תלמוד על גיטין 4:1

Does this not disagree with Rebbi Simeon ben Laqish? As Rebbi Simeon ben Laqish said, nobody may revoke his agency by words. Explain it that he said, go and fix it to the North and [the agent] went and fixed it to the South⁴¹The disagreement between R. Simeon ben Laqish and R. Joḥanan, whether a verbal authorization may be revoked by simple pronouncement, not necessarily in the presence of the agent, is in Giṭṭin 4:1–2, fol. 45c, and Babli Qiddušin 59a. The Babli explains the problem away; its opinion is that R. Simeon ben Laqish disallows verbal revocation only in matters of marriage and divorce which never can be executed by words alone. The Yerushalmi disagrees and holds that R. Simeon ben Laqish always requires an action (in the case of authorization to proceed with a divorce, a court action) to terminate duly established agency. In our case here, he permits a shortcut for termination only if the agent deviates from his instructions. On the other hand, the Yerushalmi notes that in case of an action of divorce, agency can be terminated only in the presence of the agent or by written document delivered to the other party even for R. Joḥanan since any other course of action would have unforseeable consequences..

HALAKHAH: “Similarly, if a woman empowered her agent,” etc. ²¹⁹Since the argument is repeated for Mishnah 9, it is clear that the Halakhah refers both to Mishnah 8 and Mishnah 9. The statement of R. Joḥanan is in Giṭṭin 4:1, see Notes 2–3 there for explanation. Does this not disagree with Rebbi Joḥanan, since Rebbi Joḥanan said that a person invalidates agency by a declaration? He explains it by the stringency of the rules of adultery and incest. Rebbi Yose ben Rebbi Abun understood this from the latter part: “Similarly, if a woman empowered her agent to contract preliminary marriage for her and then went and contracted for herself.” Does this not disagree with Rebbi Joḥanan, since Rebbi Joḥanan said that a person invalidates agency by a declaration? He explains it by the stringency of the rules of adultery and incest.