The principal categories of damage are four: the ox, the Pit, the `spoliator` [mab`eh] and the fire. The aspects of the ox are [in some respects] not [of such low order of gravity] as those of the `spoliator`; nor are [in other respects] those of the `spoliator` [of such low order of gravity] as those of the ox; nor are the aspects of either of them, in which there is life, [of such low order of gravity] as those of the fire which is not endowed with life; nor are the aspects of any of these, the habit of which is to be mobile and do damage, [of such low orders of gravity] as those of the Pit of which it is not the habit to move about and do damage. The feature common to them all is that they are in the habit of doing damage; and that they have to be under your control so that whenever any one [of them] does damage the offender is liable to indemnify with the best of his estate. |
קמא 1.1 |
Whenever I am under an obligation of controlling [anything in my
possession], I am considered to have perpetrated any damage that may
result. When I am to blame for a part of the damage I am liable to
compensate for the damage as if I had perpetrated the whole of the
damage. |
קמא 1.2 |
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