- Neder from דגן and תבואה, and the question of עללתא
The Mishnah states: הנודר מן הדגן אסור בפול המצרי יבש – One who vows from dagan is forbidden even in dried Egyptian beans (although the word dagan usually means grain), in the opinion of Rebbe Meir. The Chachomim say: אינו אסור אלא בחמשת המינין – he is only forbidden in the five grains. Rebbe Meir agrees that a neder from tevuah refers only to the five grains. The Gemara explains that Rebbe Meir holds that the word dagan implies כל דמידגן – anything that is piled in a granary. The Gemara relates that Mar Shmuel’s son instructed Rava to be given a thousand zuz from “alalta” of Nehar Panya. Rava sent to Rav Yosef to inquire what is included in the term. Rav Yosef sought to answer based on our Mishnah, because alalta is the Aramaic word for tevuah, which our Mishnah says refers only to the five grains. Abaye objected that the word alalta (which means profit or gain) generally includes all things, and Rava added that this was obvious to him, and his question was only about certain rental profits. Rav Yosef was upset that Rava had sent a question that he already had an opinion about.
- The message of humility in וממדבר מתנה וממתנה נחליאל וגו'
Rava went to Rav Yosef on Erev Yom Kippur to placate him and asked his attendant to allow him to mix Rav Yosef’s wine. Rav Yosef, although blind, still recognized the mixed wine as Rava’s personal ratio, and instructed Rava not to sit down until he explained the following passuk, which lists places that Klal Yisrael stopped in the Desert: וממדבר מתנה וממתנה נחליאל ומנחליאל במות. The Ran says his intent was to encourage Rava to humble himself more in light of this passuk. Rava expounded: If a person makes himself כמדבר שהוא מופקר לכל – like a desert, which is open to all [to teach Torah], then the Torah is given to him as a מתנה – a gift. Thereafter, נחלו א-ל – Hashem makes it his inheritance, after which he rises to greatness (במות – heights). However, if he becomes haughty, Hashem lowers him, as it says: and from Bamos (heights) to the valley, and they even sink him into the ground. He concluded: But if he repents, Hashem raises him (again), as it says elsewhere: כל גיא ינשא – Every valley will be raised.
- A neder from wool or flax
The Mishnah states: אמר קונם צמר עולה עלי מותר להתכסות בגיזי צמר – One who said: “Konam wool from coming on me,” is permitted in wool shearings, because his neder is understood to refer to wearing. הפשתן עולה עלי מותר להתכסות באניצי פשתן – If he said: “Konam flax coming on me,” he may be covered in stalks of flax for the same reason. Rebbe Yehudah says: הכל לפי הנודר – Everything depends on the vower, meaning the context in which the neder was made. טען והזיע והיה ריחו קשה – If he was bearing a load of flax or wool, and was perspiring and his odor was strong, and then made the above neder, then only carrying these materials will be forbidden, but wearing them would be permitted.
A Baraisa illustrates Rebbe Yehudah’s opinion: If he was wearing a woolen garment and was uncomfortable (the Ran explains it was too small), and he vowed from wool “coming on me,” he is forbidden in woolen clothing but permitted to carry it. But if he was carrying flax and perspiring and vowed from flax “coming on me,” he is permitted to wear flax and forbidden to carry it. The Ran notes that this Baraisa differs with our Mishnah’s presentation of Rebbe Yehudah’s opinion, and holds that, absent evidence to the contrary, the neder would naturally include both wearing and carrying.
