Bava Batra 5 - Fence Cost Settlement (Civil)

Ravina had four fields that surrounded Runia's field. He built fences around them and demanded reimbursement from Runia since Runia's field was now wholly fenced.

Runia refused since he had done nothing to indicate his satisfaction with the fences. Ravina asked for the cost of the fence material if it was bought cheaply. Then, for the hire of a watchman. Runia kept refusing.

One day, Runia was harvesting dates in his field. Ravina sent his sharecropper to take a cluster of dates, and Runia shouted at him. Ravina said, "You have shown that you want the dates protected." They went to Rava's court. Rava told Runia, "If you want to settle for what Ravina offered - good, and if not, you will have to pay half of the real cost of the fence."

Art: Behind the Fence by Pierre Bonnard


Don't understand a point? Ask MosesAI about it.