, he renders** the goat **leading [*lenaggada*]** them, i.e., the *mashkukhit*, **blind.** Similarly, when God is angry with the Jewish people, he appoints unsuitable leaders for them.


###### Bava Kamma 52a:6
[Bava Kamma 52a:6](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Kamma/r/52a:6)

**מַתְנִי׳** כִּסָּהוּ הָרִאשׁוֹן, וּבָא הַשֵּׁנִי וּמְצָאוֹ מְגוּלֶּה, וְלֹא כִּסָּהוּ – הַשֵּׁנִי חַיָּיב. כִּסָּהוּ כָּרָאוּי, וְנָפַל לְתוֹכוֹ שׁוֹר אוֹ חֲמוֹר, וָמֵת – פָּטוּר. לֹא כִּסָּהוּ כָּרָאוּי, וְנָפַל לְתוֹכוֹ שׁוֹר אוֹ חֲמוֹר, וָמֵת – חַיָּיב.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**MISHNA:** The mishna lists several *halakhot* that pertain to damage classified as Pit: In the case of a pit that **the first** person who passed by **covered** after using **it, and** then **the second came** to use it **and found it uncovered** after the cover fell off or was damaged, **and** he **did not cover it, the second** one is **liable** for damage caused by the pit. If the owner **covered** the pit **appropriately and an ox or a donkey fell into it and died,** he is **exempt.** If he **did not cover** the pit **appropriately and an ox or a donkey fell into it and died,** he is **liable.**


###### Bava Kamma 52a:7
[Bava Kamma 52a:7](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Kamma/r/52a:7)

נָפַל לְפָנָיו מִקּוֹל הַכְּרִיָּיה – חַיָּיב, לְאַחֲרָיו מִקּוֹל הַכְּרִיָּיה – פָּטוּר.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
If a man was digging or widening a pit, and an ox passing by **fell forward** into it in fright **due to the sound** of **the digging,** he is **liable.** If it fell **backward** into the pit **due to the sound** of **the digging,** he is **exempt.**


###### Bava Kamma 52a:8
[Bava Kamma 52a:8](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Kamma/r/52a:8)

נָפַל לְתוֹכוֹ שׁוֹר וְכֵלָיו – וְנִשְׁתַּבְּרוּ, חֲמוֹר וְכֵלָיו – וְנִתְקָרְעוּ; חַיָּיב עַל הַבְּהֵמָה, וּפָטוּר עַל הַכֵּלִים.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
If **an ox and its accoutrements,** i.e., the vessels it was carrying, **fell into** the pit **and** the vessels **were broken,** or if **a donkey and its accoutrements** fell in **and** the accoutrements **were torn,** the owner of the pit is **liable for** damage to **the animal** caused by the pit, **but** he is **exempt** from liability **for** damage caused to **the vessels,** by Torah edict.


###### Bava Kamma 52a:9
[Bava Kamma 52a:9](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Kamma/r/52a:9)

נָפַל לְתוֹכוֹ שׁוֹר חֵרֵשׁ שׁוֹטֶה וְקָטָן – חַיָּיב. בֵּן אוֹ בַּת, עֶבֶד אוֹ אָמָה – פָּטוּר.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
If **an ox** that was impaired by being **deaf,** or an ox that was **an imbecile, or** an ox that was very **young fell into** the pit, he is **liable.** If **a boy or a girl,** a Canaanite **slave or** a Canaanite **maidservant** fell in, he is **exempt,** since there is a Torah edict that the digger of a pit is liable only for damage caused to an animal.


###### Bava Kamma 52a:10
[Bava Kamma 52a:10](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Kamma/r/52a:10)

**גְּמָ׳** וְרִאשׁוֹן עַד אֵימַת מִיפְּטַר? אָמַר רַב: בִּכְדֵי שֶׁיֵּדַע. וּשְׁמוּאֵל אָמַר: בִּכְדֵי שֶׁיּוֹדִיעוּהוּ. וְרַבִּי יוֹחָנָן אָמַר: בִּכְדִי שֶׁיּוֹדִיעוּהוּ, וְיִשְׂכּוֹר פּוֹעֲלִים, וְיִכְרוֹת אֲרָזִים וִיכַסֶּנּוּ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**GEMARA:** With regard to the first case in the mishna, the Gemara asks: **And until when** is **the first** person **exempt** if the pit is later uncovered? **Rav says:** He is exempt from liability for the time necessary **for** him **to** become **aware** that it became uncovered. Once this time has passed, he bears responsibility. **And Shmuel says:** He is exempt for the time necessary **for** others **to** realize that the pit is uncovered and **inform him. And Rabbi Yoḥanan says:** He is exempt for the time necessary **for** others **to inform him** that the cover has fallen down **and** for him to **hire workers and cut cedar trees** to make a suitable cover **and cover it.** After this period of time has passed, the first bears responsibility.


###### Bava Kamma 52a:11
[Bava Kamma 52a:11](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Kamma/r/52a:11)

כִּסָּהוּ כָּרָאוּי, וְנָפַל לְתוֹכוֹ שׁוֹר אוֹ חֲמוֹר, וָמֵת – פָּטוּר. כֵּיוָן דְּכִסָּהוּ כָּרָאוּי, הֵיכִי נְפַל? אָמַר רַבִּי יִצְחָק בַּר בַּר חָנָה: שֶׁהִתְלִיעַ מִתּוֹכוֹ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
§ The mishna teaches: If he **covered** the pit **appropriately and an ox or a donkey fell inside and died,** he is **exempt.** The Gemara asks: **Since he covered** the pit **appropriately, how** did it **fall** in? **Rabbi Yitzḥak bar bar Ḥana says:** This is a case **where** the cover **rotted from the inside,** and he could not have known that the cover was damaged. Therefore, he is not responsible for damage caused as a result.


###### Bava Kamma 52a:12
[Bava Kamma 52a:12](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Kamma/r/52a:12)

אִיבַּעְיָא לְהוּ: כִּסָּהוּ כִּסּוּי שֶׁיָּכוֹל לַעֲמוֹד לִפְנֵי שְׁווֹרִים, וְאֵין יָכוֹל לַעֲמוֹד בִּפְנֵי גְמַלִּים; וַאֲתוֹ גְּמַלִּים וְאָרְעוּהּ, וְאָתוּ שְׁווֹרִים וְנָפְלִי בֵּיהּ – מַאי? אָמְרִי: הֵיכִי דָמֵי? אִי דִּשְׁכִיחִי גְּמַלִּים – פּוֹשֵׁעַ הוּא! וְאִי דְּלָא שְׁכִיחִי גְּמַלִּים – אָנוּס הוּא!

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**A dilemma was raised before** the Sages: If he **covered it** with **a cover that** is **able to withstand** the weight of **oxen but cannot withstand** the weight of **camels,** which are heavier, **and camels came and weakened it, and** subsequently **oxen came** and broke the weakened cover **and fell into** the pit, **what** is the *halakha*? The Sages **said** in response: **What are the circumstances? If camels are** commonly **found** there, **he is negligent,** since he should have constructed the cover suitably for camels as well. And **if camels are not** commonly **found** there, then **he is a victim of circumstances beyond his control** if by chance they did come and weaken the cover.


###### Bava Kamma 52a:13
[Bava Kamma 52a:13](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Kamma/r/52a:13)

לָא צְרִיכָא, דַּאֲתוֹ לִפְרָקִים; מִי אָמְרִינַן כֵּיוָן דְּאָתַיִין לִפְרָקִים – פּוֹשֵׁעַ הוּא, דְּאִיבְּעִי לֵיהּ אַסּוֹקֵי אַדַּעְתֵּיהּ; אוֹ דִלְמָא, כֵּיוָן דְּהַשְׁתָּא מִיהַת לֵיכָּא – אָנוּס הוּא?

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara answers: **No,** it is **necessary** in a case **where** camels **come occasionally,** in which case the question effectively becomes: **Do we say** that **since they come occasionally, he is** considered **negligent, since he should have anticipated** their coming? **Or perhaps since now, in any event, there are no** camels, **he is a victim of circumstances beyond his control.**


###### Bava Kamma 52a:14
[Bava Kamma 52a:14](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Kamma/r/52a:14)

תָּא שְׁמַע: כִּסָּהוּ כָּרָאוּי, וְנָפַל לְתוֹכוֹ שׁוֹר אוֹ חֲמוֹר, וָמֵת – פָּטוּר. הֵיכִי דָמֵי? אִילֵּימָא כָּרָאוּי לִשְׁווֹרִים וְכָרָאוּי לִגְמַלִּים – הֵיכִי נְפוּל? אֶלָּא לָאו כָּרָאוּי לִשְׁווֹרִים,

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Come** and **hear** a possible proof from the mishna: If he **covered** the pit **appropriately, and an ox or a donkey fell into it and died,** he is **exempt.** Now **what are the circumstances? If we say** that he covered it **appropriately for oxen and appropriately for camels,** then **how** did they **fall** in? **Rather, is it not** the case that he covered it with a covering that was **appropriate for oxen**