Erchin 5:6-6:1

Erchin (Arachin) 5:6

Collateral is taken from people who owe valuations; it is not taken from people who owe sin offerings or guilt offerings. Collateral is taken from people who owe burnt offerings or peace offerings. This is so even though sacrifices don’t grant atonement unless they are brought willingly as per Leviticus 1:3, “according to his will.” A person is pressured until it becomes his will. The same is true when it comes to granting a divorce: a man is pressured until it becomes his will.

Erchin (Arachin) 6:1

The evaluation of orphans’ property for sale is announced for 30 days, and that of property held by the Temple is announced for 60 days; they announce it both in the morning and in the evening. Rabbi Eliezer says that if a man dedicated his property to the Temple but he owed his wife payment for her kesubah, then when he divorces her he must vow not to derive any benefit from her. (This keeps them from remarrying, eliminating the possibility that this was a scheme to get his money back from the Temple.) Rabbi Yehoshua says that one need not take such a vow. Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel ruled similarly (to Rabbi Eliezer): if a person guarantees the value of a woman’s kesubah and that woman’s husband divorces her, the husband must vow not to derive any benefit from her. This is to prevent the couple from conspiring to collect payment from that third party and then remarry.