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1)

(a) In a case where Reuven and Shimon both claimed that a certain field had belonged to their respective fathers and where Reuven brought witnesses to that effect, whereas Shimon brought witnesses that he had been working in the field for three years, Rabah believed the latter - because he had a 'Migu', since he could have claimed that he bought the field from Reuven and had now made a Chazakah on it.

(b) Abaye disagreed with him on the grounds - that it was a 'Migu be'Makom Eidim', since there were witnesses who refuted his claim, who testified that the field had belonged to Reuven's father. Consequently, it was 'a Chazakah she'Ein Imah Ta'anah'.

(c) Shimon subsequently conceded - that the field had indeed belonged to Reuven's father and that he had purchased it from him. And when he initially claimed that it had belonged to his own father, he meant - that it was established by him as if he had inherited it from him.

(d) Ula accepted his second argument. The Neherda'i ruled -'Ein To'en ve'Chozer ve'To'en' (a litigant does not have the right to amend his initial statement).

(a) Had Shimon originally added that the field had belonged to his father *and not to Reuven's*, Ula would not have accepted his second claim - because it is only in the previous case, where Shimon's second claim clashed slightly with his first, that Ula holds 'Chozer ve'To'en', but not where it contradicts it completely.

(b) In the earlier case, Ula did not require Shimon to bring a proof that his father had owned the field at least for one day, like a Yoresh who proved that he had worked in the field that he (claimed to have) inherited from his father for three years - because unlike the latter case (where the Yoresh did not make any other claim to substantiate his Chazakah), Shimon did (when he claimed to have purchased the field from Reuven's father).

(c) Ula would have also conceded that Shimon is not believed, had he left the courtroom before returning and amending his original statement - because then we would suspect that friends or relatives prompted him to amend his original statement and how to amend it.

(a) For the Neherda'i to have accepted Shimon's second statement, he would have had to claim - that his father had purchased the field from Reuven's father (because that would hardly clash at all with his initial statement).

(b) And they would have also accepted Shimon's second statement if his first statement had been made outside Beis-Din (even if his second claim completely contradicted the first one) - because a person is fully justified in declining to reveal all his arguments outside Beis-Din (so as not to assist his disputant in presenting his case).

(c) This would not be the case however - if Shimon were to actually admit liability in front of two witnesses, in which case Beis-Din would obligate him to pay.

(d) Bearing in mind that Ameimar supports Ula in the latter's Machlokes with the Neherda'i, it is hardly surprising that the Halachah is like Ula. What is strange about Ameimar's ruling is - the fact that he was from Neherda'a.

(a) In a case where Reuven and Shimon both claimed that the field belonged to their respective fathers, Reuven brought witnesses that he had worked in the field for three years, and so did Shimon, only Shimon's witnesses also bore out his original claim. Rav Nachman would have placed the field in the possession of Shimon - on the grounds that although the two testimonies as to who made the Chazakah would cancel each other out, the testimony that the field had originally belonged to Shimon's father would remain intact.

(b) Rava's objected to Rav Nachman's ruling - inasmuch as seeing as one of the pairs of witnesses had been proven false, Beis-Din could no longer accept any aspect of their testimony?

(c) Rav Nachman however insisted - that since Shimon's witnesses had presented two separate pieces of testimony, the one which was not contradicted would remain acceptable.

5)

(a) In a case where two pairs of witnesses contradict each other, Rav Huna authorises each pair to testify in other lawsuits. The case is - if the first pair testifies that Reuven lent Shimon a Manah on a specific date, whilst the second pair claims that Reuven was with them that entire day and that no such loan took place.

(b) The Torah would have believed the latter pair of witnesses and declared the former pair 'Eidim Zomemin' - if the second pair had refuted the testimony of the first pair on the grounds that *they* were with them on that day (and not the debtor).

(c) Rav Huna does not however, permit one witness from each pair to testify as one pair in other lawsuits - because one of the witnesses is definitely a swindler, unlike the former case, where one of the pairs is honest, so as long as they do not testify together, we place them on a Chezkas Kashrus.]

(d) Rav Chisda says - that once a pair of witnesses has been contradicted, they can no longer be accepted under any circumstances.

(a) We reconcile Rava (who discounts the testimony of witnesses who have been contradicted completely) with Rav Huna - by drawing a distinction between accepting part of the same testimony on which they were contradicted (Rava) and their acceptance in other lawsuits (Rav Huna).

(b) We cannot reconcile Rav Nachman (who validates that part of the witnesses' testimony that was not contradicted) - with Rav Chisda.

(a) When Reuven (whose witnesses had only testified on his Chazakah) subsequently brought witnesses that the field had belonged to his father - Rav Nachman retracted from his previous ruling (from placing the property fairly and squarely in Shimon's Reshus, to a Safek (see Tosfos DH 'Anan Achsinan').

(b) Rava (or Rebbi Zeira queries Rav Nachman from a Beraisa). In a case where two witnesses testified that Reuven had died and two other witnesses testified that he was still alive, or the same two pairs of witnesses argue over whether his wife is divorced or not - the Tana Kama forbids his wife to marry Lechatchilah, but permits them to remain together if they are already married.

(c) The two ramifications of the latter case are - either to exempt her from Yibum, in the event of Reuven's death, and to permit her to get married, or to get married immediately, even in Reuven's lifetime.

(d) In the former case, despite the fact that their marriage involves a Safek Kareis, which carries with it an Asham Taluy, we permit ...

1. ... the man to remain with a Safek Eishes Ish - only if he is one of the witnesses who testified that her husband died.
2. ... the woman to remain married - because she claims to be sure that her husband is dead.

(a) Rebbi Menachem b'Rebbi Yossi rules that even if they are already married, she must leave her husband - which he then qualifies by restricting it to where the second pair of witnesses testified before they got married, but in the reverse case, they may remain married ...
(b) ... to avoid making a mockery of Beis-Din (who one minute permit her to marry, and then rescind their permission).
(c) This Kashya initially affected Rav Nachman's imminent ruling in the previous case - causing him to reconsider his second ruling (retracting from the initial one).
(d) He then acted strangely - by leaving Beis-Din and going ahead with his original intention of placing the property before both Reuven and Shimon (as Tosfos explained there). The Chachamim thought that he must have made a mistake and forgotten the Beraisa.

(a) Rav Nachman did not make a mistake however. He went ahead with his original plan - because he found other Tana'im who argued with Rebbi Menachem b'Rebbi Yossi and who were not concerned about 'Zilusa de'Bei Dina' (as we shall now see).
(b) Rebbi Yehudah rules 'Ein Ma'alin li'Kehunah al-Pi Eid Echad'. This statement incorporates not eating Terumah, not serving in the Beis-Hamikdash - and not Duchening (Birchas Kohanim).
(c) Rebbi Elazar confines Rebbi Yehudah's ruling to where there are Orerin - protestors, witnesses who claim that he is not a Kohen. Otherwise, he holds 'Ma'alin li'Kehunah ... '.
(d) Raban Shimon ben Gamliel quoting Rebbi Shimon ben ha'Segan states - 'Ma'alin li'Kehunah al'Pi Eid Echad' (which obviously speaks when there are no Orerin), seemingly duplicating Rebbi Elazar's ruling.

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