For the source text click/tap here: Bava Batra 175
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A new mishnah recounts : if someone lends money to his friend in a loan document, he can collect from encumbered properties. If he lends money to his friend with witnesses (but not in a document), he may (only) collect from unencumbered properties. If someone (the lender) produced another person’s handwriting (the borrower’s) agreeing that he owes money to him, the lender can collect from unencumbered properties.
If, however, the loan was made in front of witnesses, but no note was written, then repayment can only be made from property that the borrower is still holding.
as an aside Rabbi Yishmael said: One who wants to become wise should engage inthe study of monetary law, as there is no greater discipline in the Torah, and it is like a flowing spring.
we explore the history of talmud with the help of Ben Zion Booker’s analysis.