Kiddushin, Daf Kaf, Part 3

Introduction

Today s section deals with the slave buying his own freedom (or someone else redeeming him). The idea is simple if he is sold for 240 dollars, that s 40 dollars a year. So if he is redeemed after two, he needs to pay back 160 dollars. But what if his value changes? If it goes up, does he pay more? If it goes down, does he pay less?

ת"ר נמכר במנה והשביח ועמד על מאתים מנין שאין מחשבין לו אלא מנה שנאמר (ויקרא כה, נא) מכסף מקנתו נמכר

Our rabbis taught: If he was sold for a maneh, and appreciated [in value] and stood at two hundred, how do we know that he is assessed only at a maneh? As it is said, [he shall pay back for his redemption] in proportion to his purchase price (Leviticus 25:51).

If his value goes up, when he redeems himself he need only take into account his purchase price.

במאתים והכסיף ועמד על מנה מנין שאין מחשבין לו אלא מנה תלמוד לומר (ויקרא כה, נב) כפי שניו

If he was sold for two hundred and depreciated and stood at a maneh, how do we know that he is assessed only at a maneh? Scripture says, [he shall make payment for his redemption] according to his years [Leviticus 25:52]

If his value goes down, he can redeem himself at the lower value. Note that the rabbis are clearly rigging the game in favor of the slaves.

אין לי אלא עבד הנמכר לעובד כוכבים הואיל ונגאל בקרובים ידו על התחתונה נמכר לישראל מנלן ת"ל שכיר שכיר לגזירה שוה

Now, I know this only of a slave sold to a non-Jew: since he may be redeemed by his relatives, his [the master] is at a disadvantage. If he is sold to a Jew, how do we know this? Because sakhir [a hired servant] is stated twice, for the purpose of a gezerah shavah.

Leviticus 25:51-52 refers to a Jew sold to a non-Jew. Such a Jew may be redeemed by his relatives. But how do we know that the same is true of a Jew being sold to another Jew who comes to redeem himself? The answer is our old favorite word comparison (I m hoping you still remember this one). The Torah uses the word sakhir in this context, and in Leviticus 25:40, in the context of a Jew being sold to another Jew. This allows for the transference of halakhot from one context to the other.