Study Bava Metzia folio 26A with parallel Hebrew-English text, traditional commentary, and modern study tools. Free access to Babylonian Talmud online.
where the item is extremely rusted, indicating that it had been left there for a long time.
§ The Mishnah teaches: If one found lost items in a new wall from its midpoint and outward, they belong to him. But if he found the items from its midpoint and inward, they belong to the homeowner.
Rav Ashi said: The determination of ownership with regard to a knife found in a wall follows the handle, and the determination of ownership with regard to a money pouch follows the laces at the opening of the pouch. If the handle or laces face inward, they belong to the homeowner. If the handle or
The Talmud asks: But if so, what is the applicability of the ruling of the Mishnah, which teaches: If one found lost items in a new wall from its midpoint and outward, they belong to him, and from its midpoint and inward, they belong to the homeowner? But instead, to determine ownership, let us
It is taught: If the hollow in the wall was filled with lost items, e.g., coins, the homeowner and the finder divide them. The Talmud asks: Isn’t that obvious? The Talmud answers: No, it is necessary to teach this only in a case where the hollow in the wall is inclined toward one side of the wall.