Kiddushin, Daf Gimmel, Part 2

 

Introduction

The Talmud continues to ask why the word way is used and not the word thing.

 

והא דתנן כוי יש בו דרכים שוה לחיה ויש בו דרכים שוה לבהמה ויש בו דרכים שוה לחיה ולבהמה ויש בו דרכים שאינו שוה לא לחיה ולא לבהמה ניתני דברים

 

And that which we learn: A koy is in some ways, similar to a wild beast and in other ways to domesticated animals; and in some ways similar to both wild beasts and domesticated animals, and in other ways to neither beasts of chase nor domesticated animals, let it be taught, things ?

 

A koy is some sort of animal (we do not know what type) that is somewhat similar to a wild beast and somewhat similar to a domesticated animal, each of which have different rules (for instance with regard to eating certain parts or with regard to covering the blood). Why does the Mishnah use the word ways and not things ?

 

ותו הא דתנן זו אחת מן הדרכים ששוו גיטי נשים לשחרורי עבדים ניתני דברים

 

And also, that which we learn: This is one of the ways in which women’s divorce deeds are similar to slaves writs of manumission, let it teach, things ?

 

This is another mishnah that uses the word ways instead of things. But the Talmud has sort of run out of particular answers for each of them and now will search for a broader explanation.

 

אלא כל היכא דאיכא פלוגתא תני דרכים וכל היכא דליכא פלוגתא תני דברים דיקא נמי דקתני סיפא ר"א אומר אתרוג שוה לאילן לכל דבר ש"מ

 

Rather, whenever there is distinction, it teaches ways : wherever there is no distinction, it teaches things . This is also derived from a precise reading for the second clause teaches: R. Eliezer says: The etrog is equal to trees in all things. Learn from this.

 

The Talmud now offers a different resolution for why ways and not things is used. If two issues are different, the word ways is used. But if they are the same then things is used. This is proven by R. Eliezer who uses the word things when saying that the etrog is the same as trees for all matters.