If he were working in figs, he may not eat grapes; in grapes, he may not eat figs. But he may hold back until he reaches the place of the choicest (fruits) and eat (there). And all of these (instances of workers being permitted to eat) were stated (as obtaining) only at the time of working. But by way of "restoring a lost object" to the owners, [i.e., so that he not stop working to eat] they ruled: Workers may eat in going from furrow to furrow. [When they finish one furrow and go to begin another, (they may eat). Even though that time is not "the time of working," the owner prefers that they eat then.], and (they may eat) in returning from the wine press (to pick up another load of grapes). And an ass [may eat from the load on its back while walking] until it is unloaded.
Bartenura on Mishnah Bava Metzia
מפני השב אבדה לבעלים – so that he will not be idle from his labor.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Bava Metzia
Introduction
The two mishnayoth which we will learn today continue to discuss a worker’s right to eat from the produce with which he is working.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Bava Metzia
אמרו פועלים אוכלים בהליכתן מאומן לאומן – when they have finished this row and walk to begin its neighbor, and even though at that hour, it is not the time of work, it is pleasing to the owner with this.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Bava Metzia
If one was working with figs he may not eat grapes, and if among grapes he may not eat figs. But he may refrain [from eating] until he reaches the best produce and then eat. As we learned in the previous mishnah, according to the Rabbinic interpretation of the Torah a fieldworker is allowed to eat from the food in the field while he is working in the field. Our mishnah teaches that a worker may eat only of the food with which he is working. They may not eat of other foods even if they belong to the same owner. However, the worker may save his appetite and eat from the best fruit which he will work with in the end. In other words the worker may eat of any of the fruit with which he is working but he may not eat from anything with which he is not working.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Bava Metzia
וחמור כשהיא פורקת – while it is walking, it eats from the burden that is on its back until she unloads.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Bava Metzia
In no case have they said [that he may eat] save during the time of his work. But because of the principle of restoring lost property to its owner they have said, “Field laborers may eat as they go from one furrow to another or as they return from the winepress. And a donkey [may eat] while it is unloading.” The basic law is that a worker may only eat while he is working. However, this situation presents a potential problem to both the worker and the employer. The worker would probably prefer to eat when he is completed with his work and the employer, who probably is paying per hour, would prefer the worker not stop working to eat. Therefore, the Rabbis stated that workers may wait to eat until they have completed their work and are going from one place of work to the other.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Bava Metzia
Questions for Further Thought: • Mishnah four, section two: According to the mishnah is a worker allowed to eat while he is working or must he wait until he completes the job?
