Kiddushin

But what of a claim, concerning which it is written: If a man shall deliver unto his neighbour money or utensils to keep etc.1 yet we learnt: ‘The oath taken before judges [is imposed] for a [minimum] claim of two silver [ma'ahs] and an admission of a perutah’?2 — There it is similar to ‘utensils’: just as ‘utensils’ implies [at least] two, so must ‘money’ refer to two [coins],3 and just as ‘money’ implies something of worth,4 so does ‘utensils’ mean something of worth.5 But [what of the second] tithe, in regard to which it is written, [Then thou shalt turn it into money] and bind up the money in thine hand,6 yet we learnt: ‘If one changes a sela’ of second tithe [copper] coins . . .’?7 — ‘The money’ is an extension,8 But what of hekdesh,9 concerning which it is written, then he shall give the money, and it shall be assured to him,10 yet Samuel said: If hekdesh worth a maneh is redeemed with the equivalent of a perutah, it is redeemed?11 — There too, we deduce the meaning of ‘money’ from tithes.12 But what of a woman's kiddushin, concerning which it is written: When a man taketh a wife, and marry her,13 and we deduce the meaning of ‘taking’ from the field of Ephron,14 yet we learnt: BETH HILLEL RULE, BY A PERUTAH OR THE WORTH OF A PERUTAH; shall we say [then] that R. Assi ruled in accordance with Beth Shammai?15 — But if stated, it was stated thus: Rab Judah said in R. Assi's name: Whenever a fixed sum of money is mentioned in the Torah, Tyrian coinage is meant; whereas the Rabbinical usage refers to provincial currency.16 Then what does he teach us? We have already learnt it: The five sela's mentioned in connection with a firstborn,17 the thirty of a slave,18 the fifty of a ravisher and a seducer,19 and the hundred of a slanderer20 — all these are [computed] by the holy shekel according to the Tyrian maneh!21 — He wishes to state, ‘whereas the Rabbinical term refers to provincial currency,’ which we did not learn. For we learnt: If one boxes his neighbour's ears,22 he must pay him a sela’. Now, you should not say, what is a sela’? Four zuz,’23 but what is a sela’? Half a zuz, for it happens that people call half a zuz ‘istira’. 24 R. Simeon b. Lakish said: Beth Shammai's reason is in accordance with Hezekiah. For Hezekiah said: Scripture saith, then shall he let her be redeemed25 — this teaches that she deducts from her redemption [money] and goes out [free]. Now, if you say that he [the master] gave her a denar,26 it is well: hence she can go on deducting until a perutah. But if you say that he gave her a perutah: what can be deducted from a perutah?27 But perhaps Scripture ordered thus: if he gave her a denar, she can go on deducting until a perutah; [but] if he gave her a perutah, she cannot deduct at all? part of the claim and denies part. to determine. For if a particular sum is meant, granted that a ma'ah is the smallest Tyrian coin, why two? Tosaf. and others: the smallest Tyrian coin is a denar, whereas a ma'ah = 1/6th of a denar. (Though the actual coin is not mentioned in the quotation, ma'ah is assumed, because ‘two’ is in the fem. form, agreeing with ma'ah, whereas denar is masc.). ma'ahs (Rashi). Tosaf. and others with different reading of the text: just as ‘utensils’ implies something of value, so does ‘money’ apply to that likewise, and a ma'ah is a coin of value; whilst ‘two’ is likewise deduced from the plural, ‘utensils’. [Whereas according to Rashi's reading the minimum value required in the case of ‘utensils’ is determined by the significance attached to the word ‘money’, according to that of Tosaf., the value of ‘utensils’ is judged by their own merits, so that even a couple of needles are to be treated as things of worth in view of the use to which they can be put]. was redeemed with copper coins, though Scripture mentions ‘money’ in this connection. too. — ‘Shekels’ is the Biblical term for sela’. of silver. and they be found; then the man that lay with her shall give unto the damsel's father fifty shekels of silver. took this woman, and . . . I found not in her tokens of virginity . . . then the elders of that city shall amerce him in a hundred shekels of silver. thereof he can take her to wife; v. Ex. ibid.