## Bava Metzia Daf 25b

###### Bava Metzia 25b:1
[Bava Metzia 25b:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Metzia/r/25b:1)

כְּאַבְנֵי בֵּית קוּלִיס, מַהוּ?

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
If they were configured **like the stones of the house** of worship dedicated to the Roman deity **Mercury, what is** the *halakha*?


###### Bava Metzia 25b:2
[Bava Metzia 25b:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Metzia/r/25b:2)

תָּא שְׁמַע, דְּתַנְיָא: מָצָא מָעוֹת מְפוּזָּרוֹת – הֲרֵי אֵלּוּ שֶׁלּוֹ, כְּאַבְנֵי בֵּית קוּלִיס – חַיָּיב לְהַכְרִיז. וְאֵלּוּ הֵן אַבְנֵי בֵּית קוּלִיס: אַחַת מִכָּאן וְאַחַת מִכָּאן וְאַחַת עַל גַּבֵּיהֶן.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara suggests: **Come** and **hear** a resolution of the dilemma. **As it is taught** in a *baraita*: If one **found scattered coins, these belong to him.** If they were configured **like the stones of the house** of worship dedicated to **Mercury,** he is **obligated to proclaim** his find. The Gemara explains: **And these are** coins that were configured **like the stones of the house** of worship dedicated to **Mercury: One** was situated **here** on one side, **and one** was situated **there** alongside it, **and one** was situated **atop** the two of **them.**


###### Bava Metzia 25b:3
[Bava Metzia 25b:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Metzia/r/25b:3)

תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: הַמּוֹצֵא סֶלַע בְּשׁוּק, וּמְצָאוֹ חֲבֵירוֹ וְאָמַר: שֶׁלִּי הִיא, חֲדָשָׁה הִיא, נִירוֹנִית הִיא, שֶׁל מֶלֶךְ פְּלוֹנִי הִיא – לֹא אָמַר כְּלוּם. וְלֹא עוֹד, אֶלָּא אֲפִילּוּ שְׁמוֹ כָּתוּב עָלֶיהָ – לֹא אָמַר כְּלוּם. לְפִי שֶׁאֵין סִימָן לְמַטְבֵּעַ. דְּאָמַר: דִּלְמָא אַפּוֹקֵי אַפְּקַהּ וּמֵאִינִישׁ אַחֲרִינָא נְפַל.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
§ **The Sages taught** in a *baraita*: In the case of **one who finds a *sela*** coin **in the marketplace and another** person **finds him and says: It is mine,** and the distinguishing mark is that **it is new,** or that it **is** a coin minted **by** the emperor **Nero,** or that it is minted **by king so-and-so, he has not said anything** and the finder need not give him the *sela*. **Moreover, even** if **his name is written on** the *sela* **he has not said anything, due to** the fact **that there is no distinguishing mark for a coin** that is effective in its recovery, **as** the finder **says: Perhaps he spent** the coin **and it fell from another person.**


###### Bava Metzia 25b:4
[Bava Metzia 25b:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Metzia/r/25b:4)

**מַתְנִי׳** מָצָא אַחַר הַגָּפָה אוֹ אַחַר הַגָּדֵר גּוֹזָלוֹת מְקוּשָּׁרִים, אוֹ בִּשְׁבִילִין שֶׁבַּשָּׂדוֹת – הֲרֵי זֶה לֹא יִגַּע בָּהֶן. מָצָא כְּלִי בָּאַשְׁפָּה, אִם מְכוּסֶּה – לֹא יִגַּע בּוֹ, אִם מְגוּלֶּה – נוֹטֵל וּמַכְרִיז.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**MISHNA:** If one **found, behind** a wooden **fence or behind** a stone **fence, bound fledglings, or** if he found them **in the paths that** run **through fields, he may not touch them,** as they were certainly placed there intentionally. In a case where **one found a vessel in a garbage dump, if** it is **concealed, he may not touch it,** as a person certainly concealed it there. **If** it is **exposed,** the finder **takes** the item **and proclaims** his find.


###### Bava Metzia 25b:5
[Bava Metzia 25b:5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Metzia/r/25b:5)

**גְּמָ׳** מַאי טַעְמָא? דְּאָמְרִינַן: הָנֵי, אִינָשׁ אַצְנְעִינְהוּ, וְאִי שָׁקֵיל לְהוּ – לֵית לְהוּ לְמָרַיְיהוּ סִימָנָא בְּגַוַּויְיהוּ, הִלְכָּךְ לִשְׁבְּקִינְהוּ עַד דְּאָתֵי מָרַיְיהוּ וְשָׁקֵיל לְהוּ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**GEMARA:** **What is the reason** that one may not touch the fledglings? The Gemara answers: The reason is **that we say** with regard to **these** birds: **A person concealed them, and if one takes them, their owner has no distinguishing mark on them** that would enable him to reclaim them. **Therefore, let** the finder **leave** the birds in place **until their owner comes and takes them.**


###### Bava Metzia 25b:6
[Bava Metzia 25b:6](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Metzia/r/25b:6)

וְאַמַּאי לֶיהֱוֵי קֶשֶׁר סִימָנָא! אָמַר רַבִּי אַבָּא בַּר זַבְדָּא אָמַר רַב: בִּמְקוּשָּׁרִין בְּכַנְפֵיהֶן, דְּכוּלֵּי עָלְמָא הָכִי מְקַטְּרִי לְהוּ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara asks: **But why? Let** the **knot** binding them serve as their **distinguishing mark. Rabbi Abba bar Zavda said** that **Rav said:** This is a case **where** the birds were **bound at their wings. Since everyone binds them** in **that** manner, the knot binding the birds is not a distinguishing mark.


###### Bava Metzia 25b:7
[Bava Metzia 25b:7](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Metzia/r/25b:7)

וְלֶהֱוֵי מָקוֹם סִימָן! אָמַר רַב עוּקְבָא בַּר חָמָא: בְּמִדַּדִּין. אִי בְּמִדַּדִּין – מֵעָלְמָא אָתוּ וּמוּתָּרִין!

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara asks: **And let** their **location** serve as their **distinguishing mark. Rav Ukva bar Ḥama said:** This is a case **where** the birds **hop** and do not remain in place. The Gemara asks: **If** it is a case **where** the birds **hop,** perhaps the birds **came** to that location **from elsewhere and** it **is permitted** for the finder to keep them.


###### Bava Metzia 25b:8
[Bava Metzia 25b:8](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Metzia/r/25b:8)

אִיכָּא לְמֵימַר מֵעָלְמָא אֲתוֹ, וְאִיכָּא לְמֵימַר אִינָשׁ אַצְנְעִינְהוּ, וְהָוֵה לֵיהּ סְפֵק הִינּוּחַ, וְאָמַר רַבִּי אַבָּא בַּר זַבְדָּא אָמַר רַב: כֹּל סְפֵק הִינּוּחַ – לְכַתְּחִילָּה לֹא יִטּוֹל, וְאִם נָטַל לֹא יַחֲזִיר.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara answers: **It can be said that** the birds **came from elsewhere and it can be said** that **a person concealed them, and** the result **is uncertainty** with regard to whether the **placement** of the birds was deliberate, i.e., whether or not they are lost items. **And Rabbi Abba bar Zavda says** that **Rav says:** In **any** case of **uncertainty** as to whether the **placement** of an item was deliberate, one **may not take** it ***ab initio*. And if he took** it, he need **not return** it.


###### Bava Metzia 25b:9
[Bava Metzia 25b:9](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Metzia/r/25b:9)

מָצָא כְּלִי בָּאַשְׁפָּה, מְכוּסֶּה – לֹא יִגַּע בּוֹ, מְגוּלֶּה – נוֹטֵל וּמַכְרִיז. וּרְמִינְהוּ: מָצָא כְּלִי טָמוּן בָּאַשְׁפָּה – נוֹטֵל וּמַכְרִיז, שֶׁכֵּן דֶּרֶךְ אַשְׁפָּה לִפַּנּוֹת.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
§ The mishna teaches: In a case where **one found a vessel in a garbage dump, if** it is **concealed, he may not touch it,** as a person certainly concealed it there. **If** it is **exposed,** the finder **takes** the item **and proclaims** his find. The Gemara **raises a contradiction** from a *baraita*: If one **found a vessel concealed in a garbage dump,** the finder **takes** the item **and proclaims** his find, **because** it is **routine** for **a garbage dump to be cleared.** Therefore, presumably it was not placed there; rather, it is a lost item and one is obligated to proclaim his find.


###### Bava Metzia 25b:10
[Bava Metzia 25b:10](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Metzia/r/25b:10)

אָמַר רַב זְבִיד, לָא קַשְׁיָא: הָא בְּכוּבֵּי וְכָסֵי, הָא בְּסַכִּינֵי וְהֶמְנֵיק. בְּכוּבֵּי וְכָסֵי – לֹא יִגַּע, בְּסַכִּינֵי וְהֶמְנֵיק – נוֹטֵל וּמַכְרִיז.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Rav Zevid said** that this is **not difficult: This** mishna is referring **to containers or cups. That** *baraita* is referring **to knives or a fork [*vehamnik*].** The Gemara elaborates: **In** the case of **containers or cups,** which are large, it is inconceivable that they fell there inadvertently, so **he may not touch** them. **In** the case of **knives or forks,** which are small, there is room for uncertainty as to whether it was placed there or whether it fell, so the finder **takes** the item **and proclaims** his find.


###### Bava Metzia 25b:11
[Bava Metzia 25b:11](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Metzia/r/25b:11)

רַב פָּפָּא אָמַר: הָא וְהָא בְּכוּבֵּי וְכָסֵי, וְלָא קַשְׁיָא: כָּאן בְּאַשְׁפָּה הָעֲשׂוּיָה לִפַּנּוֹת, כָּאן בְּאַשְׁפָּה שֶׁאֵינָהּ עֲשׂוּיָה לִפַּנּוֹת.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Rav Pappa said:** Both **this** *baraita* **and that** mishna are referring **to containers and cups, and** nevertheless, it is **not difficult: Here,** the *baraita* is referring **to a garbage dump that is designed to be cleared;** therefore, he must take the vessel and proclaim his find to prevent it from being cleared with the garbage. **There,** the mishna is referring **to a garbage dump that is not designed to be cleared;** as it is possible that the owner placed it there, the finder may not touch it.


###### Bava Metzia 25b:12
[Bava Metzia 25b:12](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Metzia/r/25b:12)

אַשְׁפָּה הָעֲשׂוּיָה לִפַּנּוֹת אֲבֵידָה מִדַּעַת הִיא! אֶלָּא בְּאַשְׁפָּה שֶׁאֵינָהּ עֲשׂוּיָה לִפַּנּוֹת, וְנִמְלַךְ עָלֶיהָ לְפַנּוֹתָהּ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara asks: How could one be obligated to proclaim his find of a vessel in a **garbage dump that is designed to be cleared?** Even if the owner of the vessel concealed it there, it is **a deliberate loss** and the owner renounced ownership of the vessel. The Gemara answers: **Rather,** the *baraita* is referring to **a garbage dump that is not designed to be cleared, and** the owner of the land **reconsidered** and decided **to clear it.**


###### Bava Metzia 25b:13
[Bava Metzia 25b:13](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Metzia/r/25b:13)

בִּשְׁלָמָא לְרַב פָּפָּא – הַיְינוּ דְּקָתָנֵי: שֶׁכֵּן דֶּרֶךְ אַשְׁפָּה לִפַּנּוֹת. אֶלָּא לְרַב זְבִיד, מַאי שֶׁכֵּן דֶּרֶךְ אַשְׁפָּה לִפַּנּוֹת? שֶׁכֵּן דֶּרֶךְ אַשְׁפָּה לְפַנּוֹת לָהּ כֵּלִים קְטַנִּים.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara asks: **Granted, according to Rav Pappa, this** is the reason **that the** *tanna* **teaches** in the *baraita*: He takes it and proclaims his find, **because** it is **routine** for **a garbage dump to be cleared,** as the ruling is dependent on whether the dump is ultimately cleared. **But according to Rav Zevid,** the reason for the ruling in the *baraita* is that the utensils found were knives and forks. **What** is the relevance of the statement in the *baraita*: **Because** it is **routine** for **a garbage dump to be cleared?** The Gemara answers that according to Rav Zevid, it means: **Because** it is **routine** for **a garbage dump to** inadvertently have **small utensils cleared,** i.e., discarded, **into it.**


###### Bava Metzia 25b:14
[Bava Metzia 25b:14](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Metzia/r/25b:14)

**מַתְנִי׳** מָצָא בְּגַל וּבְכוֹתֶל יָשָׁן – הֲרֵי אֵלּוּ שֶׁלּוֹ. מָצָא בְּכוֹתֶל חָדָשׁ, מֵחֶצְיוֹ וְלַחוּץ – שֶׁלּוֹ, מֵחֶצְיוֹ וְלִפְנִים – שֶׁל בַּעַל הַבַּיִת. אִם הָיָה מַשְׂכִּירוֹ לַאֲחֵרִים – אֲפִילּוּ בְּתוֹךְ הַבַּיִת, הֲרֵי אֵלּוּ שֶׁלּוֹ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**MISHNA:** If one **found** lost items **in a heap** of stone rubble **or in an old wall, these** belong **to him.** If **one found** lost items **in a new wall from its midpoint and outward,** they belong **to him.** If he found the items **from its midpoint and inward,** they belong **to the homeowner. If** the homeowner **would rent** the house **to others** on a regular basis and there was a steady turnover of residents, **even** if one found lost items **inside the house, these** belong **to him.** Since the owner of the lost items cannot be identified based on location, he will certainly despair of recovering his lost items.


###### Bava Metzia 25b:15
[Bava Metzia 25b:15](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Metzia/r/25b:15)

**גְּמָ׳** תָּנָא: מִפְּנֵי שֶׁיָּכוֹל לוֹמַר לוֹ שֶׁל אֲמוֹרִיִּים הֵן. אַטּוּ אֱמוֹרִים מַצְנְעִי, יִשְׂרָאֵל לָא מַצְנְעִי? לָא צְרִיכָא

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**GEMARA:** The mishna teaches that if one found a lost item in a heap of rubble or in an old wall it belongs to him. The Sages **taught** in a *baraita*: It is his **due to** the fact **that** when the owner of the heap or wall claims the property, the finder **can say to him: They** belong **to the Amorites,** who lived in Eretz Yisrael before it was conquered by the Jews. The Gemara asks: **Is that to say** that **Amorites conceal** items but **Jews do not conceal** items? Perhaps it was the homeowner who placed the item in the wall or the heap. The Gemara answers: **No,** the *baraita* **is necessary** only in the specific case