Study Bava Batra folio 86B with parallel Hebrew-English text, traditional commentary, and modern study tools. Free access to Babylonian Talmud online.
תא שמע: המוכר פירות לחבירו, משך ולא מדד – קני. והא פירות, דבני הגבהה נינהו, וקתני דקני במשיכה!
The Talmud suggests: Come and hear a proof from the Mishnah (84b) that even items that are usually lifted can be acquired by means of pulling: With regard to one who sells produce to another, if the buyer pulled the produce but did not measure it, he has acquired it. The Talmud explains the proof: But produce can be lifted, and yet the Mishnah teaches that it is acquired by means of pulling.
הכא במאי עסקינן – בשליפי רברבי. אי הכי, אימא סיפא: הלוקח פשתן מחבירו – לא קנה עד שיטלטלנו ממקום זה למקום אחר. אטו פשתן בשליפי רברבי מי לא עבדי?! שאני פשתן – דמשתמיט.
The Talmud rejects this proof: With what are we dealing here? We are dealing with large bundles that are pulled from place to place and are not carried, due to their size. The Talmud asks: If that is so, say the latter clause of the Mishnah: One who buys flax from another has not acquired it until he carries it from this place to another place, i.e., it is acquired only though lifting and not through pulling. Is that to say that flax is not prepared in large bundles? The Talmud answers: Yes, flax is different. Unlike other produce, flax is not packed in large bundles, as it would slip from its place. Rather, it is packed in small bundles, and therefore flax is acquired specifically through lifting.
אמר ליה רבינא לרב אשי, תא שמע: בהמה גסה נקנית במסירה, והדקה – בהגבהה; דברי רבי מאיר ורבי שמעון בן אלעזר. וחכמים אומרים: בהמה דקה – במשיכה. והא בהמה דקה, דבר הגבהה היא, וקתני דקני במשיכה! שאני בהמה, דסרכא.
Ravina said to Rav Ashi: Come and hear a proof from a Mishnah (Kiddushin 25b): Large livestock are acquired through passing the animal’s leash to the buyer, and small livestock are acquired through lifting; this is the statement of R' Meir and R' Shimon ben Elazar. And the Rabbis say: Small livestock are acquired through pulling. Ravina explains the proof: But small livestock are creatures that can be lifted, and yet the Mishnah teaches that one acquires them through pulling. Rav Ashi rejected this proof: livestock are different, as they cling to the ground and it is difficult to lift them. Therefore, the usual manner of moving animals is to pull them.
Text data via Sefaria: William Davidson Edition - English and William Davidson Edition - Vocalized Aramaic, CC-BY-NC; edition provenance: Koren. Display terminology has been modernized for readability.