daf bit: Nedarim 27

[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.)

Comments

[dvarin.livejournal.com]

...I interpreted "publican" as "someone who runs a tavern", and was wondering about oaths made while drunk. Apparently that's a much more modern meaning for that word, though. :)

[cellio]

That was the meaning I knew too, but it seemed odd enough (what's an unauthorized tavern-keeper?) that I consulted a dictionary.