Positive Commandment 243 (Digest)
The Paid Guardian and the Renter
"If a man gives his fellow a donkey, a bull, or a lamb..."—Exodus 22:9.
We are commanded to follow the rules outlined in the Torah regarding a paid watchman and a renter. Similar rules regulate the both of them [in the event that the item being watched or rented is lost or damaged].
Unabridged English Text of this Mitzvah »
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> The 243rd mitzvah is that we are commanded regarding a paid watchman and a renter, since both are governed by the same law, as our Sages explained,;) regarding the three laws governing the four types of watchmen.;)
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> The source of this commandment is G‑d's statement;) (exalted be He), "If one person gives another a donkey, an ox, a sheep [or any other animal to watch...]"
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> The details of this mitzvah are explained in the 6th and 9th chapters of tractate Bava Kama, the 3rd and 6th chapters of Bava Metzia, and the 8th chapter of Shavuos.
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> Footnotes
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> 1.
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> Shavuos 49a.
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> 2.
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> The four "watchmen" are the paid watchman, the renter, the unpaid watchman and the borrower. Should the animal be stolen, the watchman and renter must pay the owner its value. An unpaid watchman is exempt after swearing that it was stolen. The borrower, unlike the others, must pay even if the animal died by itself. See P244, P242.
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> 3.
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> Ex. 22:9.