Kiddushin

I might think, even if he fell sick,1 therefore, it is stated, and in the ‘seventh he shall go outfree’! — R. Shesheth answered: The reference here is to one who escaped, and then jubilee supervened:2 I might have thought, since jubilee would have emancipated him, we apply to him, ‘his dismissal is from thee,’ and do not punish but furnish him with a gift. Therefore we are informed [that it is not so]. The Master said: ‘I might think, even if he fell sick, therefore it is stated: "and in the seventh he shall go out free ". ‘Even if he was sick the whole of the six [years]? But it was taught: If he was sick three years and served three years , he is not bound to complete [his term]; but if he was ill the whole of the six years, he is bound to make it up! — R. Shesheth replied: This means that he was able to perform needle-work.3 This is self-contradictory. You say: ‘If he was sick three years and served three years, he is not bound to complete [his term]’: which implies, if four years he must complete [it]. Then consider the second clause: ‘but if he was ill the whole of the six years, he is bound to make it up’ — implying, if [only] four, he is not? — This is its meaning:4 if he was four years ill, it is accounted as though he were indisposed the whole of the six years, and he must make it up. Our Rabbis taught : With how much is he [the freed slave] presented? With five sela's [worth] of each kind,5 which is fifteen sela's in all: this is R. Meir s view. R. Judah maintained: Thirty, as the thirty [paid] for a [heathen] slave.6 R. Simeon said: Fifty, as the fifty of ‘arakin.7 The master said: ‘With five sela's [worth] of each kind, which is fifteen sela's: this is R. Meir's view.’ Does then R. Meir come to teach us arithmetic? — He tells us this: He may not indeed diminish his total, but if he gives him less of one kind and more of another, we have no objection. What is R. Meir's reason? — He learns the meaning of ‘empty’ from a firstborn:8 just as there, five sela's is meant , so here too five sela's is meant. Then perhaps five sela's in all? — Were ‘empty’ written at the end [of the verse],9 [it would be] as you say. Now, however, that ‘empty’ is written at the beginning,10 apply [the word] ‘empty’ to ‘flock’, ‘threshing-floor,’ and ‘wine-press’ individually. But let us learn the meaning of ‘empty’ from the pilgrimage burnt-offering?11 — Scripture saith, as the Lord thy God hath blessed thee [thou shalt give unto him].12 ‘R. Judah maintained: Thirty, as the thirty [paid] for a [heathen] slave.’ What is R. Judah's reason? — He learns the meaning of ‘giving’ from a slave:13 just as there, thirty is meant, so here too, thirty is meant. But let us learn the meaning of ‘giving’, from ‘arakin:14 just as there, fifty, so here too, fifty? — Firstly, because if you seize much, you cannot hold; if you seize little, you can hold;15 moreover, one should rather deduce slave from slave. ‘R. Simeon said: Fifty, as the fifty of ‘arakin.’ What is R. Simeon's reason? — He learns the meaning of ‘giving’ from ‘arakin: just as there, fifty, so here too, fifty. But perhaps [the comparison is] with the least [sum] of ‘arakin?16 — It is written, as the Lord thy God hath blessed thee.17 But let us learn the meaning of ‘giving’ from a slave: just as there, thirty, so here too thirty: [for] firstly, if you seize much, you cannot hold; if you seize little, you can hold; and moreover, one should rather deduce slave from slave? — R. Simeon deduces ‘poverty’ from ‘poverty’.18 Now, as for R. Meir, it is well: for that reason19 ‘flocks, threshing floor’ and ‘wine.press’ are [specifically] stated. But on the views of R. Judah and R. Simeon, why are these necessary?20 — They are necessary, even as it was taught: I might think that the gift can be made only of flocks, the threshing-floor, and the wine-press: how do I know that all things are included? From the verse: ‘as [i.e., with whatever] the Lord thy God hath blessed thee thou shalt give unto him’. If so, why state ‘flocks, threshing-floor, and wine-press’? To inform you: just as these are distinguished in that they fall within the scope of ‘blessing’, so must everything [given to the slave] fall within the scope of ‘blessing’, thus excluding cash money:21 this is R. Simeon's view. R. Eliezer b. Jacob said: excluding mules.22 And R. Simeon?23 — Mules are themselves capable of improvement. And R. Eliezer b. Jacob?24 — One can engage in business with money.25 Now, they are [all] necessary. For had Scripture mentioned ‘flocks’, I would have thought, only livestock [may be given], but not agricultural produce: [therefore] Scripture wrote ‘threshing.floor’. And had it written ‘threshing-floor’, I would have said, only agricultural produce; [therefore] Scripture wrote ‘threshing-floor’. And had it written ‘threshing-floor’, I would have said, only agricultural produce, but not livestock: hence Scripture wrote ‘flocks’. Why do I need ‘wine-press’? hand tailoring. adult man is fifty sela's; Lev. XXVII, 3. And none shall appear before me empty — Ex. XXXIV, 20. A firstborn is redeemed with five shekels — Num. XVIII, 16. . . and none shall appear before me empty. This is interpreted in Hag. 2a and 6a that a burnt-offering must be brought, the minimum value of which must be either two silver ma'ahs or one silver ma'ah according to Beth Shammai and Beth Hillel respectively. Why then not assume the same here? thirty shekels of silver — Ex. XXI, 32. the Talmud here relies on a Baraitha in Hul. 139a, which states that the verse, then he shall give thine estimation in that day, as a holy thing unto the Lord (v. 23) refers to the valuation of man, notwithstanding that the section as a whole (vv. 22f) deals with the sanctification of fields (S. Strashun). that no one may draw a conclusion from a qezerah shawah on one's own authority, v. Pes. 66a and Rashi.] Not ‘giving’ from ‘giving’. — Slave: and if thy brother be waxen poor with thee, and sell himself unto thee — Lev. XXV, 39: ‘arakin: but if he be poorer than thy estimation etc., — ibid. XXVII, 8. Hence the two passages illumine each other, and shew that a slave's gift is fifty sela's. following Baraitha. Adam took two animals (of different kinds) . . . and from them ‘came forth a mule’: v. Lewysohn, Zoologie, p. 144.