New Source Sheet
Save
Copy
Add to Collection
Export to Google Docs
Share(ו) כִּֽי־יִתֵּן֩ אִ֨ישׁ אֶל־רֵעֵ֜הוּ כֶּ֤סֶף אֽוֹ־כֵלִים֙ לִשְׁמֹ֔ר וְגֻנַּ֖ב מִבֵּ֣ית הָאִ֑ישׁ אִם־יִמָּצֵ֥א הַגַּנָּ֖ב יְשַׁלֵּ֥ם שְׁנָֽיִם׃ (ז) אִם־לֹ֤א יִמָּצֵא֙ הַגַּנָּ֔ב וְנִקְרַ֥ב בַּֽעַל־הַבַּ֖יִת אֶל־הָֽאֱלֹהִ֑ים אִם־לֹ֥א שָׁלַ֛ח יָד֖וֹ בִּמְלֶ֥אכֶת רֵעֵֽהוּ׃ (ח) עַֽל־כָּל־דְּבַר־פֶּ֡שַׁע עַל־שׁ֡וֹר עַל־חֲ֠מוֹר עַל־שֶׂ֨ה עַל־שַׂלְמָ֜ה עַל־כָּל־אֲבֵדָ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֤ר יֹאמַר֙ כִּי־ה֣וּא זֶ֔ה עַ֚ד הָֽאֱלֹהִ֔ים יָבֹ֖א דְּבַר־שְׁנֵיהֶ֑ם אֲשֶׁ֤ר יַרְשִׁיעֻן֙ אֱלֹהִ֔ים יְשַׁלֵּ֥ם שְׁנַ֖יִם לְרֵעֵֽהוּ׃ (ס) (ט) כִּֽי־יִתֵּן֩ אִ֨ישׁ אֶל־רֵעֵ֜הוּ חֲמ֨וֹר אוֹ־שׁ֥וֹר אוֹ־שֶׂ֛ה וְכָל־בְּהֵמָ֖ה לִשְׁמֹ֑ר וּמֵ֛ת אוֹ־נִשְׁבַּ֥ר אוֹ־נִשְׁבָּ֖ה אֵ֥ין רֹאֶֽה׃ (י) שְׁבֻעַ֣ת יְהוָ֗ה תִּהְיֶה֙ בֵּ֣ין שְׁנֵיהֶ֔ם אִם־לֹ֥א שָׁלַ֛ח יָד֖וֹ בִּמְלֶ֣אכֶת רֵעֵ֑הוּ וְלָקַ֥ח בְּעָלָ֖יו וְלֹ֥א יְשַׁלֵּֽם׃ (יא) וְאִם־גָּנֹ֥ב יִגָּנֵ֖ב מֵעִמּ֑וֹ יְשַׁלֵּ֖ם לִבְעָלָֽיו׃ (יב) אִם־טָרֹ֥ף יִטָּרֵ֖ף יְבִאֵ֣הוּ עֵ֑ד הַטְּרֵפָ֖ה לֹ֥א יְשַׁלֵּֽם׃ (פ) (יג) וְכִֽי־יִשְׁאַ֥ל אִ֛ישׁ מֵעִ֥ם רֵעֵ֖הוּ וְנִשְׁבַּ֣ר אוֹ־מֵ֑ת בְּעָלָ֥יו אֵין־עִמּ֖וֹ שַׁלֵּ֥ם יְשַׁלֵּֽם׃ (יד) אִם־בְּעָלָ֥יו עִמּ֖וֹ לֹ֣א יְשַׁלֵּ֑ם אִם־שָׂכִ֣יר ה֔וּא בָּ֖א בִּשְׂכָרֽוֹ׃ (ס)
(6) When a man gives money or goods to another for safekeeping, and they are stolen from the man’s house—if the thief is caught, he shall pay double; (7) if the thief is not caught, the owner of the house shall depose before God that he has not laid hands on the other’s property. (8) In all charges of misappropriation—pertaining to an ox, an ass, a sheep, a garment, or any other loss, whereof one party alleges, “This is it”—the case of both parties shall come before God: he whom God declares guilty shall pay double to the other. (9) When a man gives to another an ass, an ox, a sheep or any other animal to guard, and it dies or is injured or is carried off, with no witness about, (10) an oath before the LORD shall decide between the two of them that the one has not laid hands on the property of the other; the owner must acquiesce, and no restitution shall be made. (11) But if [the animal] was stolen from him, he shall make restitution to its owner. (12) If it was torn by beasts, he shall bring it as evidence; he need not replace what has been torn by beasts. (13) When a man borrows [an animal] from another and it dies or is injured, its owner not being with it, he must make restitution. (14) If its owner was with it, no restitution need be made; but if it was hired, he is entitled to the hire.
(א) וגנב מבית האיש. לְפִי דְבָרָיו (שם ס"ג): (ב) אם ימצא הגנב ישלם. הַגַּנָּב שנים לַבְּעָלִים: (א) אם לא ימצא הגנב. וּבָא הַשּׁוֹמֵר הַזֶּה, שֶׁהוּא בַּעַל הַבַּיִת: (ב) ונקרב. אֶל הַדַּיָּנִין, לָדוּן עִם זֶה וְלִשָּׁבַע לוֹ שֶׁלֹּא שָׁלַח יָדוֹ בְּשֶׁלּוֹ (שם): (א) על כל דבר פשע. שֶׁיִּמָּצֵא שַׁקְרָן בִּשְׁבוּעָתוֹ – שֶׁיָּעִידוּ עֵדִים שֶׁהוּא עַצְמוֹ גְּנָבוֹ – וְיַרְשִׁיעוּהוּ אֱלֹהִים עַל פִּי הָעֵדִים. (ב) ישלם שנים לרעהו. לִמֶּדְךָ הַכָּתוּב, שֶׁהַטּוֹעֵן בְּפִקָּדוֹן לוֹמַר נִגְנַב הֵימֶנּוּ, וְנִמְצָא שֶׁהוּא עַצְמוֹ גְּנָבוֹ, מְשַׁלֵּם תַּשְׁלוּמֵי כֶּפֶל; וְאֵימָתַי? בִּזְמַן שֶׁנִּשְׁבַּע וְאַחַ"כָּ בָּאוּ עֵדִים, שֶׁכָּךְ דָּרְשׁוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ: וְנִקְרַב בַּעַל הַבַּיִת אֶל הָאֱלֹהִים, קְרִיבָה זוֹ שְׁבוּעָה הִיא, אַתָּה אוֹמֵר לִשְׁבוּעָה אוֹ אֵינוֹ אֶלָּא לַדִּין, שֶׁכֵּיוָן שֶׁבָּא לַדִּין וְכָפַר לוֹמַר נִגְנְבָה, מִיָּד יִתְחַיֵּב כֶּפֶל אִם בָּאוּ עֵדִים שֶׁהוּא בְיָדוֹ? נֶאֱמַר כָּאן שְׁלִיחוּת יָד וְנֶאֱמַר לְמַטָּה שְׁלִיחוּת יָד – שְׁבוּעַת ה' תִּהְיֶה בֵּין שְׁנֵיהֶם אִם לֹא שָׁלַח יָדוֹ – מַה לְּהַלָּן שְׁבוּעָה, אַף כָּאן שְׁבוּעָה (שם): (ג) אשר יאמר כי הוא זה. לְפִי פְשׁוּטוֹ אֲשֶׁר יֹאמַר הָעֵד כִּי הוּא זֶה שֶׁנִּשְׁבַּעְתָּ עָלָיו, הֲרֵי הוּא אֶצְלְךָ, עַד הַדַּיָּנִין יָבֹא דְּבַר שְׁנֵיהֶם, וְיַחְקְרוּ אֶת הָעֵדִים, אִם כְּשֵׁרִים הֵם וְיַרְשִׁיעוּהוּ לְשׁוֹמֵר זֶה, יְשַׁלֵּם שְׁנַיִם, וְאִם יַרְשִׁיעוּ אֶת הָעֵדִים, שֶׁנִּמְצְאוּ זוֹמְמִין, יְשַׁלְּמוּ הֵם שְׁנַיִם לַשּׁוֹמֵר. וְרַבּוֹתֵינוּ זִ"לִ דָּרְשׁוּ כִּי הוּא זֶה לְלַמֵּד, שֶׁאֵין מְחַיְּבִין אוֹתוֹ שְׁבוּעָה אֶלָּא אִם כֵּן הוֹדָה בְּמִקְצָת, לוֹמַר כָּךְ וְכָךְ אֲנִי חַיָּב לְךָ, וְהַמּוֹתָר נִגְנַב מִמֶּנִּי (שם ק"ז): (א) כי יתן איש אל רעהו חמור או שור. פָּרָשָׁה רִאשׁוֹנָה נֶאֶמְרָה בְּשׁוֹמֵר חִנָּם, לְפִיכָךְ פָּטַר בּוֹ אֶת הַגְּנֵבָה, כְּמוֹ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (פסוק ו) וְגֻנַּב מִבֵּית הָאִישׁ, אִם לֹא יִמָּצֵא הַגַּנָּב וְנִקְרַב בַּעַל הַבַּיִת לִשְׁבוּעָה, לָמַדְתָּ שֶׁפּוֹטֵר עַצְמוֹ בִּשְׁבוּעָה זוֹ. וּפָרָשָׁה זוֹ אֲמוּרָה בְּשׁוֹמֵר שָׂכָר, לְפִיכָךְ אֵינוֹ פָּטוּר אִם נִגְנְבָה, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב (פסוק יא) אִם גָּנֹב יִגָּנֵב מֵעִמּוֹ יְשַׁלֵּם, אֲבָל עַל הָאֹנֶס, כְּגוֹן מֵת מֵעַצְמוֹ, אוֹ נִשְׁבַּר אוֹ נִשְׁבָּה בְּחָזְקָה עַל יְדֵי לִסְטִים, וְאֵין רוֹאֶה שֶׁיָּעִיד בַּדָּבָר: (א) שבעת ה' תהיה. יִשָּׁבַע שֶׁכֵּן הוּא כִדְבָרָיו, וְהוּא לֹא שָׁלַח בָּהּ יָד לְהִשְׁתַּמֵּשׁ בָּהּ לְעַצְמוֹ, שֶׁאִם שָׁלַח בָּהּ יָד וְאַחַ"כָּ נֶאֶנְסָה, חַיָּב בָּאֳנָסִים (בבא מציעא צ"ד): (ב) ולקח בעליו. הַשְּׁבוּעָה: (ג) ולא ישלם. לוֹ הַשּׁוֹמֵר כְּלוּם (בבא קמא ק"ו): (א) אם טרף יטרף. עַ"יְ חַיָּה רָעָה: (ב) יביאהו עד. יָבִיא עֵדִים שֶׁנִּטְרְפָה בְאֹנֶס וּפָטוּר: (ג) הטרפה לא ישלם. אֵינוֹ אוֹמֵר טְרֵפָה לֹא יְשַׁלֵּם אֶלָּא הַטְּרֵפָה, יֵשׁ טְרֵפָה שֶׁהוּא מְשַׁלֵּם וְיֵשׁ טְרֵפָה שֶׁאֵינוֹ מְשַׁלֵּם; טְרֵפַת חָתוּל וְשׁוּעָל וּנְמִיָּה מְשַׁלֵּם, טְרֵפַת זְאֵב, אֲרִי, וְדֹב וְנָחָשׁ אֵינוֹ מְשַׁלֵּם; וּמִי לְחָשְׁךָ לָדוּן כֵּן? שֶׁהֲרֵי כָתוּב וּמֵת אוֹ נִשְׁבַּר אוֹ נִשְׁבָּה – מַה מִּיתָה שֶׁאֵין יָכוֹל לְהַצִּיל, אַף שֶׁבֶר וְשִׁבְיָה שֶׁאֵין יָכוֹל לְהַצִּיל (מכילתא): (א) וכי ישאל. בָּא לְלַמֵּד עַל הַשּׁוֹאֵל שֶׁהוּא חַיָּב בָּאֳנָסִין: (ב) בעליו אין עמו. אִם בְּעָלָיו שֶׁל שׁוֹר אֵינוֹ עִם הַשּׁוֹאֵל בִּמְלַאכְתּוֹ (בבא מציעא צ"ה): (א) אם בעליו עמו. בֵּין שֶׁהוּא בְּאוֹתָהּ מְלָאכָה בֵּין שֶׁהוּא בִמְלָאכָה אַחֶרֶת, הָיָה עִמּוֹ בִּשְׁעַת שְׁאֵלָה אֵינוֹ צָרִיךְ לִהְיוֹת עִמּוֹ בִּשְׁעַת שְׁבִירָה וּמִיתָה (שם): (ב) אם שכיר הוא. אִם הַשּׁוֹר אֵינוֹ שָׁאוּל אֶלָּא שָׂכוּר, בָּא בִּשְׂכָרוֹ לְיַד הַשּׂוֹכֵר הַזֶּה, וְלֹא בִשְׁאֵלָה, וְאֵין כָּל הֲנָאָה שֶׁלּוֹ, שֶׁהֲרֵי עַ"יְ שְׂכָרוֹ נִשְׁתַּמֵּשׁ, וְאֵין לוֹ מִשְׁפַּט שׁוֹאֵל לְהִתְחַיֵּב בָּאֳנָסִין; וְלֹא פֵּרֵשׁ מַה דִּינוֹ, אִם כְּשׁוֹמֵר חִנָּם אוֹ כְשׁוֹמֵר שָׂכָר, לְפִיכָךְ נֶחְלְקוּ בוֹ חַכְמֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל שׂוֹכֵר כֵּיצַד מְשַׁלֵּם, רַבִּי מֵאִיר אוֹמֵר כְּשׁוֹמֵר חִנָּם, רַ' יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר כְּשׁוֹמֵר שָׂכָר (בבא מציעא צ"ה):
(1) וגנב מבית האיש AND IT BE STOLEN OUT OF THE MAN’S HOUSE — i. e. according to his statement), (2) אם ימצה הגנב ישלם IF THE THIEF BE FOUND HE — the thief — SHALL PAY שנים DOUBLE to the owner (to the bailor not to the bailee) (Bava Kamma 63b). (1) אם לא ימצא הגנב IF THE THIEF BE NOT FOUND then this bailee — who is בעל הבית “the owner of the house” for the time being (since the bailment is then in his possession although he is not really its owner) — shall come. (2) ונקרב אל AND SHALL APPROACH UNTO THE אלהים — the judges, to put his case against the other and to swear unto him that he has not put forth his hands against his property (Bava Kamma 63b). (1) על כל דבר פשע FOR ALL MANNER OF TRESSPASS in which he (the bailee) is proved a liar in respect of his oath (i. e. is convicted of perjury), because witnesses testify that he himself has stolen it and the judges condemn him on the evidence of the witnesses, (2) ישלם שנים לרעהו HE SHALL PAY THE DOUBLE TO HIS FELLOW-MAN — Scripture teaches you that in a case of a bailment where one pleads that it has been stolen from him and it is proved that he himself has stolen it he is liable to pay “kefel” (twice the value of the article) to the owner. When, however, does this law hold good? In the case that he has taken an oath that it has been stolen from him and witnesses afterwards appear and testify to the contrary. For our Rabbis expound this phrase as follows: (Bava Kamma 63b) “and the owner of the house shall approach unto the judges” — this “approaching the judges” is an expression signifying the taking of an oath. You say that it means approaching the judges in order to take an oath, but perhaps this is not so, and it means that he approaches them to put his case, and that the meaning of the verse is. that as soon as the bailee appears before the court and denies any liability, saying, “it has been stolen” from me, he at once becomes liable to pay double if witnessess appear who testify that the bailment is still in his possession? You certainly cannot argue thus! For “conversion” (שליחות יד) is mentioned here and later on (v. 10) it is mentioned again: “Then shall the oath of the Lord be between the two of them, if he hath not put his hand (אם לא שלח ידו) unto his fellow-man’s goods”. — Now, what is the meaning of the phrase in the latter case? It is evident from what precedes it that it is a matter of taking an oath! So also here it is a matter of taking an oath. (Bava Kamma 63b). (3) אשר יאמר כי הוא זה means, according to the literal sense, any article about which the witness will say: “this is the very article” about which you have taken an oath that it has been stolen from you; see, it is actually in your possession! — then the matter of dispute between the two of them shall come before the judges. These shall examine the witnesses, and if they prove to be trustworthy and they (the judges) condemn this bailee, then he has to pay double. If, however, they condemn the witnesses because these are found to be “plotting” witnesses (זוממין) then shall they (the witnesses) pay double to the bailee. Our Rabbis, of blessed memory, however, explained that כי הוא זה tells us that no oath can be imposed upon him (the defendant) except if he admits a part of the other’s claim asserting, “So-and-so much I owe you, and the rest has been stolen from me” (according to this explanation the phrase כי הוא זה is not a statement of the witnesses but that of the bailee himself; i. e. he says, כי הוא זה, “it is this only” that you have to claim and not as much as you say) (Bava Kamma 107b). (1) כי יתן איש אל רעהו חמור או שור IF A MAN GIVE UNTO HIS FELLOW-MAN AN ASS OR AN OX — The first section (v. 6—9) speaks of the gratuitous bailee and therefore (since the chattels are kept for the use of the bailor only) Scripture frees him of liability for theft, as it is written, (v. 6) “[If a man shall give … to keep] and it be stolen out of the man’s house, if the thief be not found, then the owner of the house shall approach the judges” to take an oath (cf. Rashi v. 7). You may learn from this that he (the bailee) frees himself from liability by this oath. This section (v. 9—12), however, speaks of a “bailee for payment” (שומר שכר) who is therefore not free from liability if the object has been stolen, as it is written, “but if it be certainly stolen from him, he shall pay [unto the owner thereof]” (Bava Metzia 94b). However, for any loss over which he has no control — if, for instance, the animal died a natural death or has been injured by a wild beast, or forcibly seized by robbers, and אין רואה NO ONE SEEING IT that could testify in this matter (1) שבעת ה׳ תהיה THEN SHALL THE OATH OF THE LORD BE BETWEEN THEM BOTH — i. e. he (the bailee) must take an oath that the case was as he says (that it died or was injured or captured), and also that he had not previously put forth his hand against it (the object), using it for his own purposes. For if he had thus “put forth his hand” and afterwards some accident, as described, happened to it he is held liable for loss by accident (Bava Metzia 94b), since he has broken the terms of the contract. — (2) ולקח בעליו AND THE OWNER OF IT SHALL ACCEPT IT — i. e. shall accept the oath (Bava Kamma 106a), (3) ולא ישלם AND HE — the bailee — SHALL NOT PAY HIM (the bailor) anything, not even the capital (קרן). (1) אם טרף יטרף IF IT BE TORN IN PIECES — by wild beasts. (2) יביאהו עד THEN LET HIM BRING WITNESSES that it has been torn in pieces by accident and he shall be freed from liability. (3) הטרפה לא ישלם HE SHALL NOT PAY THAT WHICH HAS BEEN TORN — It does not say טרפה לא ישלם “one which has been torn he shall not pay for” — but it says “the torn one”, (the one mentioned here, viz., that which was torn without him being able to prevent it). Because there is a torn beast for which he has to pay and a torn beast for which he has not to pay. For an animal torn by a cat, a fox or a marten he has indeed to make restitution; but for one torn by a wolf, a lion, a bear or a serpent he is not liable to pay. But how do you come to make such a distinction (lit., who whispered to you to draw such a conclusion)? Because, you see, it states, “and if it die or be injured, or be captured”. Now what is the characteristic of natural death? One cannot save from it! Thus, also, the injury and the capture must be such that he was unable to save the animal from it (cf. Mekhilta d'Rabbi Yishmael 22:12). (1) וכי ישאל איש AND IF A MAN BORROWS — The purpose of this verse is to tell you that the borrower is liable for loss from whatever cause even from accident. (2) בעליו אין עמו THE OWNER THEREOF NOT BEING WITH IT (lit., with “him”) — i. e. if the owner of the ox is not employed with the borrower in his work (Bava Metzia 95b). (1) אם בעליו עמו BUT IF THE OWNER THEREOF BE WITH IT (lit., with “him”) — whether he be employed in the very kind of work for which the animal has been borrowed, or whether he be employed in any other work of the borrower — provided that he (the owner) was employed by the borrower when the loan was effected it is not necessary, in order to free him from restitution that he should be employed by the bailee at the time when the injury or death took place (Bava Metzia 95b). (2) אם שכיר הוא IF IT BE HIRED — i. e. if the ox has not been borrowed but hired, בא בשכרו THEN IT CAME FOR ITS HIRE into the hand of this hirer and not by way of loan. For he does not get the entire benefit of the transaction since he is using it only because he has paid hire for it and consequently the owner benefits also; therefore the law applicable to a borrower does not apply in his case — that he should be held liable for loss by accident. Scripture, however, does not state explicity what his (the hirer’s) law actually is — whether he has to be treated as the gratuitous bailee (שומר חנם) or as the bailee for payment (שומר שכר), and therefore the Sages in Israel differ in their opinion as to how the hirer (שוכר) has to make restitution. R. Meir says he is responsible only as a gratuitous bailee, whilst R. Judah says, even as a bailee for payment (Bava Metzia 80b).