Study Bava Metzia folio 110B with parallel Hebrew-English text, traditional commentary, and modern study tools. Free access to Babylonian Talmud online.
Text Excerpt
סבר רבי חנינא למימר: ארעא בחזקת יתמי קיימא, ועל בעל חוב להביא ראיה. אמר להו ההוא סבא, הכי אמר רבי יוחנן: על היתומים להביא ראיה. מאי טעמא? ארעא, כיון דלגוביינא קיימא – כמאן דגביא דמיא, ועל היתומין להביא ראיה.
R' Ḥanina thought to say that the land remains in the orphans’ possession, as they are currently in control of it, and therefore the responsibility falls upon the creditor to bring proof. A certain elder said to them: This is what R' Yoḥanan says: The responsibility falls upon the orphans to bring proof. What is the reason for this? Since this land stands ready for collection, it is considered as though it has already been collected and is in the creditor’s possession. Consequently, the responsibility falls upon the orphans to bring proof.
אמר אביי, אף אנן נמי תנינא: ספק זה קדם וספק זה קדם – קוצץ ואינו נותן דמים.
Abaye said: We learn a similar halakha in the Mishnah (Bava Batra 24b) as well, with regard to a tree planted adjacent to a city. Such a tree must be chopped down in any event, regardless of what preceded what. If the city preceded the tree, the owner is not entitled to compensation, but if the tree was there first, he receives payment for the tree. If it is uncertain whether this one was first or that one was first, the owner of the tree cuts it down and the people of the city do not give money to the owner.
אלמא כיון דלמיקץ קיימא, אמרינן ליה: אייתי ראיה ושקול. הכי נמי, האי שטרא כיון דלגוביינא קיימא – כמאן דגביא דמיא, ועל היתומים להביא ראיה.
Apparently, since this tree is standing to be chopped down, as it is chopped down regardless of whether it or the town was there first, we say to the owner of the tree: You must bring proof to support your claim that the tree was there before the town and only then you may take its value, although the tree is currently in his possession and has not yet been cut down. So too, with regard to this document recording the lien on the land, since it is ready for collection, it is considered as though it has been collected and the responsibility falls upon the orphans to bring proof.