Study Bava Metzia folio 49A with parallel Hebrew-English text, traditional commentary, and modern study tools. Free access to Babylonian Talmud online.
Text Excerpt
אלא משכון דנקיט למה ליה? אלא לאו, שמע מיניה: מאי ״אינו משמט״ דקאמר רבן שמעון בן גמליאל – אינו משמט בכולו, ומאי ״משמט״ דקאמר רבי יהודה הנשיא – להך פלגא דלא נקיט עליה משכון.
If that half is canceled as well, then why does he need the collateral that he is holding? The lender clearly took the collateral to enable him to collect at least part of his debt after the Sabbatical Year. Rather, do we not conclude from it: What is the meaning of the statement: The Sabbatical Year does not abrogate the loan, that Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel is saying? It means that the Sabbatical Year does not abrogate the entire loan. And what is the meaning of: The Sabbatical Year abrogates the loan, that R' Yehuda HaNasi is saying? It is referring to that half of the loan that he did not take on the basis of collateral.
ובהא קמיפלגי, דרבן שמעון בן גמליאל סבר: כנגד כולו הוא קונה, ורבי יהודה הנשיא סבר: כנגדו הוא קונה.
And they disagree with regard to this: As Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel holds that a down payment effects acquisition of merchandise commensurate with the entire amount of the transaction, and R' Yehuda HaNasi holds that a down payment effects acquisition of merchandise commensurate with its value. Apparently, the amoraic dispute parallels the tannaitic dispute.
לא, מאי ״אינו משמט״ דקאמר רבן שמעון בן גמליאל – להך פלגא דנקיט עליה משכון, מכלל דרבי יהודה הנשיא סבר: להך פלגא דנקיט עליה משכון נמי משמט. אלא משכון דנקיט, למה ליה? לזכרון דברים בעלמא.
The Talmud rejects that parallel: No, what is the meaning of the statement: The Sabbatical Year does not abrogate the loan, that Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel is saying? It is referring to that half of the loan that he took on the basis of collateral. This indicates by inference that R' Yehuda HaNasi holds: The Sabbatical Year also abrogates that half of the loan that he took on the basis of collateral. The Talmud asks: Then why does he need the collateral that he is holding? The Talmud answers: He requires it as a mere reminder to increase the likelihood that the loan will be repaid, and it does not prevent cancellation of a loan.