## Bava Metzia Daf 83a

###### Bava Metzia 83a:1
[Bava Metzia 83a:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Metzia/r/83a:1)

וַאֲפִילּוּ בִּמְקוֹם מִדְרוֹן נָמֵי – הֲתִינַח הֵיכָא דְּלֵיכָּא רְאָיָה, אֲבָל הֵיכָא דְּאִיכָּא רְאָיָה – נַיְתֵי רְאָיָה וְנִפְּטַר. דְּתַנְיָא, אִיסִי בֶּן יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר: ״אֵין רֹאֶה שְׁבֻעַת ה׳ תִּהְיֶה בֵּין שְׁנֵיהֶם״, הָא יֵשׁ רוֹאֶה – יָבִיא רְאָיָה וְיִפָּטֵר.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**And even on an inclined plane,** this **works out well where there is no evidence,** i.e., in a case without witnesses. **But where there is evidence, let him bring evidence and be exempt.** Why then is he forced to take an oath? **As it is taught** in a *baraita*: **Isi ben Yehuda says,** with regard to the verse: “And it died or was hurt or driven away **without an eyewitness, an oath of the Lord shall be between them”** (Exodus 22:9–10), that one can infer from here that if **there is an eyewitness,** let **him bring evidence and be exempt.**


###### Bava Metzia 83a:2
[Bava Metzia 83a:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Metzia/r/83a:2)

וְרַבִּי חִיָּיא בַּר אַבָּא אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: שְׁבוּעָה זוֹ תַּקָּנַת חֲכָמִים הִיא, שֶׁאִם אִי אַתָּה אוֹמֵר כֵּן – אֵין לְךָ אָדָם הַמַּעֲבִיר חָבִית לַחֲבֵירוֹ מִמָּקוֹם לְמָקוֹם.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara previously cited Rabbi Elazar’s answer to the apparent contradiction between the statements of Rabbi Meir, which was followed by an analysis of the various opinions of the *tanna’im*. The Gemara presents a different interpretation. **And Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Abba** says that **Rabbi Yoḥanan says:** There is no difficulty with the oath proposed by Rabbi Meir, as **this oath is a decree of the Sages** for the betterment of the world. The reason for this oath is **that if you do not say so,** that an unpaid bailee who broke the barrel in transport can exempt himself by means of an oath, **you will have no person who will** be willing to **transport a barrel for another from one place to another,** due to the fear that it might break and he will have to pay.


###### Bava Metzia 83a:3
[Bava Metzia 83a:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Metzia/r/83a:3)

הֵיכִי מִשְׁתְּבַע? אָמַר רָבָא: שְׁבוּעָה שֶׁלֹּא בְּכַוּוֹנָה שְׁבַרְתִּיהָ. וַאֲתָא רַבִּי יְהוּדָה לְמֵימַר: שׁוֹמֵר חִנָּם יִשָּׁבַע, נוֹשֵׂא שָׂכָר יְשַׁלֵּם, הַאי כְּדִינֵיהּ וְהַאי כְּדִינֵיהּ. וַאֲתָא רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר לְמֵימַר: אִין, גְּמָרָא כְּרַבִּי מֵאִיר, וּמִיהוּ, תָּמֵיהַּ אֲנִי אִם יְכוֹלִים זֶה וָזֶה לִישָּׁבַע.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara asks: **How** exactly **does he take an oath? Rava said** that the phrasing is: I take **an oath that I broke it unintentionally. And Rabbi Yehuda came to say: An unpaid bailee takes an oath,** while **a paid bailee pays, this one in accordance with his law and that one in accordance with his law. And Rabbi Elazar came to say: Yes,** there is **a tradition in accordance with** the opinion of **Rabbi Meir. But I wonder whether** both **this** one **and that** one **can take an oath.**


###### Bava Metzia 83a:4
[Bava Metzia 83a:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Metzia/r/83a:4)

בִּשְׁלָמָא שׁוֹמֵר חִנָּם – מִשְׁתְּבַע שֶׁלֹּא פָּשַׁע בָּהּ. אֶלָּא שׁוֹמֵר שָׂכָר, אַמַּאי מִשְׁתְּבַע? כִּי לָא פְּשַׁע נָמֵי בָּעֵי שַׁלּוֹמֵי. וַאֲפִילּוּ שׁוֹמֵר חִנָּם נָמֵי, הָא תִּינַח בִּמְקוֹם מִדְרוֹן. שֶׁלֹּא בִּמְקוֹם מִדְרוֹן, מִי מָצֵי מִשְׁתְּבַע שֶׁלֹּא פָּשַׁע?

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Granted, an unpaid bailee takes an oath that he was not negligent with regard to** the barrel, **but why does a paid bailee take an oath?** Even **if he was not negligent, he is still required to pay. And even** with regard to **an unpaid bailee, this works out well** if the barrel was broken **on an inclined plane,** but if it broke **not on an inclined plane** but under different circumstances, **how can he take an oath** that **he was not negligent with it?**


###### Bava Metzia 83a:5
[Bava Metzia 83a:5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Metzia/r/83a:5)

וַאֲפִילּוּ בִּמְקוֹם מִדְרוֹן נָמֵי, הָא תִּינַח הֵיכָא דְּלֵיכָּא רְאָיָה, הֵיכָא דְּאִיכָּא רְאָיָה – נַיְתֵי רְאָיָה וְיִפָּטֵר. דְּתַנְיָא, אִיסִי בֶּן יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר: ״אֵין רֹאֶה שְׁבֻעַת ה׳ תִּהְיֶה בֵּין שְׁנֵיהֶם״ הָא יֵשׁ רוֹאֶה – יָבִיא רְאָיָה וְיִפָּטֵר.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**And even on an inclined plane, this works out well where there is no evidence. But where there is evidence, let him bring evidence and be exempt. As it is taught** in a *baraita*: **Isi ben Yehuda says,** with regard to the verse: “And it died or was hurt or driven away **without an eyewitness, an oath of the Lord shall be between them”** (Exodus 22:9–10), that one can infer from here that if **there is an eyewitness,** let **him bring evidence and be exempt.**


###### Bava Metzia 83a:6
[Bava Metzia 83a:6](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Metzia/r/83a:6)

הָהוּא גַּבְרָא דַּהֲוָה קָא מְעַבַּר חָבִיתָא דְחַמְרָא בְּרִיסְתְּקָא דְמָחוֹזָא, וְתַבְרַהּ בְּזִיזָא דְמָחוֹזָא. אֲתָא לְקַמֵּיהּ דְּרָבָא. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: רִיסְתְּקָא דְמָחוֹזָא שְׁכִיחִי בַּהּ אִינָשֵׁי, זִיל, אַיְיתִי רְאָיָה וְאִיפְּטַר. אֲמַר לֵיהּ רַב יוֹסֵף בְּרֵיהּ: כְּמַאן כְּאִיסִי? אֲמַר לֵיהּ: אִין כְּאִיסִי, וּסְבִירָא לַן כְּווֹתֵיהּ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara relates: There was **a certain man who transported a barrel of wine in the market [*beristeka*] of Meḥoza and broke it on one of the protrusions** of a wall **in Meḥoza.** The case **came before Rava,** who **said to him:** With regard to **the market of Meḥoza, people are generally found there. Go** and **bring evidence** in your favor **and** you will **be exempt. Rav Yosef,** Rava’s **son, said to him: In accordance with whose** opinion did you issue this ruling? **In accordance with** the opinion of **Isi** ben Yehuda? Rava **said to him: Yes,** I ruled **in accordance with** the ruling of **Isi, and we hold in accordance with his** opinion.


###### Bava Metzia 83a:7
[Bava Metzia 83a:7](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Metzia/r/83a:7)

הָהוּא גַּבְרָא דַּאֲמַר לֵיהּ לְחַבְרֵיהּ: זִיל זְבֵין לִי אַרְבַּע מְאָה דַּנֵּי חַמְרָא. אֲזַל זְבַן לֵיהּ. לְסוֹף אֲתָא לְקַמֵּיהּ, אֲמַר לֵיהּ: זְבִינֵי לָךְ אַרְבַּע מְאָה דַּנֵּי חַמְרָא וּתְקִיפוּ לְהוּ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara relates a similar incident. There was **a certain man who said to another: Go** and **buy for me four hundred pitchers of wine.** The second man **went and bought** them **for him. Ultimately, he came before** the first man **and said to him: I bought four hundred pitchers of wine for you, but they fermented.**


###### Bava Metzia 83a:8
[Bava Metzia 83a:8](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Metzia/r/83a:8)

אֲתָא לְקַמֵּיהּ דְּרָבָא, אֲמַר לֵיהּ: אַרְבַּע מְאָה דַּנֵּי חַמְרָא תְּקִיפִי קָלָא אִית לַהּ לְמִילְּתָא, זִיל אַיְיתִי רְאָיָה דְּמֵעִיקָּרָא כִּי מְזַבְּנַתְּ לְהוּ חַמְרָא מְעַלְּיָא הֲוָה, וְאִיפְּטַר. אֲמַר לֵיהּ רַב יוֹסֵף בְּרֵיהּ: כְּמַאן כְּאִיסִי? אֲמַר לֵיהּ: אִין כְּאִיסִי, וּסְבִירָא לַן כְּווֹתֵיהּ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The case **came before Rava,** who **said to** the second man: If **four hundred pitchers of wine** had **fermented, this matter** would generate **publicity,** i.e., people would have heard of this occurrence. Consequently, **go** and **bring proof that initially, when you purchased** the pitchers, **the wine was good, and you will be exempt. Rav Yosef,** Rava’s **son, said to him: In accordance with whose** opinion did you issue this ruling? **According to** that of **Isi** ben Yehuda? Rava **said to him: Yes,** I ruled **in accordance with** the ruling of **Isi, and we hold in accordance with his** opinion.


###### Bava Metzia 83a:9
[Bava Metzia 83a:9](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Metzia/r/83a:9)

אַתְקֵין רַב חִיָּיא בַּר יוֹסֵף בְּסִיכְרָא: הָנֵי דְּדָרוּ בְּאַגְרָא וְאִיתְּבַר – נְשַׁלֵּם פַּלְגָא. מַאי טַעְמָא – נְפִישׁ לְחַד וְזוּטַר לִתְרֵי, קָרוֹב לְאוֹנֶס וְקָרוֹב לִפְשִׁיעָה. בְּדִיגְלָא – מְשַׁלֵּם כּוּלַּהּ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara relates: **Rav Ḥiyya bar Yosef issued a decree in** the city of **Sikhra,** where he was the presiding Sage: With regard to **those who carry** loads **on a pole [*be’agra*] and** the item **breaks, they must pay half. What is the reason?** Such a pole is used to carry loads that are too **much for one** individual to carry **and** too **little for two.** Consequently, this breakage is **close to an accident and** equally **close to negligence,** and therefore they compromise with a payment of half liability. If he carried it **with a *digla*,** a wooden tool designed for double loads, **he pays in full,** as the use of such a tool indicates that he was carrying a load beyond the capacity of a single individual to bear and therefore acted negligently.


###### Bava Metzia 83a:10
[Bava Metzia 83a:10](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Metzia/r/83a:10)

רַבָּה בַּר בַּר חָנָן תְּבַרוּ לֵיהּ הָנְהוּ שָׁקוֹלָאֵי חָבִיתָא דְחַמְרָא, שְׁקַל לִגְלִימַיְיהוּ. אֲתוֹ אֲמַרוּ לְרַב. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: הַב לְהוּ גְּלִימַיְיהוּ. אֲמַר לֵיהּ דִּינָא הָכִי? אֲמַר לֵיהּ: אִין, ״לְמַעַן תֵּלֵךְ בְּדֶרֶךְ טוֹבִים״. יְהַיב לְהוּ גְּלִימַיְיהוּ. אֲמַרוּ לֵיהּ: עַנְיֵי אֲנַן, וְטָרְחִינַן כּוּלֵּהּ יוֹמָא, וְכָפֵינַן, וְלֵית לַן מִידֵּי. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: זִיל הַב אַגְרַיְיהוּ. אֲמַר לֵיהּ דִּינָא הָכִי? אֲמַר לֵיהּ: אִין, ״וְאׇרְחוֹת צַדִּיקִים תִּשְׁמֹר״.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara relates an incident involving **Rabba bar bar Ḥanan: Certain porters broke his barrel of wine** after he had hired them to transport the barrels. **He took their cloaks** as payment for the lost wine. **They came and told Rav.** Rav **said** to Rabba bar bar Ḥanan: **Give them their cloaks.** Rabba bar bar Ḥanan **said to him:** Is **this the *halakha*?** Rav **said to him: Yes,** as it is written: **“That you may walk in the way of good men”** (Proverbs 2:20). Rabba bar bar Ḥanan **gave them their cloaks.** The porters **said to** Rav: **We are poor people and we toiled all day and we are hungry and we have nothing.** Rav **said to** Rabba bar bar Ḥanan: **Go** and **give** them **their wages.** Rabba bar bar Ḥanan **said to him:** Is **this the *halakha*?** Rav **said to him: Yes,** as it is written: **“And keep the paths of the righteous”** (Proverbs 2:20).


###### Bava Metzia 83a:11
[Bava Metzia 83a:11](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Metzia/r/83a:11)

**הֲדַרַן עֲלָךְ הַשּׂוֹכֵר אֶת הָאוּמָּנִין **


###### Bava Metzia 83a:12
[Bava Metzia 83a:12](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Metzia/r/83a:12)

מַתְנִי׳ **הַשּׂוֹכֵר** אֶת הַפּוֹעֲלִים וְאָמַר לָהֶם לְהַשְׁכִּים וּלְהַעֲרִיב, מָקוֹם שֶׁנָּהֲגוּ שֶׁלֹּא לְהַשְׁכִּים וְשֶׁלֹּא לְהַעֲרִיב – אֵינוֹ רַשַּׁאי לְכוֹפָן. מָקוֹם שֶׁנָּהֲגוּ לָזוּן – יָזוּן, לְסַפֵּק בִּמְתִיקָה – יְסַפֵּק, הַכֹּל כְּמִנְהַג הַמְּדִינָה.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**MISHNA:** With regard to **one who hires laborers and tells them to rise** exceptionally **early and to continue** working until exceptionally **late,** if this is in **a locale where** laborers **are not accustomed to rising** so **early or to continuing** to work until so **late,** the employer is **not permitted to compel them** to do so. In **a locale where** employers **are accustomed to feeding** their laborers, the employer **must feed** them. If they are in a locale where an employer is accustomed **to providing** their laborers **with sweet** foods, **he must provide** such food. **Everything is in accordance with the regional custom** in these matters.


###### Bava Metzia 83a:13
[Bava Metzia 83a:13](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Metzia/r/83a:13)

מַעֲשֶׂה בְּרַבִּי יוֹחָנָן בֶּן מַתְיָא שֶׁאָמַר לִבְנוֹ: צֵא שְׂכוֹר לָנוּ פּוֹעֲלִין. הָלַךְ וּפָסַק לָהֶם מְזוֹנוֹת.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
There was **an incident involving Rabbi Yoḥanan ben Matya, who said to his son: Go out** and **hire laborers for us.** His son **went,** hired them, **and pledged** to provide **sustenance for them** as a term of their employment, without specifying the details.


###### Bava Metzia 83a:14
[Bava Metzia 83a:14](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Metzia/r/83a:14)

וּכְשֶׁבָּא אֵצֶל אָבִיו, אָמַר לוֹ: בְּנִי, אֲפִילּוּ אִם אַתָּה עוֹשֶׂה לָהֶם כִּסְעוּדַת שְׁלֹמֹה בִּשְׁעָתוֹ – לֹא יָצָאתָ יְדֵי חוֹבָתְךָ עִמָּהֶן, שֶׁהֵן בְּנֵי אַבְרָהָם יִצְחָק וְיַעֲקֹב. אֶלָּא עַד שֶׁלֹּא יַתְחִילוּ בִּמְלָאכָה צֵא וֶאֱמוֹר לָהֶם: עַל מְנָת שֶׁאֵין לָכֶם עָלַי אֶלָּא פַּת וְקִטְנִית בִּלְבָד. רַבָּן שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן גַּמְלִיאֵל אוֹמֵר: לֹא הָיָה צָרִיךְ לוֹמַר, הַכֹּל כְּמִנְהַג הַמְּדִינָה.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**And when he came** back **to his father** and reported what he had done, Rabbi Yoḥanan ben Matya **said to him: My son, even if you were to prepare a feast for them like that of** King **Solomon in his time, you would not have fulfilled your obligation to them, as they are the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Rather, before they begin** engaging **in** their **labor, go out and say to them:** The stipulation that food will be provided is **on the condition that you have** the right to claim **from me only** a meal of **bread and legumes,** which is the typical meal given to laborers. **Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel says:** Rabbi Yoḥanan ben Matya’s son **did not need to state** this condition, as the principle is that **everything is in accordance with the regional custom.**


###### Bava Metzia 83a:15
[Bava Metzia 83a:15](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Metzia/r/83a:15)

**גְּמָ׳** פְּשִׁיטָא! לָא צְרִיכָא דִּטְפָא לְהוּ אַאַגְרַיְיהוּ. מַהוּ דְּתֵימָא, אֲמַר לְהוּ: הָא דִּטְפַאי לְכוּ אַאַגְרַיְיכוּ אַדַּעְתָּא דְּמַקְדְּמִיתוּ וּמְחַשְּׁכִיתוּ בַּהֲדַאי, קָא מַשְׁמַע לַן דַּאֲמַרוּ לֵיהּ: הַאי דִּטְפֵת לַן – אַדַּעְתָּא דְּעָבְדִינַן לָךְ עֲבִידְתָּא שַׁפִּירְתָּא.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**GEMARA:** With regard to the mishna’s statement that an employer may not compel his laborers to rise exceptionally early and continue working until exceptionally late, the Gemara asks: Isn’t this **obvious?** By what right can he force them to do so? The Gemara explains: **No,** the mishna’s ruling is **necessary** only in a case **where** the employer **increased their wages** beyond the standard in that place. **Lest you say** that the employer could **say to** the laborers: The fact **that I increased your wages** was **with the understanding that you would rise early and continue** working **late for me,** the mishna therefore **teaches us that** the laborers can **say** in response **to** the employer: The fact **that you increased our** wages was **with the understanding that we** would **perform quality work for you,** not that we would work longer hours.


###### Bava Metzia 83a:16
[Bava Metzia 83a:16](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Metzia/r/83a:16)

אָמַר רֵישׁ לָקִישׁ:

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
§ **Reish Lakish says:**