Bava Kamma

: It is true that Ben Bag Bag supports thy view; but he is only one against the Rabbis  who differ from him. R. Jannai [even] suggested that 'Break his teeth' may also mean to bring him before a court of justice. But if so, why 'and thou mayest tell him?' Should it not read 'and they  will tell him'? Again, 'I am taking possession of what is mine'; should it not be 'he is taking possession of what is his'? — This is indeed a difficulty. Come and hear: In the case of an ox throwing itself upon the back of another's ox so as to kill it, if the owner of the ox that was beneath arrived and extricated his ox so that the ox that was above dropped down and was killed, there is exemption. Now, does not this ruling apply to Mu'ad  where no irreparable loss is pending? — No, it only applies to Tam  where an irreparable loss is indeed pending. But if so, read the subsequent clause: If [the owner of the ox that was beneath] pushed the ox from above, which was thus killed, there would be liability to compensate. Now if the case dealt with is of Tam,  why liability? — Since he was able to extricate his ox from beneath, which in fact he did not do, [he had no right to push and directly kill the assailing ox]. Come and hear: In the case of a trespasser having filled his neighbour's premises with pitchers of wine and pitchers of oil, the owner of the premises is entitled to break them when going out and break them when coming in. [Does not this prove that a man may take the law into his own hands for the protection of his rights?]  — R. Nahman b. Isaac explained: He is entitled to break them [and make a way]  when going out [to complain] to the Court of Justice, as well as break them when coming back to fetch some necessary documents. Come and hear: Whence is derived the ruling that in the case of a [Hebrew] bondman whose term of service, that had been extended by the boring of his ear,  has been terminated by the arrival of the Jubilee year  if it so happened that his master, while insisting upon him to leave, injured him by inflicting a wound upon him, there is yet exemption? We learn it from the words, And ye shall take no satisfaction for him that is … come again …  implying that we should not adjudicate compensation for him that is determined to 'come again' [as a servant].  [Does not this prove that a man may take the law into his own hands for the protection of his interests?]  — We are dealing here with a case where the servant became suspected of intending to commit theft.  But how is it that up to that time he did not commit any theft and just at that time  he became suspected of intending to commit theft? — Up to that time he had the fear of his master upon him, whereas from that time  he is no more subject to his master's control.  R. Nahman b. Isaac said: We are dealing with a bondman to whom his master assigned a Canaanite maidservant as wife:  up to the expiration of the term this arrangement was lawful  whereas from that time this becomes unlawful. Come and hear: IF A MAN PLACES A PITCHER ON PUBLIC GROUND AND ANOTHER ONE COMES AND STUMBLES OVER IT AND BREAKS IT, HE IS EXEMPT. Now, is not this so only when the other one stumbled over it, whereas in the case of directly breaking it there is liability?  — R. Zebid thereupon said in the name of Raba: The same law applies even in the case of directly breaking it; for 'AND STUMBLES' was inserted merely because of the subsequent clause which reads, IF THE OTHER ONE WAS INJURED BY IT, THE OWNER OF THE BARREL IS LIABLE TO COMPENSATE FOR THE DAMAGE, and which, of course, applies only to stumbling but not to direct breaking, as then it is of course the plaintiff who is to blame for the damage he caused to himself. It was therefore on this account that 'stumbling' was inserted in the commencing clause. Come and hear: Then thou shalt cut off her hand,  means only a monetary fine. Does not this ruling apply even in a case where there was no other possibility for her to save [her husband]?  — No, it applies only where she was able to save [him] by some other means.  Would indeed no fine be imposed upon her in a case where there was no other possibility for her to save [her husband]? But if so, why state in the subsequent clause: 'And putteth forth her hand,  excludes an officer of the Court of Justice [from any liability for degradation caused by him while carrying out the orders of the Court]'? Could not the distinction be made by continuing the very case  [in the following manner]: 'Provided that there were some other means at her disposal to save [him],  whereas if she was unable to save [him] by any other means there would be exemption'? — This very same thing was indeed meant to be conveyed [in the subsequent clause:] 'Provided that there were some other means at her disposal to save [him],  for were she unable to save [him] by any other means, the resort to force in her case should be considered as if exercised by an officer of the Court  [in the discharge of his duties] and there would be exemption.' Come and hear:  In the case of a public road passing through the middle of a field of an individual, who appropriates the road but gives the public another at the side of his field, the gift of the new road holds good, whereas the old one will not thereby revert to the owner of the field. Now, if you maintain that a man may take the law into his own hands for the protection of his interests, why should he not arm himself with a whip and sit there?  — R. Zebid thereupon said in the name of Raba: This is a precaution lest an owner [on further occasions] might substitute a round- about way  [for an old established road]. R. Mesharsheya even suggested that the ruling applies to an owner who actually replaced [the old existing road by] a roundabout way.  R. Ashi said: To turn a road [from the middle] to the side [of a field] must inevitably render the road roundabout, for if for those who reside at that side it becomes more direct, for those who reside at the other side it is made far [and roundabout]. But if so, why does the gift of the new road hold good? Why can the owner not say to the public authorities: 'Take ye yours [the old path] and return me mine [the new one]'? — [That could not be done] because of Rab Judah, for Rab Judah said:  A path [once] taken possession of by the public may not be obstructed. Come and hear: If an owner leaves Pe'ah  on one side of the field, whereas the poor arrive at another side and glean there, both sides are subject to the law of Pe'ah. Now, if you really maintain that a man may take the law into his own hands for the protection of his interests why should both sides be subject to the law of Pe'ah?  Why should the owner not arm himself with a whip and sit?  — Raba thereupon said: The meaning of 'both sides are subject to the law of Pe'ah' is that they are both exempt from tithing,  as taught:  If a man, after having renounced the ownership of his vineyard, rises early on the following morning and cuts off the grapes,  there applies to them the laws of Peret,  'Oleloth,  'Forgetting'  and Pe'ah  whereas there is exemption from tithing. MISHNAH. IF HIS PITCHER BROKE ON PUBLIC GROUND AND SOMEONE SLIPPED IN THE WATER OR WAS INJURED BY THE POTSHERD HE IS LIABLE [TO COMPENSATE]. R. JUDAH SAYS: IF IT WAS DONE INTENTIONALLY HE IS LIABLE, BUT IF UNINTENTIONALLY HE IS EXEMPT. GEMARA. Rab Judah said on behalf of Rab: The Mishnaic ruling refers only to garments soiled in the water.