cellio: (talmud)
[personal profile] cellio
The mishna teaches that a vow that is broken under duress -- that is, because one was unavoidably detained from keeping it -- is nullified, and the person making the vow is not held accountable. (27a) It goes on to discuss vows made under duress -- specifically, to a murderer, robber, or publican -- and rules they are also not binding. Beit Shammai says this is only if the murderer (etc) forced him to vow; Beit Hillel says even if not. (27b-28a)

(I can understand the murderer case -- say anything you need to to deter him -- and even the robber (robber is different from thief). But publican? I'd love to know the backstory there, but the gemara doesn't comment on that beyond saying it means an unauthorized one.)

Re: publicans

Date: 2008-01-17 06:03 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] dagonell.livejournal.com
No, no, that's re-publicans! :D Oops, sorry! Did I say that out loud? :D
-- Dagonell

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