פירוש על שבועות 6:4

אין נשבעין על טענת חרש – as, for example, when the deaf-mute makes a claim against him with a gesture, for the deaf-mute/חרש that the Sages spoke of in every place is one who does not hear and does not speak (see Tractate Terumot, Chapter 1, Mishnah 2).

Introduction In mishnah four we will learn cases where an oath is not taken because of the status of the claimant or defendant.

וטענת קטן – as, for example, when the minor makes a claim against him. For Scripture states (Exodus 22:6): “When a man gives [money or goods] to a another [for safekeeping],” but the giving of a minor is not anything. [And the deaf-mute] and the imbecile is like a minor. And specifically the oath of the Torah is that which they do not impose on the claim of a minor, but the oath of inducement (i.e., where a defendant totally denies a claim to clear himself of suspicion) he is liable to take on his claim.’

No oath is imposed in a claim by a deaf-mute, imbecile, or minor. If a deaf-mute, an insane person or a minor make a claim against another person, that person does not have to swear an oath. Since the mishnah considers these people to be lacking intelligence, their claims are not trustworthy enough to impose an oath upon others. [When we learned Bava Kamma 4:4 I discussed the mishnah’s attitude towards deaf-mutes, and how Jewish law has changed now that sign language has been developed.]

אבל נשבעין לקטן ולהקדש – he who comes to collect from the property of a minor, he should not collect other than through an oath. And similar one who consecrates his property [to the Temple] and a document of liability is issued against him and the owner of the liability comes to collect from the property of that which has been consecrated [to the Temple], requires an oath.

And no oath is imposed on a minor. A minor is never asked to take an oath, since he cannot understand the consequences of falsely swearing.

But an oath is imposed when a claim is lodged against a minor, or against the Temple’s property. One who comes to collect a debt that a minor’s deceased father owed him, may take an oath that he is owed the money. This is not considered a case of the minor being a defendant, but in reality the deceased’s estate is the defendant. If Reuven owes Shimon money and then Reuven dedicates all his property to the Temple, Reuven may take an oath and collect from the property that had been dedicated to the Temple.