Bava Batra 166b (קסו:) — the Talmud in English

And the pairs of birds stood that day at four per zuz.

Each pair cost a quarter of a silver dinar.

This proves that “dinarei” means a gold dinar, whereas “dinarin” means silver dinars.

We learned in the Mishna:

If one wrote above

a maneh and below two hundred, or above two hundred and below a maneh, everything follows the lower entry. If so, why does one write the upper entry? So that if one letter is erased from the lower entry, it can be learned from the upper entry.

The Sages taught: The lower entry can be learned from the upper entry when one letter is missing,

only when a single letter is missing at the end of the document when the matter is repeated; in that case, we derive it from the beginning of the document,

but not when two letters are missing.

If two letters are missing below in comparison with the upper entry, we do not derive it from the upper entry; rather, we follow only the lower entry.

And the beraita explains:

For example, Hanan from Hanani, and Anan from Anani.

If the name of the lender written below was “Hanan,” while above it was written that his name was “Hanani”, or if “Anan” was written below and “Anani” above, we say that this is the same name, but that the scribe omitted one letter. But if “Hen” was written below or “En” below, we do not say that this is the same name and that the scribe omitted two letters. Rather, the money is given only to the person known by the name written below.

And the Gemara discusses:

What is different about two letters, that we do not derive them,

because we are concerned

lest it happen to be a four-letter name

that was written above, and if we say that when two letters are missing below we treat it as the same name as the upper entry, it follows

that it is half a name,

as only half the name is written below. Surely the scribe would not have omitted so much as to write only half the name below; rather, it must certainly be a different name?

If so,

even if only

one letter

is missing below,

also

we should be concerned

lest it happen

that above there is a

two-letter name,

such as “Dan” or “Noah”,

and it is half a name,

so that only half the name is written below?

The Gemara answers:

Rather, this is the reason for the two letters:

we do not derive them from the upper entry

lest it happen to be a three-letter name,

and if two letters are missing below, it follows

that it is most of the name.

Most of the name is missing below, and surely the scribe would not have omitted so much. But it is possible that he omitted half the name; therefore, when one letter is present, which can never constitute most of the name, we derive it from the upper entry.

Rav Pappa said: It is obvious to me

that if a document of deposit stated

a bowl

above,

that above in the document it was written that so-and-so deposited a bowl with so-and-so,

and

foldable garments

below,

that below it was written that he deposited foldable garments with him, meaning garments fit to be folded,

everything follows the lower entry,

and he must give him foldable garments.

Rav Pappa raised a dilemma:

If it was written

“foldable garments”

above, and

“a bowl”

below, what is the law?

Are we concerned about a fly,

that in this case we follow the upper entry, because presumably “kefel” was also written below, but a fly came and erased part of the leg of the kuf until it became a samekh?

Or not.

Or we are not concerned about a fly, and here too we follow the lower entry, and he must give him a bowl?

And we conclude:

Teyku!

There was a certain

document

in which it was written

that so-and-so owed so-and-so

six hundred and one zuz,

meaning six hundred plus one zuz [a dinar], but it was not written what denomination the six hundred were.

Rav Sharbya sent this question before Abaye:

Does this mean

six hundred isterei,

sela'im,

and one zuz? Or perhaps,

it means

six hundred perutot

perutot,

and one zuz?

Abaye said to him,

Abaye:

Exclude perutot,

there is no need to consider perutot,

as they are not written in documents.

Perutot are not written in documents at all,

because that would expose them to loss.