2,681. Paying Multiple Fifths

Hilchos Shevuos 7:14

Let’s say that five different people filed claims against the same defendant, saying, “Give us the entrusted items, the deposits, the stolen goods and lost items that you have in your possession,” and he replies, “An oath that I don't have an entrusted item, stolen goods, lost items and deposit of yours, or of yours, or of yours….” In such a case, if the oath is false, the defendant is liable for every claim made by every plaintiff, for 20 a total of guilt offerings.

Hilchos Shevuos 7:15

If someone claims to have lost an entrusted object or denies ever having received it, taking an oath to support his claim, and he later admits that he had it and claims that it was lost, taking an oath to support that claim, and he then admits to having it, he must pay the principal plus an extra fifth for each of his oaths, as per Leviticus 5:24: “its fifths,” from which we see that several fifths can be added on to the same principal amount. Accordingly, if the principal was four and the person denied receiving it with an oath, and then admitted, after which he claimed that it was lost with an oath and again admitted the truth, then he once again claimed that it was lost with an oath and again admitted the truth - in such a case, he is obligated to pay seven. [If this amount is higher than expected, it’s because each new fifth is based on the principal plus any earlier fifths that were already added.] The same is true in all similar cases.