## Bava Metzia Daf 93b

###### Bava Metzia 93b:1
[Bava Metzia 93b:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Metzia/r/93b:1)

הָא נְטַר כִּדְנָטְרִי אִינָשֵׁי. אֲמַר לֵיהּ אַבָּיֵי: אֶלָּא מֵעַתָּה, עָל לְמָתָא בְּעִידָּנָא דְּעָיְילִי אִינָשֵׁי – הָכִי נָמֵי דְּפָטוּר?! אֲמַר לֵיהּ: אִין. גְּנָא פּוּרְתָּא בְּעִידָּנָא דְּגָנוּ אִינָשֵׁי – הָכִי נָמֵי דְּפָטוּר?! אֲמַר לֵיהּ: אִין.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**He safeguarded them** in the manner **that people safeguard,** and he is not required to do anything more. **Abaye said to him: If that is so,** in a case where **he entered the city at a time when** other **people enter,** as shepherds normally do, when their animals are grazing in a quiet and safe place, and a theft occurred at that hour, **so too** will you say that he is **exempt?** Rabba **said to him: Yes.** Abaye raised a further difficulty: If **he slept a little at a time when people** generally **sleep, so too** is he **exempt?** Rabba **said to him: Yes.**


###### Bava Metzia 93b:2
[Bava Metzia 93b:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Metzia/r/93b:2)

אֵיתִיבֵיהּ: אֵלּוּ הֵם אוֹנָסִין שֶׁשּׁוֹמֵר שָׂכָר פָּטוּר עֲלֵיהֶן – כְּגוֹן: ״וַתִּפֹּל שְׁבָא וַתִּקָּחֵם וְאֶת הַנְּעָרִים הִכּוּ לְפִי חָרֶב״. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: הָתָם בְּחַזָּנֵי מָתָא.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
Abaye **raised an objection to him** from a *baraita*: **These are** the **circumstances beyond one’s control for which a paid bailee is exempt: For example,** as it is stated in the verse: “The oxen were plowing, and the donkeys feeding beside them. **And the Sabeans made a raid and took them away, and they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword”** (Job 1:15). This teaches that only a robbery by an army is considered a circumstance beyond his control, but nothing less. Rabba **said to him: There** it is referring **to city watchmen,** i.e., professionals hired to watch over city property, who are exempt due to an occurrence on that scale, i.e., a military incursion.


###### Bava Metzia 93b:3
[Bava Metzia 93b:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Metzia/r/93b:3)

אֵיתִיבֵיהּ: עַד מָתַי שׁוֹמֵר שָׂכָר חַיָּיב לִשְׁמוֹר – עַד כְּדֵי ״הָיִיתִי בַיּוֹם אֲכָלַנִי חֹרֶב וְקֶרַח בַּלַּיְלָה״. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: הָתָם נָמֵי בְּחַזָּנֵי מָתָא. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: אַטּוּ יַעֲקֹב אָבִינוּ חַזַּן מָתָא הֲוָה! דַּאֲמַר לֵיהּ לְלָבָן: נְטַרִי לָךְ נְטִירוּתָא יַתִּירְתָּא כְּחַזָּנֵי מָתָא.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
Abaye **raised an objection to** Rabba from another *baraita*: **To what extent is a paid bailee obligated to safeguard?** He is obligated **to the extent** that Jacob said to Laban: **“Thus I was: In the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night”** (Genesis 31:40). Rava **said to him: There too,** the *baraita* is speaking **of city watchmen,** whose responsibility extends further. Abaye **said to him: Is that to say** that **Jacob, our forefather,** whose statement is the source of this *halakha*, **was a city watchman?** Rava replied: It means **that** Jacob **said to Laban: I safeguarded for you an extra** level of **safeguarding, like** that of **city watchmen.**


###### Bava Metzia 93b:4
[Bava Metzia 93b:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Metzia/r/93b:4)

אֵיתִיבֵיהּ: רוֹעֶה שֶׁהָיָה רוֹעֶה וְהִנִּיחַ עֶדְרוֹ וּבָא לָעִיר, בָּא זְאֵב וְטָרַף, וּבָא אֲרִי וְדָרַס – אֵין אוֹמְרִים: אִילּוּ הָיָה שָׁם הָיָה מַצִּיל. אֶלָּא אוֹמְדִין אוֹתוֹ: אִם יָכוֹל לְהַצִּיל – חַיָּיב, אִם לָאו – פָּטוּר.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
Abaye **raised an objection to** Rabba from another *baraita*: With regard to **a shepherd who was herding** the animals of others, **and he left his flock and came to the town,** if in the meantime **a wolf came and tore** an animal to pieces, **or a lion came and trampled** one of his flock, **we do not say** definitively that **had he been there he would have rescued** them and therefore he is liable due to his absence. **Rather,** the court **estimates** with regard to **him: If he could** have **rescued** his animal by chasing a beast of this kind away, he is **liable,** as his departure from the scene was certainly a contributing factor to the damage. **If not,** he is **exempt** from liability.


###### Bava Metzia 93b:5
[Bava Metzia 93b:5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Metzia/r/93b:5)

מַאי לָאו דְּעָל בְּעִידָּנָא דְּעָיְילִי אִינָשֵׁי? לָא, דְּעָל בְּעִידָּנָא דְּלָא עָיְילִי אִינָשֵׁי. אִי הָכִי, אַמַּאי פָּטוּר? תְּחִילָּתוֹ בִּפְשִׁיעָה וְסוֹפוֹ בְּאוֹנֶס, חַיָּיב!

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
Abaye continues: **What, is** this *baraita* **not** referring to a case **when** the shepherd **enters** the town **at a time when** other **people** usually **enter?** If so, it presents a difficulty to the opinion of Rabba. Rabba responds: **No,** it is speaking **of one who enters at a time when** other **people do not** usually **enter.** Abaye retorts: **If so, why is he exempt** even if he could not have rescued the animal? This is a mishap that came about **initially through negligence and ultimately by accident,** and in a case of this kind he is **liable** due to his negligence.


###### Bava Metzia 93b:6
[Bava Metzia 93b:6](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Metzia/r/93b:6)

דִּשְׁמַע קָל אַרְיָה וְעָל. אִי הָכִי, אוֹמְדִין אוֹתוֹ? מַאי הֲוָה לֵיהּ לְמֶעְבַּד?! הָיָה לוֹ לְקַדֵּם בְּרוֹעִים וּבְמַקְלוֹת.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
Rabba explains: It is referring to one **who heard the sound of a lion** roaring **and entered** the city to save himself. In such a case, his actions were not initially negligent, but rather, it was a circumstance beyond his control. Abaye questions this response: **If so,** what is the relevance of the statement: The court **estimates** with regard to **him? What could he have done** to prevent an attack by a lion? Rabba replies: **He should have faced** the lion **with** other **shepherds and with sticks** to chase it away.


###### Bava Metzia 93b:7
[Bava Metzia 93b:7](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Metzia/r/93b:7)

אִי הָכִי, מַאי אִירְיָא שׁוֹמֵר שָׂכָר? אֲפִילּוּ שׁוֹמֵר חִנָּם נָמֵי, דְּהָא מָר הוּא דְּאָמַר: שׁוֹמֵר חִנָּם שֶׁהָיָה לוֹ לְקַדֵּם בְּרוֹעִים וּבְמַקְלוֹת וְלֹא קִידֵּם – חַיָּיב. שׁוֹמֵר חִנָּם בְּחִנָּם, שׁוֹמֵר שָׂכָר בְּשָׂכָר.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
Abaye asks: **If so, why specifically** state this *halakha* with regard to **a paid bailee?** The same would hold true **even** for **an unpaid bailee, as wasn’t it** you, **Master, who said** that **an unpaid bailee who had** the option **of facing** an animal **with** other **shepherds and with sticks and did not face** it in this manner is **liable,** as he is considered negligent in his duty? Rabba answers: **An unpaid bailee** is liable only if he could have gathered together other shepherds to help him defend his animals **free of charge,** whereas **a paid bailee** is obligated to do so even **for payment.**


###### Bava Metzia 93b:8
[Bava Metzia 93b:8](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Metzia/r/93b:8)

וְעַד כַּמָּה? עַד כְּדֵי דְמֵיהֶן. וְהֵיכָן מָצִינוּ בְּשׁוֹמֵר שָׂכָר שֶׁחַיָּיב בָּאוֹנָסִין? דַּהֲדַר שָׁקֵיל דְּמֵיהֶן מִבַּעַל הַבַּיִת.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara asks: **And up to how much** must a paid bailee pay for this extra protection? The Gemara answers: **Up to** the sum **of the value** of the animals he is responsible to safeguard. The Gemara further asks: **But** in that case, it seems that a paid bailee must pay from his own pocket to protect the animals from marauding beasts; **where have we found with regard to a paid bailee that he is liable for circumstances beyond his control?** Everyone agrees that this loss was caused by circumstances beyond the bailee’s control, and yet he must bear the expenses indirectly. The Gemara responds: The *halakha* is **that he may return and take the money** that he paid for these additional guards **from the owner.**


###### Bava Metzia 93b:9
[Bava Metzia 93b:9](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Metzia/r/93b:9)

אֲמַר לֵיהּ רַב פָּפָּא לְאַבָּיֵי: אִי הָכִי, מַאי אַהֲנִי לֵיהּ מִינַּהּ? נָפְקָא מִינַּהּ לְכוּשְׁרָא דְחֵיוָתָא. אִי נָמֵי לְטִרְחָא יַתִּירְתָּא.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Rav Pappa said to Abaye: If so, what benefit does** the owner of the animals receive **from this?** Any potential loss he avoided from the lion must be paid to the extra guards. Abaye replied: The practical **difference** concerns **the fitness of** and his familiarity with **the animals.** Although it makes no difference to him financially, if he had to purchase other animals he would lose those animals that he knows, and he would rather keep his own livestock. **Alternatively,** it matters with respect **to the additional effort** involved in the acquisition of new animals.


###### Bava Metzia 93b:10
[Bava Metzia 93b:10](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Metzia/r/93b:10)

רַב חִסְדָּא וְרַבָּה בַּר רַב הוּנָא לָא סְבִירָא לְהוּ הָא דְּרַבָּה, דְּאָמְרִי: לְהָכִי יְהַבִי לָךְ אַגְרָא, לְנַטּוֹרֵי לִי נְטִירוּתָא יַתִּירְתָּא.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
As demonstrated in the above discussion, Rabba maintains that even a paid bailee is required to safeguard and take care of the animals only in the normal fashion. By contrast, **Rav Ḥisda and Rabba bar Rav Huna do not hold in accordance with this** opinion **of Rabba, as they say** that the owner can tell the bailee: It was **for this** reason that **I gave you a wage, so that you should safeguard for me** with **an additional** level of **safeguarding,** not for you to go and eat and sleep like other people.


###### Bava Metzia 93b:11
[Bava Metzia 93b:11](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Metzia/r/93b:11)

בַּר אַדָּא סָבוֹלָאָה (הָוֵי) [הֲוָה] קָא מְעַבַּר חֵיוָתָא אַגַּמְלָא דְנַרֶשׁ. דְּחַפָה חֲדָא לַחֲבֶרְתַּהּ וּשְׁדָיתַהּ בְּמַיָּא. אֲתָא לְקַמֵּיהּ דְּרַב פָּפָּא, חַיְּיבֵיהּ. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: מַאי הֲוָה לִי לְמֶעְבַּד? אֲמַר לֵיהּ: אִבְּעִי לָךְ לְעַבּוֹרֵי חֲדָא חֲדָא. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: יָדְעַתְּ בֵּיהּ בְּבַר אֲחָתָיךְ דְּמָצֵי (ל)מְעַבַּר חֲדָא חֲדָא? אֲמַר לֵיהּ: כְּבָר צְוַוחוּ קַמָּאֵי דְקַמָּךְ וְלָא אִיכָּא דְּאַשְׁגַּח בְּהוּ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara relates: **Bar Adda the porter was transporting animals across the narrow bridge of Neresh** when **one** animal **pushed another and cast it into the water,** and it drowned. The case **came before Rav Pappa,** who **deemed him liable.** Bar Adda **said to him: What should I have done?** Rav Pappa **said to him: You should have transported them one by one.** The porter **said to him: Do you know of the son of your sister who can transport** them **one by one?** In other words, are you aware of anyone who can do such a thing? It is virtually impossible. Rav Pappa **said to him: The very earliest** scholars **before you already shouted** and complained about this, **but none paid attention to them.** Since you are an expert and were hired for this purpose, the responsibility is yours.


###### Bava Metzia 93b:12
[Bava Metzia 93b:12](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Metzia/r/93b:12)

אַיְבוּ אַפְקֵיד כִּיתָּנָא בֵּי רוּנְיָא. אֲזַל שַׁבּוּ שַׁמְטֵיהּ מִינֵּיהּ. לְסוֹף הוּכַּר הַגַּנָּב. אֲתָא לְקַמֵּיהּ דְּרַב נַחְמָן, חַיְּיבֵיהּ. לֵימָא פְּלִיגָא דְּרַב הוּנָא בַּר אָבִין?

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara relates another incident: **Aivu deposited flax** with a bailee in the **house of Ronya.** A robber called **Shabbu went and** forcibly **snatched** the flax **from him. Eventually the thief was identified** and caught. The matter **came before Rav Naḥman,** who **rendered** the bailee **liable.** The Gemara asks: **Shall we say** that Rav Naḥman **disagrees** with the opinion **of Rav Huna bar Avin?**


###### Bava Metzia 93b:13
[Bava Metzia 93b:13](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Metzia/r/93b:13)

דִּשְׁלַח רַב הוּנָא בַּר אָבִין: נִגְנְבָה בְּאוֹנֶס וְאַחַר כָּךְ הוּכַּר הַגַּנָּב, אִם שׁוֹמֵר חִנָּם הוּא – רָצָה נִשְׁבָּע, רָצָה עוֹשֶׂה עִמּוֹ דִּין. אִם שׁוֹמֵר שָׂכָר הוּא – עוֹשֶׂה עִמּוֹ דִּין וְאֵינוֹ נִשְׁבָּע.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara explains: **As Rav Huna bar Avin sent** this ruling: In a case where an animal **was stolen in a circumstance beyond his control, and the thief was subsequently identified** and captured, **if** the bailee **is an unpaid bailee,** the following distinction applies: If **he wishes, he takes an oath** that he did not misappropriate the animal before it was stolen, and the owners must claim its value from the thief; if **he wishes, he enters into judgment with** the thief, by claiming the money directly from him. **If he is a paid bailee, he enters into judgment with** the thief **and does not take an oath.** Since the ruling of Rav Naḥman was in the case of an unpaid bailee, why did he have to deal with the thief?


###### Bava Metzia 93b:14
[Bava Metzia 93b:14](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Metzia/r/93b:14)

אָמַר רָבָא: הָתָם גַּבְרֵי דְּפַרְמוּסְקָא הֲווֹ קָיְימִי, דְּאִי רְמָא קָלָא הֲווֹ אָתוּ וּמַצְּלִין לֵיהּ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Rava said:** The cases are not the same, as **there,** in the ruling of Rav Naḥman, **men from the government were standing there,** which means **that if he had raised his voice they would have come and rescued him.** Since it was his own negligence that caused the robbery, he must find a way to collect the money from the robber.


###### Bava Metzia 93b:15
[Bava Metzia 93b:15](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Metzia/r/93b:15)

**מַתְנִי׳** זְאֵב אֶחָד – אֵינוֹ אוֹנֶס. שְׁנֵי זְאֵבִים – אוֹנֶס. רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר: בִּשְׁעַת מִשְׁלַחַת זְאֵבִים, אַף זְאֵב אֶחָד אוֹנֶס.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**MISHNA:** **One wolf** that approaches a flock and attacks **is not** considered **a circumstance beyond one’s control,** as the shepherd can drive it away, but an attack by **two wolves** is considered **a circumstance beyond one’s control. Rabbi Yehuda says: At a time of wolf attacks,** when many wolves come out of hiding and pounce on animals at every corner, **even** an attack by **one wolf is** considered **a circumstance beyond one’s control.**


###### Bava Metzia 93b:16
[Bava Metzia 93b:16](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Metzia/r/93b:16)

שְׁנֵי כְלָבִים – אֵינוֹ אוֹנֶס. יָדוּעַ הַבַּבְלִי אוֹמֵר מִשּׁוּם רַבִּי מֵאִיר: מֵרוּחַ אַחַת – אֵינוֹ אוֹנֶס, מִשְׁתֵּי רוּחוֹת – אוֹנֶס. הַלִּסְטִים – הֲרֵי זֶה אוֹנֶס. הָאֲרִי הַדּוֹב וְהַנָּמֵר וְהַבַּרְדְּלָס וְהַנָּחָשׁ – הֲרֵי אֵלּוּ אוֹנֶס.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
An attack by **two dogs is not** considered **a circumstance beyond one’s control. Yadua the Babylonian says in the name of Rabbi Meir:** If the two dogs came and attacked **from one direction it is not** considered **a circumstance beyond one’s control,** but if they attacked **from two directions,** this is considered **a circumstance beyond one’s control,** as the shepherd cannot protect his flock from both of them at once. If **bandits** came, **this is** considered **a circumstance beyond one’s control.** Likewise, with regard to an attack by **a lion, a bear, a leopard, a cheetah, and a snake, these are** each considered **a circumstance beyond one’s control.**


###### Bava Metzia 93b:17
[Bava Metzia 93b:17](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Metzia/r/93b:17)

אֵימָתַי – בִּזְמַן שֶׁבָּאוּ מֵאֲלֵיהֶן. אֲבָל הוֹלִיכָן לִמְקוֹם גְּדוּדֵי חַיָּה וְלִסְטִים – אֵינוֹ אוֹנֶס.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**When** is an attack by one of the above considered beyond his control, which means that a paid bailee is exempt? It is **when** the dangerous beasts or bandits **came of their own accord** to the usual grazing spot. **But** if the shepherd **led** his flock **to a place of groups of beasts or bandits,** this **is not** considered **a circumstance beyond one’s control,** as he is at fault.


###### Bava Metzia 93b:18
[Bava Metzia 93b:18](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Metzia/r/93b:18)

מֵתָה כְּדַרְכָּהּ – הֲרֵי זֶה אוֹנֶס. סִגְּפָהּ וָמֵתָה – אֵינוֹ אוֹנֶס. עָלְתָה לְרָאשֵׁי צוּקִין וְנָפְלָה – הֲרֵי זֶה אוֹנֶס. הֶעֱלָהּ לְרָאשֵׁי צוּקִין וְנָפְלָה וָמֵתָה – אֵינוֹ אוֹנֶס.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
If the animal **died in its normal manner, this is** considered **a circumstance beyond one’s control;** if **he afflicted it** by overworking it or by negligent treatment **and it died,** this **is not** considered **a circumstance beyond one’s control.** If the animal **ascended to the top of a cliff and fell** down and died, **this is** considered **a circumstance beyond one’s control.** If the shepherd himself **brought it up to the top of a cliff and it fell** down **and died,** this is **not** considered **a circumstance beyond one’s control.**


###### Bava Metzia 93b:19
[Bava Metzia 93b:19](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Metzia/r/93b:19)

**גְּמָ׳** וְהָתַנְיָא: זְאֵב אֶחָד – אוֹנֶס! אָמַר רַב נַחְמָן בַּר יִצְחָק: הָהִיא בִּשְׁעַת מִשְׁלַחַת זְאֵבִים, וְרַבִּי יְהוּדָה הִיא.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**GEMARA:** The Gemara asks: **But isn’t it taught** in a *baraita* that an attack by **one wolf is** considered **a circumstance beyond one’s control? Rav Naḥman bar Yitzḥak said: That** *baraita* is speaking **of a time of wolf attacks, and it is** the opinion of **Rabbi Yehuda** in the mishna.


###### Bava Metzia 93b:20
[Bava Metzia 93b:20](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Metzia/r/93b:20)

הַלִּסְטִים – הֲרֵי זֶה אוֹנֶס. אַמַּאי? לוֹקֵי גַּבְרָא לַהֲדֵי גַּבְרָא! אָמַר רַב: בְּלִסְטִים מְזוּיָּין.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The mishna teaches that if **bandits came, this is** considered **a circumstance beyond one’s control.** The Gemara asks: **Why? Let one man stand against another man.** The shepherd should defend his flock and fight the bandit, as that is what he was hired to do. **Rav said:** The mishna is referring **to armed bandits,** against whom the shepherd cannot reasonably defend the flock.


###### Bava Metzia 93b:21
[Bava Metzia 93b:21](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Metzia/r/93b:21)

אִיבַּעְיָא לְהוּ: לִסְטִים מְזוּיָּין וְרוֹעֶה מְזוּיָּין, מַהוּ? מִי אָמְרִינַן אוֹקֵי גַּבְרָא לַהֲדֵי גַּבְרָא, אוֹ דִלְמָא: הַאי מָסַר נַפְשֵׁיהּ, וְהַאי לָא מָסַר נַפְשֵׁיהּ? מִסְתַּבְּרָא דְּהַאי מָסַר נַפְשֵׁיהּ, וְהַאי לָא מָסַר נַפְשֵׁיהּ. אֲמַר לֵיהּ אַבָּיֵי לְרָבָא: אַשְׁכְּחֵיהּ רוֹעֶה, וַאֲמַר לֵיהּ: גַּנָּבָא סַרְיָא! בְּדוּכְתָּא פְּלָנְיָא יְתִיבִינַן,

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**A dilemma was raised before** the Sages: If the case involved **an armed bandit and an armed shepherd, what is** the *halakha*? **Do we say, let one man stand** and fight **against another man, or perhaps this** bandit is willing to **risk his life and that** shepherd **is not** prepared to **risk his life?** The Gemara answers: **It stands to reason that this one** will **risk his life and that one** would **not risk his life.** Consequently, the shepherd is not held responsible if he refuses to fight the bandit. **Abaye said to Rava:** What is the *halakha* if the **shepherd found** a known thief **and said to him: You dirty thief! In such and such a place we** shepherds **sit;**