When Witnesses Free the Trusted Householder From an Oath

Yalkut Shimoni on Torah 346:16

Curated by Arthur·Told by Maggid·

"And no one sees" (Exodus 22:9) - Scripture speaks of a case where there are no witnesses. "No one seeing - an oath of the LORD shall be between the two of them" (Exodus 22:9-10): but if there are witnesses, the householder is exempt from everything. These are the words of Issi ben Yehudah. There was a certain man who was carrying a barrel of wine for his fellow through the market street of Mechoza. It broke in a crowded spot of Mechoza. He came before Rabbah, who said to him: the market street of Mechoza is a place where people are commonly found - go and bring witnesses that you were not negligent, and you will be exempt. Rav Yosef his son said to him: according to whom is this ruling? According to Issi? He said to him: yes, according to Issi, and we hold like him. There was a certain man who gave money to his fellow to buy him four hundred jars of wine. He said to him: I bought them for you, and they turned sour. He came before Rava, who said to him: when four hundred jars of wine turn sour it makes a public report - go and bring witnesses, and you will be exempt. Rav Yosef said to him: according to whom? According to Issi, and so forth. As for Rabbah bar bar Chanah, certain porters broke a barrel of his, and so forth.

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