1A field which a person inherited from his testators is called “an ancestral field.” One that he purchased or acquired1 is called “purchased property.”2 When a person consecrates an ancestral field, it is measured and its airech is the fixed airech prescribed by the Torah.3 אשָׂדֶה שֶׁיְּרָשָׁהּ אָדָם מִמּוֹרִישָׁיו, הִיא הַנִּקְרֵאת 'שְׂדֵה אֲחֻזָּה'. וְשָׂדֶה שֶׁלְּקָחָהּ אוֹ זָכָה בָּהּ, הִיא הַנִּקְרֵאת 'שְׂדֵה מִקְנָה'. וְהַמַּקְדִּישׁ שְׂדֵה אֲחֻזָּתוֹ - מוֹדְדִין אוֹתָהּ, וְעֶרְכָּהּ הוּא הָעֵרֶךְ הַקָּצוּב בַּתּוֹרָה.
2How much is that? For every place where it is fit to sow a chomer4 of barley,5 sowing it by hand6 without sowing it too closely or to distantly, its airech is 50 shekel for all the years of the Jubilee.7 The yovel is not counted. This applies whether one is consecrating a good field which has no parallel in Eretz Yisrael or a poor field which has none as bad as it. The above is the airech for it.בוְכַמָּה הוּא? כָּל מָקוֹם שֶׁרָאוּי לִזְרֹעַ בּוֹ חֹמֶר שְׂעוֹרִים, יִזְרְעֶנּוּ בַּיָּד וְלֹא יְקָרֵב זְרִיעָתוֹ וְלֹא יַרְחִיק אוֹתָהּ - עֶרְכּוֹ חֲמִשִּׁים שֶׁקֶל לְכָל שְׁנֵי יוֹבֵל. וְאֵין שְׁנַת יוֹבֵל מִן הַמִּנְיָן. וְאֶחָד הַמַּקְדִּישׁ שָׂדֶה טוֹבָה שֶׁאֵין בְּכָל אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל כְּמוֹתָהּ, אוֹ שָׂדֶה רָעָה שֶׁאֵין כְּמוֹתָהּ לָרֹעַ - כְּזֶה מַעֲרִיכִין אוֹתָהּ.
3We have already explained in Hilchot Shekalim8 that the shekel referred to by the Torah was called a sela in our Sages’ terminology and a gerah referred to by the Torah was called a ma’ah in our Sages’ terminology. They added to the value of a shekel, making it equivalent to a sela.9 A sela is equivalent to four dinarim. A dinar is equivalent to six ma’yin. And a ma’ah is equivalent to two pundiyonin. Thus the airech for each year is a sela and a pundiyon.10 Although a sela is 48 pundiyonin,11 when one gives pundiyonin to purchase a sela from a money-changer, one gives 49.12 גכְּבָר בֵּאַרְנוּ בְּהִלְכוֹת שְׁקָלִים, שֶׁהַ'שֶּׁקֶל' הָאָמוּר בַּתּוֹרָה הוּא הַנִּקְרָא 'סֶלַע' בִּלְשׁוֹן חֲכָמִים. וְהַ'גֵּרָה' הָאֲמוּרָה בַּתּוֹרָה הִיא הַ'מָּעָה' בְּדִבְרֵי חֲכָמִים. וְהוֹסִיפוּ עַל הַשֶּׁקֶל וְעָשׂוּ אוֹתוֹ סֶלַע. וְהַסֶּלַע אַרְבָּעָה דִּינָרִין, וְהַדִּינָר שֵׁשׁ מָעִין, וְהַמָּעָה שְׁנֵי פֻּנְדְּיוֹנִין. נִמְצָא לְכָל שָׁנָה, סֶלַע וּפֻנְדְּיוֹן. שֶׁאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהַסֶּלַע שְׁמוֹנָה וְאַרְבָּעִים פֻּנְדְּיוֹן - כְּשֶׁיִּתֵּן הַפֻּנְדְּיוֹנוֹת לִקַּח סֶלַע מִן הַשֻּׁלְחָנִי, נוֹתֵן תִּשְׁעָה וְאַרְבָּעִים.
4A chomer is equivalent to a kor which is equivalent to two letachim. A letach is fifteen se’ah.13 Thus a chomer is equivalent to 30 se’ah which are ten efot, for an efah is three se’ah. We already explained in Hilchot Shabbat14 that a place with an area of 50 cubits by 50 cubits is called a beit se’ah, because a se’ah can be sown in it. Thus a place with an area of 75000 sq. cubits, i.e., a square approximately 274 cubits by 274 cubits.15 This is a beit kor in which a chomer of barley can be sown.דהַ'חֹמֶר' הוּא הַ'כּוֹר', וְהוּא שְׁנֵי לְתָכִין. וְהַלֶּתֶךְ חֲמֵשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה סְאִין. נִמְצָא הַחֹמֶר שְׁלוֹשִׁים סְאָה - שֶׁהֵן עֶשֶׂר אֵיפוֹת, כָּל שָׁלוֹשׁ סְאִין אֵיפָה. וּכְבָר בֵּאַרְנוּ בְּהִלְכוֹת שַׁבָּת, שֶׁהַמָּקוֹם שֶׁיֵּשׁ בְּשִׁבּוּרוֹ חֲמִשִּׁים אַמָּה עַל חֲמִשִּׁים אַמָּה, הוּא 'בֵּית סְאָה', וְהוּא מִזְרַע סְאָה. נִמְצֵאתָ לָמֵד, שֶׁהַמָּקוֹם שֶׁיֵּשׁ בְּשִׁבּוּרוֹ חֲמִשָּׁה וְשִׁבְעִים אֶלֶף אַמָּה, שֶׁהוּא בְּרִבּוּעַ מָאתַיִם אַרְבַּע וְשִׁבְעִים אַמּוֹת עַל מָאתַיִם אַרְבַּע וְשִׁבְעִים אַמּוֹת בְּקֵרוּב - הוּא 'בֵּית כּוֹר', וְהוּא "זֶרַע חֹמֶר שְׂעֹרִים" (ויקרא כז, טז).
5What is the manner in which the arechim of fields are calculated? If a person consecrated his ancestral field when eight years remain until the Jubilee - not including the Jubilee, as we explained16 - whoever desires to redeem it from the domain of the Temple treasury must give eight selaim and eight pundiyonin for every portion in which a chomer of barley can be sown.הכֵּיצַד דֶּרֶךְ הַחֶשְׁבּוֹן בְּעֶרְכֵי שָׂדוֹת? הֲרֵי שֶׁהִקְדִּישׁ שְׂדֵה אֲחֻזָּתוֹ, וְנִשְׁאַר לַיּוֹבֵל שְׁמוֹנֶה שָׁנִים חוּץ מִשְּׁנַת הַיּוֹבֵל שֶׁאֵינָהּ בַּחֶשְׁבּוֹן כְּמוֹ שֶׁבֵּאַרְנוּ, כָּל הָרוֹצֶה לִפְדּוֹתָהּ מִיַּד הַהֶקְדֵּשׁ, נוֹתֵן לַכֹּל "זֶרַע חֹמֶר שְׂעֹרִים" (ויקרא כז, טז) שְׁמוֹנֶה סְלָעִים וּשְׁמוֹנֶה פֻּנְדְּיוֹנוֹת.

Mishneh Torah (Moznaim)

Featuring a modern English translation and a commentary that presents a digest of the centuries of Torah scholarship which have been devoted to the study of the Mishneh Torah by Maimonides.

If the prior owners desire to redeem it,17 they must give ten selaim and ten pundiyonin for every portion of that size, for owners add a fifth.18 Similarly, whenever the Torah mentions a fifth, the intent is that the principal and the addition will be a multiple of five.19 Thus he adds a fourth of the principle.וְאִם רָצוּ הַבְּעָלִים לִפְדּוֹתָהּ, נוֹתנִין עֶשֶׂר סְלָעִים וַעֲשָׂרָה פֻּנְדְּיוֹנוֹת, לְפִי שֶׁהֵן מוֹסִיפִין חֹמֶשׁ. וְכֵן כָּל חֹמֶשׁ הָאָמוּר בַּתּוֹרָה, צָרִיךְ שֶׁיִּהְיֶה הַקֶּרֶן עִם הַתּוֹסֶפֶת חֲמִשָּׁה - נִמְצָא שֶׁהוֹסִיף רְבִיעַ הַקֶּרֶן.
Similarly, if the wife of the one who consecrated it or one of his heirs redeems it, they must add a fifth.20 וְכֵן אִם פָּדְתָה אִשְׁתּוֹ שֶׁל מַּקְדִּישׁ אוֹ אֶחָד מִיּוֹרְשָׁיו - הֲרֵי אֵלּוּ מוֹסִיפִין חֹמֶשׁ.
6If four years remain until the Jubilee, the one who redeems it must give four selaim and four pundiyonin for every portion in which a chomer of barley can be sown. If the owners redeem it, they must pay five.21 ונִשְׁאָר לַיּוֹבֵל אַרְבַּע שָׁנִים, נוֹתֵן הַפּוֹדֶה אַרְבַּע סְלָעִים וְאַרְבָּעָה פֻּנְדְּיוֹנוֹת לְכָל חֹמֶר. וְאִם הַבְּעָלִים פָּדוּ אוֹתָהּ, נוֹתנִין חֹמֶשׁ.
Similarly, we calculate the sum of every field dedicated based on multiples of a sela and a pundiyon. One may not pay the sum year by year. Instead, it must be paid all at once.22 וְכֵן לְפִי חֶשְׁבּוֹן זֶה, סֶלַע וּפֻנְדְּיוֹן לְכָל שָׁנָה. וְאֵינוֹ נוֹתֵן שָׁנָה בְּשָׁנָה, אֶלָא נוֹתֵן הַכֹּל כְּאֶחָד.
7If there remains only a year between the time the field was consecrated and the Jubilee, one cannot redeem it by paying a sela and a pundiyon, as implied by Leviticus 27:18: “And the priest shall calculate for him the amount to be paid according to the years that remain.” The use of the plural indicates that the field cannot be redeemed by the payment of a reduced amount of silver23 except two or more years before the Jubilee.זנִשְׁאַר בֵּינוֹ וּבֵין הַיּוֹבֵל שָׁנָה, אֵינוֹ יָכוֹל לִתֵּן סֶלַע וּפֻנְדְּיוֹן לִפְדּוֹתָהּ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "וְחִשַּׁב לוֹ הַכֹּהֵן... עַל פִּי הַשָּׁנִים הַנּוֹתָרֹת" (ויקרא כז, יח) - אֵינָהּ נִפְדֵּית בְּגִרְעוֹן כֶּסֶף אֶלָא קֹדֶם לַיּוֹבֵל בִּשְׁתֵּי שָׁנִים אוֹ יָתֵר.
8If there remains a year and several months between the time the field was consecrated and the Jubilee and the Temple treasurer desires to calculate the months as a year so that the donor will give two shekelim and two pundiyonin for every portion in which a chomer of barley can be sown, this is permissible.24חנִשְׁאַר בֵּינוֹ וּבֵין הַיּוֹבֵל שָׁנָה וָחֳדָשִׁים - אִם רָצָה הַגִּזְבָּר לְחַשֵּׁב הֶחֳדָשִׁים שָׁנָה וְיִתֵּן שְׁנֵי שְׁקָלִים וּשְׁנֵי פֻּנְדְּיוֹנִין לְכָל זֶרַע חֹמֶר, הֲרֵי זֶה מֻתָּר.
The rationale is that we do not calculate months with regard to consecrated articles, as indicated by the prooftext: “According to the years that remain.” Implied is that one should calculate years with regard to consecrated property, but one does not calculate months.לְפִי שֶׁאֵין מְחַשְּׁבִין חֳדָשִׁים לַהֶקְדֵּשׁ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "עַל פִּי הַשָּׁנִים הַנּוֹתָרֹת" - שָׁנִים אַתָּה מְחַשֵּׁב לַהֶקְדֵּשׁ, וְאֵין אַתָּה מְחַשֵּׁב חֳדָשִׁים.
9Accordingly, it is not appropriate for a person to consecrate his field less than two years before the Jubilee.טלְפִיכָךְ אֵין רָאוּי לָאָדָם לְהַקְדִּישׁ שָׂדֵהוּ לִפְנֵי הַיּוֹבֵל בְּפָחוֹת מִשְּׁתֵי שָׁנִים.
If he does consecrate it, it is consecrated and it cannot be redeemed by paying a reduced amount of silver. Instead, if the one redeeming it is willing to pay 50 shekel for each parcel in which a chomer can be sown, he may redeem it. If not, it is given to the priests in the Jubilee year, as will be explained.25וְאִם הִקְדִּישָׁהּ - הֲרֵי זוֹ מֻקְדֶּשֶׁת, וְאֵינָהּ נִפְדֵּית בְּגִרְעוֹן כֶּסֶף; אֶלָא אִם רָצָה הַפּוֹדֶה לִתֵּן חֲמִשִּׁים שֶׁקֶל לְכָל חֹמֶר, פּוֹדֶה אוֹתָהּ. וְאִם לֹא פְדָיָהּ, הֲרֵי זוֹ יוֹצְאָה לַכּוֹהֲנִים בַּיּוֹבֵל, כְּמוֹ שֶׁיִּתְבָּאֵר.
10When a person consecrates his field in the Jubilee year itself, it is not consecrated.26 If a priest or a Levite consecrate their property in the Jubilee itself, it is consecrated.27יהִקְדִּישׁ שָׂדֵהוּ בִּשְׁנַת הַיּוֹבֵל עַצְמָהּ, אֵינָהּ מֻקְדֶּשֶׁת. וְכוֹהֵן וְלֵוִי שֶׁהִקְדִּישׁוּ בִּשְׁנַת הַיּוֹבֵל עַצְמָהּ, הֲרֵי זוֹ מֻקְדֶּשֶׁת.
11Just as they can redeem their fields at all times,28 so too, they can consecrate them at all times.יאכְּשֵׁם שֶׁגּוֹאֲלִין לְעוֹלָם, כָּךְ מַקְדִּישִׁין לְעוֹלָם.
12When a person consecrates his field after the Jubilee year, it is not redeemed by paying a reduced amount of silver until the completion of a year after the Jubilee, because we do not calculate months with regard to consecrated property.29יבהַמַּקְדִּישׁ אֶת שָׂדֵהוּ אַחַר הַיּוֹבֵל - אֵינָהּ נִפְדֵּית בְּגִרְעוֹן כֶּסֶף עַד שֶׁיִּגְמֹר שָׁנָה אַחַר הַיּוֹבֵל, לְפִי שֶׁאֵין מְחַשְּׁבִין חֳדָשִׁים לַהֶקְדֵּשׁ.
Therefore f the one redeeming it is willing to pay 50 shekel for each parcel in which a chomer can be sown, he may redeem it even on the day after the Jubilee year. He does not reduce its price at all.לְפִיכָךְ אִם רָצָה הַפּוֹדֶה לִתֵּן חֲמִשִּׁים שֶׁקֶל לְכָל זֶרַע חֹמֶר - הֲרֵי זֶה פּוֹדֶה אַפִלּוּ בַּיּוֹם שֶׁאַחַר הַיּוֹבֵל, וְאֵינוֹ גּוֹרֵעַ כְּלוּם.
13When a field is measured,30 we measure only those places fit to be sown.יגכְּשֶׁמּוֹדְדִין, אֵין מוֹדְדִין אֶלָא מְקוֹמוֹת הָרְאוּיִין לִזְרִיעָה.
If there are stones that are ten handbreadths high or hollows filled with water that are ten handbreadths deep, they are not measured with it. If they are less than this, they are measured with it.31 הָיוּ שָׁם סְלָעִים גְּבוֹהִים עֲשָׂרָה טְפָחִים, אוֹ נְקָעִים מְלֵאִים מַיִם עֲמוּקִים עֲשָׂרָה טְפָחִים - אֵין נִמְדָּדִין עִמָּהּ; פָּחוֹת מִכָּאן, נִמְדָּדִין עִמָּהּ.
14If there are hollows that are ten handbreadths or more deep that do not contain water, they are measured independently and calculated according to their worth.32 ידהָיוּ בָּהּ מְקוֹמוֹת נְמוּכוֹת עֲשָׂרָה אוֹ יוֹתֵר וְאֵין בָּהֶן מַיִם - נִמְדָּדִין בִּפְנֵי עַצְמָן, וּמְחַשְּׁבִין לָהֶן מַה שֶׁרָאוּי לָהֶן.
15If the consecrated field contains trees, the trees are consecrated even if the donor did not say so explicitly. The rationale is that when a person consecrates property, he does so with a generous spirit.טוהָיְתָה מְלֵאָה אִילָנוֹת - אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁלֹּא פּרֵשׁ, הֲרֵי הִקְדִּישׁ גַּם הָאִילָנוֹת; שֶׁכָּל הַמַּקְדִּישׁ, בְּעַיִן יָפָה הוּא מַקְדִּישׁ.
We calculate the worth of the trees and add that to the sum arrived at by measuring the land and placing its airech at a sela and a pundiyon for every parcel in which a chomer can be sown, as we explained.33 וּמְחַשְּׁבִין אֶת הָאִילָנוֹת בְּשָׁוְיֵיהֶן, וְהַקַּרְקַע מוֹדְדִין אוֹתָהּ, וְיִהְיֶה עֶרְכָּהּ סֶלַע וּפֻנְדְּיוֹן לְכָל שָׁנָה וּלְכָל זֶרַע חֹמֶר, כְּמוֹ שֶׁבֵּאַרְנוּ.
16When a person consecrates a field that is not fit to be sown and is referred to as rocky terrain, it is redeemed for its value.34 Similarly, if a person consecrates trees alone, they are redeemed according to their value.טזהַמַּקְדִּישׁ שָׂדֶה שֶׁאֵינָהּ רְאוּיָה לִזְרִיעָה, וְהִיא הַנִּקְרֵאת 'טְרָשִׁין' - פּוֹדִין אוֹתָהּ בְּשָׁוְיָהּ. וְכֵן הַמַּקְדִּישׁ אֶת הָאִילָנוֹת בִּלְבָד, פּוֹדִין אוֹתָן בְּשָׁוְיֵיהֶן.
17If there were three trees35 planted in an area large enough to sow a se’ah36 and the donor did not explicitly say that he was consecrating only the trees, he is considered to have consecrated the land37 and the small trees between the three larger ones.38יזהָיוּ הָאִילָנוֹת שְׁלוֹשָׁה אִילָנוֹת לְתוֹךְ בֵּית סְאָה, וְלֹא פֵּרֵשׁ שֶׁהָאִילָנוֹת בִּלְבָד הוּא שֶׁהִקְדִּישׁ - הֲרֵי זֶה הִקְדִּישׁ אֶת הַקַּרְקַע וְאֶת הָאִילָנוֹת שֶׁבֵּינֵיהֶן.
If, however, the trees were planted more sparsely - i.e., every three or less trees were planted in more than the area large enough to sow a se’ah39 or he consecrated each of the trees individually, one after the other,40 he did not consecrate the land41 or the small trees between the larger ones.אֲבָל אִם הָיוּ הָאִילָנוֹת נְטוּעוֹת כָּל שְׁלוֹשָׁה אִילָנוֹת בְּיָתֵר מִבֵּית סְאָה אוֹ בְּפָחוֹת, אוֹ שֶׁהִקְדִּישָׁן זֶה אַחַר זֶה - הֲרֵי זֶה לֹא הִקְדִּישׁ אֶת הַקַּרְקַע, וְלֹא אֶת הָאִילָנוֹת שֶׁבֵּינֵיהֶן.
18If he consecrated the trees and then consecrated the land, he redeems the trees according to their worth and the land according to its measure.42 יחהִקְדִּישׁ הָאִילָנוֹת וְאַחַר כָּךְ הִקְדִּישׁ אֶת הַקַּרְקַע - פּוֹדֶה אֶת הָאִילָנוֹת בְּשָׁוְיֵיהֶן, וְאֶת הַקַּרְקַע עַל פִּי מִדָּתָהּ.
19When a person consecrates an ancestral field and the Jubilee arrives without it being redeemed, but instead, it has remained in the domain of the Temple treasury, the priests of the watch in which the Jubilee falls43 must pay its airech44 and it becomes their ancestral heritage.45 They are required to pay,46 because consecrated property is never released without being redeemed. The money paid is given to the Temple treasury for improvements to its structure.47 יטהַמַּקְדִּישׁ שְׂדֵה אֲחֻזָּתוֹ וְהִגִּיעַ הַיּוֹבֵל וְלֹא נִפְדֵּית, אֶלָא הֲרֵי הִיא תַּחַת יַד הַהֶקְדֵּשׁ - הַכּוֹהֲנִים נוֹתנִין אֶת דָּמֶיהָ וְתִהְיֶה אֲחֻזָּה לָהֶן; שֶׁאֵין הֶקְדֵּשׁ יוֹצֵא בְּלֹא פִּדְיוֹן, וְאוֹתָן הַדָּמִים יִפְּלוּ לְהֶקְדֵּשׁ בֶּדֶק הַבַּיִת.
20If the person who consecrated it redeemed it before the Jubilee, it returns to its owner in the Jubilee.48 The airech which he pays is given for improvements to the Temple, as we have explained.49כגְּאָלָהּ הַמַּקְדִּישׁ קֹדֶם שֶׁיַּגִּיעַ הַיּוֹבֵל - הֲרֵי זוֹ חוֹזֶרֶת לִבְעָלֶיהָ, וְהָעֵרֶךְ שֶׁנָּתַן יִפֹּל לְבֶדֶק הַבַּיִת, כְּמוֹ שֶׁבֵּאַרְנוּ.
Similarly, if the son of the person who consecrated it redeemed it, it returns to his father in the Jubilee.וְכֵן אִם גְּאָלָהּ בְּנוֹ שֶׁל מַּקְדִּישׁ, הֲרֵי זוֹ חוֹזֶרֶת לְאָבִיו בַּיּוֹבֵל.
If, however, his daughter, another relative, or an unrelated person redeemed it, different laws apply. If the person who consecrated it redeems it from them, it returns to him at all times before the Jubilee year.50 אֲבָל אִם גָּאְלָה אוֹתָהּ בִּתּוֹ, אוֹ שְׁאָר קְרוֹבָיו, אוֹ נָכְרִי מִיַּד הַהֶקְדֵּשׁ - אִם חָזַר הַמַּקְדִּישׁ וּגְאָלָהּ מִיָּדָן, חוֹזֶרֶת לוֹ לְעוֹלָם.
If, however, he did not redeem it from their possession and when the Jubilee arrived it is in the possession of the daughter, another relative, or an unrelated person, it is expropriated from them51 and becomes the property of the Temple treasury. It never returns to its owners again. Instead, it becomes the ancestral property of the priests, as Leviticus 27:21 states: “When the field departs from the purchaser’s domain in the Jubilee, it shall become the priests.”וְאִם לֹא גְאָלָהּ מִיָּדָן, אֶלָא הִגִּיעַ הַיּוֹבֵל וְהִיא תַּחַת יַד הַבַּת אוֹ שְׁאָר קְרוֹבִים אוֹ נָכְרִי - הֲרֵי זוֹ יוֹצְאָה לַהֶקְדֵּשׁ, וְאֵינָהּ חוֹזֶרֶת לִבְעָלֶיהָ לְעוֹלָם, אֶלָא תִּהְיֶה אֲחֻזָּה לַכּוֹהֲנִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "וְהָיָה הַשָּׂדֶה בְּצֵאתוֹ בַיֹּבֵל... לַכֹּהֵן תִּהְיֶה אֲחֻזָּתוֹ" (ויקרא כז, כא).
The priests do not have to pay its value,52 because it was already redeemed from the Temple treasury and the Temple treasury received its airech from another person. Hence, it is returned to the priests as if they are its owners.וְאֵין הַכּוֹהֲנִים צְרִיכִין לִתֵּן דָּמִים, שֶׁכְּבָר נִפְדֵּית מִיַּד הַהֶקְדֵּשׁ וְלָקַּח עֶרְכָּהּ מֵאַחֵר, אֶלָא תַּחְזֹר לַכּוֹהֲנִים כְּאִלּוּ הֵן בְּעָלֶיהָ.
21To whom does the above53 apply? To an Israelite. If, however, the person who consecrated the field was a priest or a Levite,54 he may redeem it at all times. Even if the Jubilee passed and it was not redeemed from the Temple treasury, he may redeem it after the Jubilee, as Leviticus 25:32 states: “The Levites have an eternal right of redemption.”כאבַּמֶּה דְּבָרִים אֲמוּרִים? בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל. אֲבָל אִם הָיָה הַמַּקְדִּישׁ כּוֹהֵן אוֹ לֵוִי, הֲרֵי זֶה גּוֹאֵל לְעוֹלָם, וְאַפִלּוּ עָבַר עָלֶיהָ הַיּוֹבֵל וְלֹא נִפְדֵּית מִן הַהֶקְדֵּשׁ, פּוֹדֶה אוֹתָהּ אַחַר הַיּוֹבֵל, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "גְּאֻלַּת עוֹלָם תִּהְיֶה לַלְוִיִּם" (ויקרא כה, לב).
22When a woman consecrated her ancestral field, her husband redeemed it from the Temple treasury, and it is in his possession when the Jubilee arrives, there is an unresolved question whether it returns to the woman55 or it is given to the priests.56כבהָאִשָּׁה שֶׁהִקְדִּישָׁה שְׂדֵה אֲחֻזָּתָהּ, וּגְאָלָהּ בַּעְלָהּ מִיַּד הַהֶקְדֵּשׁ, וְהִגִּיעַ הַיּוֹבֵל וְהִיא תַּחַת יְדֵי הַבַּעַל - הֲרֵי הַדָּבָר סָפֵק, אִם תַּחְזֹר לָאִשָּׁה אוֹ תֵּצֵא לַכּוֹהֲנִים.
Therefore if the woman came first and took possession of it after the arrival of the Jubilee, the priests cannot expropriate it from her domain. If the priests took possession of it first, she cannot expropriate it from their possession.57 לְפִיכָךְ אִם קָדְמָה הָאִשָּׁה וְהִחְזִיקָה בָּהּ אַחַר הַיּוֹבֵל, אֵין הַכּוֹהֲנִים יְכוּלִין לְהוֹצִיא מִיָּדָהּ; וְאִם קָדְמוּ הַכּוֹהֲנִים וְהִחְזִיקוּ, אֵינָהּ יְכוֹלָה לְהוֹצִיא מִיָּדָם.
23If a person consecrated a field and a priest redeemed it from the Temple treasury and it is in his domain when the Jubilee arrives, he should not say: “Since it is expropriated for the sake of the priests and it is in my possession, I should acquire it.” Instead, it is given to all of his brethren, the priestly family.כגהַמַּקְדִּישׁ שָׂדֵהוּ וּפָדָה אוֹתָהּ כּוֹהֵן מִיַּד הַהֶקְדֵּשׁ, וְהִגִּיעַ הַיּוֹבֵל וְהִיא תַּחַת יַד הַכּוֹהֵן - לֹא יֹאמַר: הוֹאִיל וַהֲרֵי הִיא יוֹצְאָה לַכּוֹהֲנִים, הֲרֵי הִיא תַּחַת יָדִי וְזָכִיתִי בָּהּ; אֶלָא יוֹצְאָה לְכָל אֶחָיו הַכּוֹהֲנִים.
24When it is expropriated on behalf of the priests in the Jubilee, it should be given to those priests58 in the watch59 in which the Jubilee begins.כדכְּשֶׁתֵּצֵא הַשָּׂדֶה לַכּוֹהֲנִים בַּיּוֹבֵל, תִּנָּתֵן לַכּוֹהֲנִים שֶׁבַּמִּשְׁמָר שֶׁפָּגַע בּוֹ הַיּוֹבֵל.
If the Rosh HaShanah of the Jubilee falls on the Sabbath and thus one watch will enter and one will depart,60 it should be given to the watch which departs.61 וְאִם הָיָה רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה שֶׁל יּוֹבֵל בַּשַּׁבָּת, שֶׁהֲרֵי מִשְׁמָר יוֹצֵא וּמִשְׁמָר נִכְנָס - תִּנָּתֵן לַמִּשְׁמָר הַיּוֹצֵא.
25When a person consecrates trees and the Jubilee arrives without him having redeemed them, they are not expropriated and given to the priests, for Leviticus 27:21 states: “When the field is expropriated in the Jubilee... it shall become the priests.” Trees, however, are not a field.62כההַמַּקְדִּישׁ אֶת הָאִילָנוֹת, וְהִגִּיעַ הַיּוֹבֵל וְלֹא פָדוּ אוֹתָן - אֵינָן יוֹצְאִין לַכּוֹהֲנִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "וְהָיָה הַשָּׂדֶה בְּצֵאתוֹ בַיֹּבֵל קֹדֶשׁ" (ויקרא כז, כא), וְאֵין אֵלוּ שָׂדֶה.
If, however, a person consecrates rocky terrain63 and the Jubilee arrives without it being redeemed, it is expropriated and given to the priests, for the prooftext states “And the field shall...” and this is called a field.אֲבָל הַמַּקְדִּישׁ אֶת הַטְּרָשִׁין, וְהִגִּיעַ הַיּוֹבֵל וְלֹא פָדוּ אוֹתָן הַבְּעָלִים - הֲרֵי אֵלּוּ יוֹצְאִין לַכּוֹהֲנִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "וְהָיָה הַשָּׂדֶה", וְזוֹ שָׂדֶה נִקְרֵאת.
26What are the laws that apply when a person consecrates purchased property? Its worth is evaluated and we see what its value will be64 until the Jubilee.65 Anyone who desires may redeem it.כוכֵּיצַד דִּין מַקְדִּישׁ שְׂדֵה מִקְנָתוֹ? שָׁמִין אוֹתָהּ בְּדָמֶיהָ, וְרוֹאִין כַּמָּה הִיא שָׁוָה עַד הַיּוֹבֵל, וּפוֹדֶה אוֹתָהּ כָּל מִי שֶׁיִּרְצֶה.
If the person who consecrated it redeems it, he is not required to add a fifth. The redemption is given for the purpose of improvements to the Temple as are other arechim and pledges of worth.וְאִם פָּדָה אוֹתָהּ הַמַּקְדִּישׁ, אֵינוֹ מוֹסִיף חֹמֶשׁ. וּפִדְיוֹנָהּ לְבֶדֶק הַבַּיִת, כִּשְׁאָר עֲרָכִים וְדָמִים.
When the Jubilee arrives, it returns to its original owner who sold it.וּכְשֶׁיַּגִּיעַ הַיּוֹבֵל, תַּחְזֹר לַבְּעָלִים הָרִאשׁוֹנִים שֶׁמְּכָרוּהָ.
This applies whether it was redeemed from the Temple treasurer and it is departing from the domain of another person or whether it was not redeemed and it is departing from the domain of the Temple treasury, it returns to the seller and is not expropriated for the priests. The rationale is that a person cannot consecrate an article that is not his.66 בֵּין שֶׁנִּפְדֵּית מִיַּד הַגִּזְבָּר, וַהֲרֵי הִיא יוֹצְאָה מִיַּד אַחֵר, בֵּין שֶׁלֹּא נִפְדֵּית, וַהֲרֵי הִיא יוֹצְאָה מִיַּד הַהֶקְדֵּשׁ - הֲרֵי זוֹ חוֹזֶרֶת לַמּוֹכֵר, וְאֵינָהּ יוֹצְאָה לַכּוֹהֲנִים; שֶׁאֵין אָדָם מַקְדִּישׁ דָּבָר שֶׁאֵינוֹ שֶׁלּוֹ.
27Whenever a field is evaluated for the Temple treasury so that it can be sold for its worth, we announce its sale for 60 consecutive days in the morning when workers come to work and in the evening when they leave. כזכָּל שָׂדֶה שֶׁשָּׁמִין אוֹתָהּ לַהֶקְדֵּשׁ לִמְכֹּר אוֹתָהּ בְּדָמֶיהָ, מַכְרִיזִין עָלֶיהָ שִׁשִּׁים יוֹם רְצוּפִין, בַּבֹּקֶר בִּשְׁעַת הוֹצָאַת פּוֹעֲלִים, וּבָעֶרֶב בִּשְׁעַת הַכְנָסַת פּוֹעֲלִים.
We mark its boundaries and say how much it produces and what is it worth.67 Whoever wishes to purchase it may come and purchase it.וּמְסַיְּמִין מְצָרֶיהָ וְאוֹמְרִין: כָּךְ הִיא יָפָה וּבְכָּךְ הִיא שׁוּמָה, כָּל הָרוֹצֶה לִקַּח יָבוֹא וְיִקָּח.
28The following laws apply when a person purchases a field from his father or from another person from whom he could inherit it and consecrates it to the Temple treasury. Whether he consecrated it after the death of his father or the other testator or he consecrated it during the lifetime of his father or the other testator and then his father or that testator died, it is considered as an ancestral field.68 This is derived from Leviticus 27:22:If he will consecrate a field that he acquired which is not an ancestral field....” Implied is that the subject is a field that is not fit to be an ancestral field, thus excluding this one which is fit for him to inherit.69 כחהַלּוֹקֵחַ שָׂדֶה מֵאָבִיו אוֹ מִשְּׁאָר הַמּוֹרִישִׁין אוֹתוֹ וְהִקְדִּישָׁהּ, בֵּין שֶׁהִקְדִּישָׁהּ אַחַר מוֹת אָבִיו אוֹ מוֹרִישָׁיו, בֵּין שֶׁהִקְדִּישָׁהּ בְּחַיֵּי אָבִיו אוֹ שְׁאָר מוֹרִישָׁיו וְאַחַר כָּךְ מֵת אָבִיו אוֹ מוֹרִישָׁיו - הֲרֵי זוֹ כִּשְׂדֵה אֲחֻזָּה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "וְאִם אֶת שְׂדֵה מִקְנָתוֹ אֲשֶׁר לֹא מִשְּׂדֵה אֲחֻזָּתוֹ" (ויקרא כז, כב) - שָׂדֶה שֶׁאֵינָהּ רְאוּיָה לִהְיוֹת שְׂדֵה אֲחֻזָּה, יָצַאת זוֹ שֶׁרְאוּיָה לוֹ לְיָרְשָׁהּ.