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Mishnah Demai

Mishnah

About this book
Chapter 6

One who has received a field from a Jew, or from a Gentile, or from a Samaritan [for a share in the produce], he divvies up the produce in front of them [without first separating tithes]. One who has hired a field from a Jew [for a fixed amount from the produce], he first gives terumah [from the rental] and then gives it to him (the field owner). Rabbi Judah said: When is this so? When he pays him [the rental with produce] of the same field and of the same kind; but when he pays him with the produce of another field or of another kind, he must [also] tithe [the rental first] and then give it to him. One who has hired a field from a Gentile [for a fixed amount from the produce], he first gives tithes [from the rental] and then gives it to him (the field owner). Rabbi Judah says: even if one rented from a Gentile a field which had formerly belonged to his fathers [for a share in the produce], he first gives tithes and then gives it to him. A priest or a Levite who rented a field from an Israelite [for a share in the produce], just as they divide the non-sacred produce, so they divide the terumah. Rabbi Eliezer says: the tithes belong to them (the tenants), for they entered the field with this expectation. If an Israelite rented a field from a priest or from a Levite [for a share in the produce] the tithes belong to the owners [of the field]. Rabbi Ishmael says: if a city dweller [from outside of Jerusalem] rented a field from a Jerusalemite, the second tithe belongs to the inhabitant of Jerusalem. But the sages say: the city dweller may go up and eat the second tithe in Jerusalem. [An Israelite] who rents olive trees [from a priest or a Levite] for [a share in the] oil: just as they divide the non-sacred produce, so they divide the terumah. Rabbi Judah says: an Israelite who rented [olive trees] from a priest or a levite for the oil for a share of half the profit, the tithes belong to the owner. Bet Shammai says: a man may sell his olives only to a “chaver (an ‘associate’).” But Bet Hillel says: [one may sell them] even to one who only] tithes. And the pious among Bet Hillel used to act in accordance with the words of Bet Shammai. Two gathered [the fruit of] their vineyards into one winepress, one of whom tithes and the other does not tithe the one who tithes may tithe his own share and his share wherever it may be. Two men who rented a field [for a share in the produce], or inherited [a field], or became partners in it: the one [who tithes] may say to the other [who does not tithe], “You take the wheat which is in this place and I will take the wheat which is in that place.” Or, “You take the wine which is in this place and I will take the wine which is in that place.” But he may not say to him: “You take the wheat and I will take the barley,” or, “You take the wine and I will take the oil.” A chaver (rabbinic associate) and an am haaretz who inherited [the property of] their father who was an am haaretz, he (the chaver) may say to him (the am haaretz): “You take the wheat which is in this place and I will take the wheat which is in that place.” Or, “You take the wine which is in this place and I will take the wine which is in that place.” But he may not say to him: “You take the wheat and I will take the barley,” or, “You take the wine and I will take the oil,” or: “You take the moist produce and I will take the dry produce.” A convert and a gentile who inherited [the property of] their father, a gentile: he (the convert) can say [to his brother the gentile]: “You take the idols and I will take the money,” or: “You take the wine and I will take the produce.” But from the time [that any part of the inheritance] came into the possession of the convert, he is forbidden [to say so]. One who sells produce in Syria and declared “It was grown in the land of Israel,” the purchaser must tithe it. [But if he also said], “It has been tithed,” he may be trusted, because the mouth that forbade is the same mouth that permitted. [If he said: The produce is] from my own field,” the purchaser must tithe it. [But if he added:] “It has already been tithed,” he may be trusted, because the mouth that forbade is the same mouth that permitted. If it was known that he had a field in Syria, the purchaser must tithe it.⁠ If an am haaretz said to a chaver, “Buy me a bundle of vegetables,” or: “Buy me a loaf of bread,” the chaver may buy it without checking [whether it had been tithed], and he is exempt [from tithing it]. But if the chaver said: “This one I am buying for myself and this one for my friend,” and they got mixed up, he must tithe [them both], even if there were one hundred [for the am haaretz.]

Texts in conversation

Compare Matthew 16:19 and Mishnah Demai 6:11

New Testament · Rabbinic

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Summary

In Matthew, Peter is given the keys of the kingdom with authority to bind and loose, that can mean to forbid or allow practices. Rabbinic tradition in the Mishnah uses the same language when rabbis decide what is allowed or prohibited on the Sabbath.

Passages

Matthew 16:19

New Testament
13 When Jesus came to the area of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 They answered, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus answered him, “You are blessed, Simon son of Jonah, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but my Father in heaven! 18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven, and whatever you release on earth will have been released in heaven.” 20 Then he instructed his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ.
70–90 CE (scholarly estimate) Read in Matthew

Mishnah Demai 6:11

Rabbinic · Mishnah
One who sells produce in Syria and declared “It was grown in the land of Israel,” the purchaser must tithe it. [But if he also said], “It has been tithed,” he may be trusted, because the mouth that forbade is the same mouth that permitted. [If he said: The produce is] from my own field,” the purchaser must tithe it. [But if he added:] “It has already been tithed,” he may be trusted, because the mouth that forbade is the same mouth that permitted. If it was known that he had a field in Syria, the purchaser must tithe it.
190–230 CE (scholarly estimate) Read in Mishnah Demai

References

"... The Hebrew words for "bind' (asar) and 'loose' (hitir) each appear with more than one meaning in the Hebrew Bible. 'Bind' can mean 'tie' as in Judges 15:12, 16:11, 'imprison' as in 2 Kings 17:4, 'hitch' (a cart, wagon, or chariot) as in Genesis 46:29, or 'tether' as in Genesis 49:11; while 'hitir' can be the exact opposite of 'asar' in each of these senses. By the time of Jesus, 'asar' had acquired the additional meaning 'forbid,' and its antonym 'hitir' had acquired the meaning 'permit.' These are the meanings most often found in rabbinic literature. The rabbis were called upon constantly by their community to interpret scriptural commands. The Bible forbids working on the Sabbath, for instance, but it does not define what constitutes work. As a result, the rabbis were required to rule on which activities were permitted on the Sabbath. They 'bound' or prohibited certain activities, and 'loosed' or allowed others. The Mishnah contains many rabbinic rulings on what is 'loosed' and what is 'bound' ... The words in the Greek text of Matthew 16:19 which are translated 'bind' and 'loose' are forms of the verbs found in the Septuagint, the usual Greek translation of 'asar' and 'hitir' ..."
David Biven, “Binding and Loosing,” Jerusalem Perspective 2.11 (1989): 12–13.

References are not endorsements of their contents. Read each reference in full to understand its author's intentions in using these texts.

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Matthew 16:19 and Mishnah Demai 6:11

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