[If there were] two brothers, one poor and one wealthy, and their father left them a bathhouse or an olive press —- [if] he had made them for renting, the rent is divided; [if] he made them for themselves, the wealthy one can say to the poor one, “Ac-quire servants, and let them bathe in the bathhouse; acquire olives, and come process them in the olive press.”  Two people in the same town, both named Yosef ben Shimon, cannot produce a document of indebtedness against each other; nor can another produce a document of indebtedness against them. [If] one found among his documents [a receipt stating], “The note of Yosef ben Shimon is paid,” both their notes are [treated as] paid. What should they do? They should [record] the third [gen-eration]. If they were [identical] for three [generations], they should write a description. If they were alike, they should write “Kohen.”  If someone said to his son, “One of my notes is paid, but I do not know which,” all the notes are paid. [If] two [notes] from one person were found there, the larger one is [treated as] paid and the smaller one is not [considered] paid.  One who lends to another through a guarantor may not collect from the guarantor. If he said, “On condition that I can collect from whomever I wish,” he may collect from the guarantor. Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel says: In either case, if the borrower has property, he may not collect from the guarantor. Similarly, Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel said: [If one was] the guarantor of a woman's kesubah, and her husband was divorc-ing her, he must vow not to derive any [further] benefit from her, to prevent them from plotting against this one's property and [then] remarrying.

One who lends another money with a document collects from mortgaged properties; with witnesses, he collects [only] from available properties. [If] he produced his handwritten [note] that he is indebted to him, he collects [only] from available prop-erties.  [If] a guarantor appears below the document's signatures, he collects [only] from available properties. A case came before R' Yishmael, and he said: He collects [only] from available properties. Ben Nannas said to him: He collects neither from mortgaged properties nor from available properties. He said to him: Why? He said to him: [If] someone was choking someone in the street, and another encountered him and said, “Let him alone,” he is exempt, because he did not lend him due to his trust in him. Rather, which is a guarantor who is liable? [if he said,] “Lend him, and I will give you,” he is liable, because he lent him due to his trust in him. Said R' Yishmael: One who wishes to become wise should involve himself in [the study of] monetary laws, as there is no branch of Torah greater than them, because they are like a welling fountain. And one who wishes to in-volve himself in monetary laws should serve Shimon ben Nannas.

Monetary cases [are judged] by three; [cases of] theft and bodily injury [are judged] by three; [claims for] full damages and half damages, twofold compensation, and fourfold or fivefold compensation, [are judged] by three; [claims against] a rapist, a seducer, and a defamer [are judged] by three; [these are] the words of R’ Meir. However, the Sages say: [Claims against] a defamer are [judged] by twenty-three, because they involve a capital charge.

[Cases of] lashes [are judged] by three. In the name of R’ Yishmael they said: By twenty-three. The intercalating of the month is by three; the intercalating of the year is by three; [these are] the words of R’ Meir. Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel says: It is begun with three, discussed by five, and concluded by seven. If they concluded with three it is valid.