Mesorat%20hashas for Gittin 4:4

עֶבֶד שֶׁנִּשְׁבָּה וּפְדָאוּהוּ, אִם לְשׁוּם עֶבֶד, יִשְׁתַּעְבֵּד. אִם לְשׁוּם בֶּן חוֹרִין, לֹא יִשְׁתַּעְבֵּד. רַבָּן שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן גַּמְלִיאֵל אוֹמֵר, בֵּין כָּךְ וּבֵין כָּךְ יִשְׁתַּעְבֵּד. עֶבֶד שֶׁעֲשָׂאוֹ רַבּוֹ אַפּוֹתִיקִי לַאֲחֵרִים וְשִׁחְרְרוֹ, שׁוּרַת הַדִּין, אֵין הָעֶבֶד חַיָּב כְּלוּם. אֶלָּא מִפְּנֵי תִקּוּן הָעוֹלָם, כּוֹפִין אֶת רַבּוֹ וְעוֹשֶׂה אוֹתוֹ בֶן חוֹרִין, וְכוֹתֵב שְׁטָר עַל דָּמָיו. רַבָּן שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן גַּמְלִיאֵל אוֹמֵר, אֵינוֹ כוֹתֵב אֶלָּא מְשַׁחְרֵר:

If a (Canaanite) bondsman were taken captive and redeemed [by other Israelites after his master had despaired of his return] — if (he were redeemed) for servitude, he serves [the second master]; if for freedom, he does not serve [neither the first nor the second. Not the second, for he redeemed him for freedom. Not the first, [lest they not redeem him]. R. Shimon b. Gamliel says: In either event, he serves [his first master, lest every bondsman cause himself to be taken captive by brigands to escape his master.] If a master made his bondsman an apotiki [po tehei kai ("Here shall it stand"), i.e., From this (the bondsman) shall you collect your debt, and not from elsewhere)], and he [his first master] freed him, justice dictates that the bondsman owes nothing [to the second, for his first master's manumission dissolved his servitude]; but because of "the general good" [lest the second find him in the marketplace and say to him: "You are my bondsman," bringing his children into disrepute], his master [the second] is compelled to free him and he [the bondsman] writes him (the second) a bill of debt for his worth [i.e., for his market value (as a bondsman); not for the amount of the debt if the debt were more than his worth.] R. Shimon b. Gamliel says: He [the bondsman] does not write [him a bill of debt, for he owes him nothing. But his first master, who "damaged" what was owing the second must pay him his worth. For one who damages what is owed to another is liable. (The halachah is in accordance with R. Shimon b. Gamliel)], but he (the second) frees him.

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