## Mishneh Torah, Sales Chapter 2

###### Mishneh Torah, Sales 2:1
[Mishneh Torah, Sales 2:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Mishneh%20Torah%2C%20Sales/r/2:1)

עֶבֶד כְּנַעֲנִי הֲרֵי הוּא כְּקַרְקַע לִקְנִיָּה וְנִקְנֶה בְּכֶסֶף וּבִשְׁטָר אוֹ בַּחֲזָקָה:

**Mishneh Torah, trans. by Eliyahu Touger. Jerusalem, Moznaim Pub. c1986-c2007:**
A Canaanite servant is considered as landed property with regard to the laws of acquisition, and can be acquired through the transfer of money and a deed of sale, or through *chazakah.*


###### Mishneh Torah, Sales 2:2
[Mishneh Torah, Sales 2:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Mishneh%20Torah%2C%20Sales/r/2:2)

וּמַה הִיא הַחֲזָקָה בְּקִנְיַן עֲבָדִים. שֶׁיִּשְׁתַּמֵּשׁ בָּהֶן כְּדֶרֶךְ שֶׁמִּשְׁתַּמְּשִׁין בַּעֲבָדִים בִּפְנֵי רַבּוֹ. כֵּיצַד. הִתִּיר לוֹ מִנְעָלוֹ אוֹ שֶׁהִנְעִיל לוֹ מִנְעָלוֹ. אוֹ שֶׁהוֹלִיךְ כֵּלָיו לְבֵית הַמֶּרְחָץ. אוֹ שֶׁהִפְשִׁיטוֹ אוֹ סָכוֹ אוֹ גֵּרְדוֹ אוֹ הִלְבִּישׁוֹ אוֹ הִגְבִּיהַּ אֶת רַבּוֹ קָנָה. וְכֵן אִם הִגְבִּיהַּ הָרַב אֶת הָעֶבֶד קָנָה:

**Mishneh Torah, trans. by Eliyahu Touger. Jerusalem, Moznaim Pub. c1986-c2007:**
What manifestation of ownership is effective in acquiring a servant? Making use of him as one makes use of a servant in the presence of his previous master.
What is implied? If the servant unties his new master's shoe, puts on his shoe, carries his articles to the bathhouse, undresses him, anoints him, combs his skin, dresses him or lifts him up, the master acquires the servant.
Similarly, if the master lifts up the servant, he acquires him.


###### Mishneh Torah, Sales 2:3
[Mishneh Torah, Sales 2:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Mishneh%20Torah%2C%20Sales/r/2:3)

תְּקָפוֹ וֶהֱבִיאוֹ אֶצְלוֹ קָנָה. שֶׁהָעֲבָדִים נִקְנִין בִּמְשִׁיכָה כָּזוֹ. אֲבָל אִם קָרָא לָעֶבֶד וּבָא אֶצְלוֹ. אוֹ שֶׁאָמַר לוֹ רַבּוֹ הָרִאשׁוֹן לֵךְ אֵצֶל הַלּוֹקֵחַ וְהָלַךְ אֶצְלוֹ. לֹא קָנָה עַד שֶׁיִּמְשְׁכֶנּוּ בִּתְקִיפָה אוֹ שֶׁיִּשְׁתַּמֵּשׁ בּוֹ כְּמוֹ שֶׁבֵּאַרְנוּ. וְאִם הֶחֱזִיק בּוֹ שֶׁלֹּא בִּפְנֵי הָרַב צָרִיךְ שֶׁיֹּאמַר לוֹ לֵךְ חַזֵּק וּקְנֵה:

**Mishneh Torah, trans. by Eliyahu Touger. Jerusalem, Moznaim Pub. c1986-c2007:**
If the new owner pushes the servant and brings him close to him, he acquires him, for a Canaanite servant can be acquired through *meshichah* in this manner. If, however, he called the servant and he came to him, or the servant's previous owner told him to go to the purchaser, and he followed those instructions, the new owner does not acquire him until he pushes him or until he makes use of him in the manner described above.
If the new owner manifests his ownership over the servant outside the presence of the previous owner, the previous owner must tell him: "Go, manifest your ownership and acquire him" for the *kinyan* to be effective.


###### Mishneh Torah, Sales 2:4
[Mishneh Torah, Sales 2:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Mishneh%20Torah%2C%20Sales/r/2:4)

עֶבֶד קָטָן הֲרֵי הוּא כִּבְהֵמָה וְקוֹנִין אוֹתוֹ בִּדְבָרִים שֶׁקּוֹנִין בָּהֶן הַבְּהֵמָה וּבִדְבָרִים שֶׁקּוֹנִין בָּהֶן הָעֲבָדִים. לְפִיכָךְ נִקְנֶה בִּמְשִׁיכָה אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁלֹּא תּוֹקְפוֹ:

**Mishneh Torah, trans. by Eliyahu Touger. Jerusalem, Moznaim Pub. c1986-c2007:**
A servant below the age of majority is considered like an animal and can be acquired through both the processes by which an animal is acquired and those by which servants are acquired. Therefore, he can be acquired by *meshichah* even though the new owner did not push him.


###### Mishneh Torah, Sales 2:5
[Mishneh Torah, Sales 2:5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Mishneh%20Torah%2C%20Sales/r/2:5)

הַבְּהֵמָה בֵּין דַּקָּה בֵּין גַּסָּה נִקְנֵית בִּמְשִׁיכָה אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאֶפְשָׁר לְהַגְבִּיהַּ אוֹתָהּ לֹא הִצְרִיכוּהוּ לְהַגְבִּיהַּ. מִפְּנֵי שֶׁמִּתְחַבֶּטֶת בָּאָרֶץ. וְאִם הִגְבִּיהַּ קָנָה. וְהַהַגְבָּהָה קוֹנָה בְּכָל מָקוֹם. אֲבָל הַמְּשִׁיכָה אֵין קוֹנִין בָּהּ אֶלָּא בְּסִמְטָא אוֹ בְּחָצֵר שֶׁל שְׁנֵיהֶם וְאֵין קוֹנִין בָּהּ בִּרְשׁוּת הָרַבִּים וְלֹא בְּחָצֵר שֶׁאֵינָהּ שֶׁל שְׁנֵיהֶם:

**Mishneh Torah, trans. by Eliyahu Touger. Jerusalem, Moznaim Pub. c1986-c2007:**
Livestock, whether light or heavy, can be acquired through *meshichah.* When lifting an animal is possible, it need not be lifted, because it may receive a blow when placed back on the earth. If a person lifts it up, he acquires it.
Lifting up an object serves as a *kinyan* in all places, while *meshichah* is effective as a *kinyan* only in a corner off the public domain, or in a courtyard whose ownership the buyer and the seller both share. *Meshichah* is not effective as a *kinyan* in the public domain or in a courtyard whose ownership is not shared by both the seller and the purchaser.


###### Mishneh Torah, Sales 2:6
[Mishneh Torah, Sales 2:6](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Mishneh%20Torah%2C%20Sales/r/2:6)

כֵּיצַד קוֹנִין אֶת הַבְּהֵמָה בִּמְשִׁיכָה. אֵין צָרִיךְ לוֹמַר אִם מְשָׁכָהּ וְהָלְכָה אוֹ שֶׁרָכַב עָלֶיהָ וְהָלְכָה בּוֹ שֶׁקָּנָה. אֶלָּא אֲפִלּוּ קָרָא לָהּ וּבָאָה אוֹ שֶׁהִכִּישָׁהּ בְּמַקֵּל וְרָצָה בְּפָנָיו כֵּיוָן שֶׁעָקְרָה יָד וְרֶגֶל קְנָאָהּ. וְהוּא שֶׁיִּמְשֹׁךְ בִּפְנֵי הַבְּעָלִים. אֲבָל אִם מָשַׁךְ שֶׁלֹּא בִּפְנֵי הַבְּעָלִים צָרִיךְ שֶׁיֹּאמַר לוֹ קֹדֶם שֶׁיִּמְשֹׁךְ לֵךְ מְשֹׁךְ וּקְנֵה:

**Mishneh Torah, trans. by Eliyahu Touger. Jerusalem, Moznaim Pub. c1986-c2007:**
How is an animal acquired through *meshichah*? Needless to say, the transaction is completed if the purchaser pulls the animal and it walks after him, or he rides upon it and causes it to walk. The transaction is effective even if he calls it and it comes, or he swats it with a stick and causes it to run. When the animal lifts both a forefoot and a hind foot, the purchaser acquires it.
The above applies provided the purchaser performs *meshichah* in the presence of the previous owner. If he performs *meshichah* outside the presence of the previous owner, that person must tell the purchaser before he performs *meshichah,* "Go, perform *meshichah* and acquire it."


###### Mishneh Torah, Sales 2:7
[Mishneh Torah, Sales 2:7](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Mishneh%20Torah%2C%20Sales/r/2:7)

הַמּוֹכֵר עֵדֶר לַחֲבֵרוֹ אוֹ שֶׁנָּתַן לוֹ בְּמַתָּנָה. כֵּיוָן שֶׁמָּסַר לוֹ מַשְׁכּוּכִית, הִיא הַבְּהֵמָה הַמְהַלֶּכֶת בְּרֹאשׁ הָעֵדֶר וְהַכּל נִמְשָׁכִים אַחֲרֶיהָ, אֵין צָרִיךְ לוֹמַר לוֹ מְשֹׁךְ וּקְנֵה. שֶׁמְּסִירַת בְּהֵמָה זוֹ כְּמִי שֶׁאָמַר לוֹ לֵךְ מְשֹׁךְ וּקְנֵה. וְכֵיוָן שֶׁמָּשַׁךְ לוֹ הָעֵדֶר קָנָה וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁמָּשַׁךְ שֶׁלֹּא בְּפָנָיו:

**Mishneh Torah, trans. by Eliyahu Touger. Jerusalem, Moznaim Pub. c1986-c2007:**
When a person sells a herd to a colleague or gives it to him as a gift, if he gives him the *mashkuchit -* i.e., the animal that leads the herd, that all the others follow - he does not have to tell him, "Perform *meshichah* and acquire it." For giving him this animal is tantamount to saying: "Go, perform *meshichah* and acquire it." Thus, once the purchaser or the recipient performs *meshichah* with the herd, he acquires it, even if he performs *meshichah* outside the presence of the previous owner.


###### Mishneh Torah, Sales 2:8
[Mishneh Torah, Sales 2:8](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Mishneh%20Torah%2C%20Sales/r/2:8)

הָאוֹמֵר לַחֲבֵרוֹ מְשֹׁךְ וְתִקְנֶה אוֹ חַזֵּק וְתִקְנֶה וְכַיּוֹצֵא בִּדְבָרִים אֵלּוּ וְהָלַךְ וּמָשַׁךְ אוֹ שֶׁהֶחְזִיק לֹא קָנָה שֶׁמַּשְׁמָע תִּקְנֶה לְהַבָּא וַעֲדַיִן לֹא הִקְנָה לוֹ. אֶלָּא צָרִיךְ הַמּוֹכֵר אוֹ הַנּוֹתֵן לוֹמַר לוֹ לֵךְ חַזֵּק וּקְנֵה אוֹ מְשֹׁךְ וּקְנֵה וְכַיּוֹצֵא בִּדְבָרִים אֵלּוּ שֶׁמַּשְׁמָעָן שֶׁיִּקְנֶה עַתָּה בְּעֵת שֶׁיִּמְשֹׁךְ אוֹ יַחֲזִיק:

**Mishneh Torah, trans. by Eliyahu Touger. Jerusalem, Moznaim Pub. c1986-c2007:**
When a person tells a purchaser or a recipient of a gift: "Perform *meshichah* over an animal and then you will acquire it," or "Perform *chazakah* over property and then you will acquire it," he does not acquire it if he performs *meshichah* or *chazakah.* For the expression "you will acquire it" is in the future tense and implies that he has not transferred ownership to him yet.
Instead, the seller or the giver of the gift must say: "Go, perform *chazakah* and acquire it," "Go, perform *meshichah* and acquire it," or the like, using an expression that implies that he will acquire it at the time he performs *meshichah* or *chazakah.*


###### Mishneh Torah, Sales 2:9
[Mishneh Torah, Sales 2:9](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Mishneh%20Torah%2C%20Sales/r/2:9)

הָאוֹמֵר לַחֲבֵרוֹ מְשֹׁךְ פָּרָה זוֹ וְלֹא תִּקְנֶה אֶלָּא לְאַחַר שְׁלֹשִׁים יוֹם וּמָשַׁךְ לֹא קָנָה. וְאִם אָמַר לוֹ קְנֵה מֵעַכְשָׁו וּלְאַחַר שְׁלֹשִׁים יוֹם קָנָה. וַאֲפִלּוּ הָיְתָה עוֹמֶדֶת בַּאֲגַם בְּיוֹם שְׁלֹשִׁים. שֶׁזֶּה כְּמִי שֶׁהִקְנָה אוֹתוֹ מֵעַתָּה עַל תְּנַאי נַעֲשָׂה הַתְּנַאי נִתְקַיֵּם הַקִּנְיָן. וְכָל הָאוֹמֵר עַל מְנָת כְּאוֹמֵר מֵעַכְשָׁו דָּמִי:

**Mishneh Torah, trans. by Eliyahu Touger. Jerusalem, Moznaim Pub. c1986-c2007:**
When a person tells a colleague: "Perform *meshichah* with an animal and you will acquire it after 30 days," and he performs *meshichah,* he does not acquire it.
If he told him "...acquire it now and after 30 days," he acquires it, even if it is standing in a swamp on the thirtieth day. For this resembles a situation in which an acquisition was made in the present, conditional on a stipulation, in which instance, when the stipulation is met, the transaction becomes effective.
Whenever a person uses the expression "with the intent that...," it is as if he said that the transaction would take effect from the present.


###### Mishneh Torah, Sales 2:10
[Mishneh Torah, Sales 2:10](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Mishneh%20Torah%2C%20Sales/r/2:10)

הַמּוֹכֵר בְּהֵמָה לַחֲבֵרוֹ אוֹ נְתָנָהּ לוֹ בְּמַתָּנָה וְאָמַר קְנֵה אוֹתָהּ כְּדֶרֶךְ שֶׁבְּנֵי אָדָם קוֹנִין. אִם מָשַׁךְ אוֹ הִגְבִּיהָהּ קָנָה. אֲבָל אִם רָכַב עָלֶיהָ. אִם בַּשָּׂדֶה קָנָה. וְאִם בָּעִיר לֹא קָנָה. לְפִי שֶׁאֵין דֶּרֶךְ בְּנֵי אָדָם לִרְכֹּב בָּעִיר. לְפִיכָךְ אִם הָיָה אָדָם חָשׁוּב שֶׁדַּרְכּוֹ לִרְכֹּב בָּעִיר. אוֹ אָדָם מְזֻלְזָל בְּיוֹתֵר שֶׁאֵינוֹ מַקְפִּיד עַל הִלּוּכוֹ בָּעִיר רוֹכֵב. כְּגוֹן הַמְטַפְּלִין בְּגִדּוּל הַבְּהֵמוֹת אוֹ הָעֲבָדִים. אוֹ שֶׁהָיְתָה אִשָּׁה. אוֹ שֶׁהָיָה בִּרְשׁוּת הָרַבִּים שֶׁהָרַבִּים דּוֹרְסִין שָׁם. הֲרֵי זֶה קוֹנֶה בִּרְכִיבָה. וְהוּא שֶׁתְּהַלֵּךְ בּוֹ:

**Mishneh Torah, trans. by Eliyahu Touger. Jerusalem, Moznaim Pub. c1986-c2007:**
The following rules apply when a person sells an animal to a purchaser or gives it as a gift and tells the purchaser or the recipient: "Acquire it in the manner in which people normally acquire it." If he performs *meshichah* or *hagbahah,* he acquires it. If, however, he rides upon it a distinction is made: If this is done in the field, he acquires it. If it is done in the city, he does not acquire it, for it is not common for people to ride in a city.
For this reason, if the purchaser or recipient is an important person - who is accustomed to riding in a city, a very base person - who is not concerned about riding through the city, e.g., a person who raises animals or servants, or a woman, or if the animal is in the public domain where many walk, it can be acquired by riding, provided the rider causes the animal to proceed.