Gittin 12B

לוה ואוכל? להעדפה.

does he find it necessary to borrow and eat? After all, his master provides for him. The Talmud answers: This is referring to surplus food, i.e., additional food that the slave wants to eat.

ולימא ליה הקדש: עד השתא סגי לך בלא העדפה, והשתא נמי תיסגי לך בלא העדפה! הקדש גופיה ניחא ליה, כי היכי דלשבח עבדיה.

The Talmud raises a difficulty: But if so, let the Temple treasurer say to him: Until now it was enough for you without a surplus; now too it should be enough for you without a surplus. Why do you seek more now? Consequently, the consecration should apply to this surplus as well. The Talmud answers: It is preferable to the Temple treasury itself that he work and eat more, so that the value of its slave will be enhanced when he consumes this extra amount, as he will become stronger.

עושה ופורע, קמא קמא קדיש ליה! בפחות פחות משוה פרוטה.

§ It was stated that the slave borrows and eats and afterward performs work and repays the loan. The Talmud asks: But his work immediately becomes consecrated, as his hands have been consecrated. How, then, can he repay this loan? The Talmud answers: The slave performs work of less than the value of one peruta. Anything worth less than one peruta does not become consecrated. Therefore he can collect these small sums and repay his debt little by little.

הכי נמי מסתברא; דאמר רב: המקדיש ידי עבדו ⁠– אותו העבד עושה ואוכל, דאי לא עבדא מאן פלח ליה.

The Talmud comments: So too, it is reasonable that Rav is referring to a case where the master provides sustenance for him. As Rav says: With regard to one who consecrates the hands of his slave, that slave works and eats, as, if the slave does not work for himself, who will work and provide for him? This ruling indicates that Rav maintains that consecration does not apply to the slave’s hands.