Bava Batra

"I thought I had a son; now, [however] that I have no son, [let] my estate [be given] to X"; [or] if a person was lying ill in bed, and on being asked to whom his estate [shall be given]. he replied, "I thought my wife was with child; now' [however] 'that my wife is not with child, [let] my estate [be given] to X"; and it [subsequently] transpired that he had a son or that his wife was pregnant, his gift is invalid,'  Is it to be assumed that this [statement represents the view of] R Simeon b. Menasya and not [that of] the Rabbis?  — It may even be said [to represent the view of] the Rabbis, [but] 'I thought' is different.  And what did he that raised the question imagine?  — It might be suggested that he  was merely mentioning his grief,  hence [it was necessary] to teach us [that this is not so]. R. Zera said in the name of Rab: Whence [is it proved] that the gift of a dying man  [is considered valid] by the Torah? — For it is said, Then ye shall cause his inheritance to pass to his daughter  [which  implies that] there exists another transfer which is [the same] as this [one]. And which is it? It is the gift of a dying man.  R. Nahman in the name of Rabbah b. Abbuha said: [It may be derived] from the following.  Then shall ye give his inheritance unto his brethren,  [which  implies that] there exists another giving which is like this [one]. And which is it? It is the gift of a dying man.  Why does not R. Nahman derive it from, Then ye shall cause to pass?  — He requires that [expression] for [the following], according to Rabbi. For it was taught: Rabbi said, In [the case of] all [the relatives  the expression of] 'giving' is used but here  [the expression] used is that of 'causing to pass',  [in order to teach] you that no other but a daughter causes an inheritance to pass from one tribe to [another] tribe, since [in her case] her son and her husband are her heirs.  And why does not R. Zera derive it from, Then shall ye give?  — This is the usual [expression] of Scripture. R. Menashya b. Jeremiah said: [It  may be derived] from the following:  In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death; and Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, 'Thus saith the Lord; Set thy house in order for thou shalt die, and not live',  by mere verbal instruction. Rami b. Ezekiel said: [It  may be derived] from the following: And when Ahitophel saw that his counsel was not followed. he saddled his ass and arose, and got him home into his city and set his house in order, and strangled himself.  by mere verbal instruction. Our Rabbis taught: Ahitophel advised his sons three things: Take no part  in strife, and do not rebel against the government of the House of David, and [if] the weather on the Festival of Pentecost is fine sow wheat  Mar Zutra stated: It was said, 'cloudy'  The Nehardeans said in the name of R. Jacob: 'Fine' [does] not [mean] absolutely fine, nor does 'cloudy' mean completely overcast, but even [when it is] 'cloudy' and the north wind blows [the clouds], it is regarded as 'fine'. R. Abba said to R. Ashi: We rely upon [the weather information] of R. Isaac b. Abdimi. For R. Isaac b. Abdimi said: [At] the termination of  the last day of Tabernacles, all watched the smoke of the wood pile.  [If] it  inclined towards the north, the poor rejoiced and landowners  were distressed because [that  was an indication] that the yearly rains would be heavy  and the crops would decay.  [If] it inclined towards the south, the poor were distressed and landowners rejoiced because [that  was an indication] that the yearly rains would be scanty and the crops could be preserved.  [If] it inclined towards the east, all were glad;  towards the west, all were distressed. A contradiction was raised: The east [wind] is always beneficial; the west [wind] is always harmful; the north wind is beneficial for wheat that reached  [the stage of] a third [of its maturity].  and harmful for olives in blossom; and the south wind is injurious' for wheat that reached  [the stage of] a third [of maturity] and beneficial for olives in blossom. And R. Joseph. (others say Mar Zutra and others say. R. Nahman b. Isaac), said: Your mnemonic is, 'Table in the north and candelabra in the south;  the one  Increases Its own  and the other  increases Its own. — There is no difficulty: This  for us,  and that  for them It was taught: Abba Saul said: Fine [weather at] the Festival of Pentecost is a good sign  for all the year. R. Zebid said: If the first day of the New Year is warm, all's the year will be warm; if cold, all  the year will be cold. Of what [religious] significance is this  [weather information]?