Bava Batra 160a (קס.) — the Talmud in English

Mishna:

a.

A simple get

its witnesses

sign it

within it,

at the end of the document. Whereas a

folded get has its witnesses on its back.

The witnesses sign it on the back of the document, as will be explained in the Gemara.

A get

that is simple but whose witnesses signed on its back,

meaning that the witnesses signed on the back of the document and not within it, or a get

that is folded but whose witnesses signed within it,

meaning that the witnesses signed the document on the inside—

both are invalid,

since they were not made according to the institution of the Sages. Therefore, if it was a promissory document, he cannot collect with it from liened property in the possession of purchasers. And if it is a get, she is not divorced by it.

Rabbi Hanina ben Gamliel says: A folded document whose witnesses signed within it is valid, because he can

make it simple.

Since he can undo the stitches, and it will become a simple get, which is valid when its witnesses sign within it. And although, if he undoes the stitches, there will be spaces between the lines, this is of no consequence.

Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel says: Everything follows the custom

of the country.

His statement will be explained in the Gemara.

b.

A simple document –

its witnesses are two.

It requires only two witnesses to sign it.

And a folded document –

three.

A folded document requires three witnesses to sign it, because this is what the Sages instituted.

A get

that is simple but contains the signature of one witness, or a folded document that contains the signatures of two witnesses—both are invalid.

Gemara:

The Gemara asks:

From where are these matters

derived? From where did we learn from the verses that there are two types of documents, “simple” and “folded,” which differ in their form and in the number of witnesses who sign them?

The Gemara answers:

Rabbi Hanina said: The verse states [Jeremiah 32:44] “

Jeremiah 32:44” “

Fields shall be purchased for money, and documents shall be written, sealed, and witnessed.”

And we derive,