Bava Metzia 48B

אלא קשיא לריש לקיש! אמר לך ריש לקיש: הא מני רבי שמעון היא.

But this baraita is difficult according to Reish Lakish. The Talmud answers: Reish Lakish could have said to you: In accordance with whose opinion is this baraita? It is in accordance with the opinion of R' Shimon, not that of the Rabbis.

אבל אמרו מי שפרע וכו׳. איתמר, אביי אמר: אודועי מודעינן ליה. רבא אמר: מילט לייטינן ליה.

§ The Mishnah teaches with regard to one who reneges on a transaction after the money was paid: But the rabbis said: He Who exacted payment from the people of the Generation of the Flood, and from the Generation of the Dispersion, will in the future exact payment from whoever does not stand by his statement. It was stated that there is an amoraic dispute. Abaye said that we inform one who seeks to renege on a transaction: Be aware that this is the punishment of one who does not stand by his statement. Rava said that we curse him with that statement.

אביי אמר: אודועי מודעינן ליה, דכתיב: ״ונשיא בעמך לא תאר״. רבא אמר: מילט לייטינן ליה, דכתיב: ״בעמך״⁠ – בעושה מעשה עמך.

The Talmud elaborates: Abaye said that we inform him, as it is written: “Nor curse a ruler among your people” (Exodus 22:27), from which it is derived that it is prohibited to curse a ruler or any other member of the Jewish people. Rava said that we curse him, and the prohibition against cursing is not a concern, as it is written: “Among your people,” from which it is derived that the prohibition applies only with regard to one who performs an action befitting your people, not one who reneges on a transaction after the money is paid.

אמר רבא, מנא אמינא לה? דרבי חייא בר יוסף יהבו ליה זוזי אמלחא. לסוף אייקר מלחא. אתא לקמיה דרבי יוחנן, אמר ליה: זיל הב להו, ואי לא ⁠– קביל עליך ״מי שפרע״. ואי אמרת אודועי מודעינן ליה, רבי חייא בר יוסף בר אודועי הוא. ואלא מאי ⁠– מילט לייטינן ליה? רבי חייא בר יוסף אתי לקבולי עליה לטותא דרבנן?!

Rava said: From where do I say this halakha? I learned it from the incident where buyers gave R' Ḥiyya bar Yosef money to purchase salt from him. Ultimately the price of salt increased, and R' Ḥiyya bar Yosef sought to renege on the deal. He came before R' Yoḥanan to ask his opinion. R' Yoḥanan said to him: Go and give them the salt, and if not, accept upon yourself: He Who exacted payment. And if you say we merely inform him of this punishment, is R' Ḥiyya bar Yosef one who must be informed? He knows the halakha. The Talmud rejects this proof: Rather, what is the alternative, that we curse him? Would R' Ḥiyya bar Yosef come to accept upon himself a curse of the rabbis?