Sheviis 4:1-2

Sheviis 4:1

The Sages originally ruled that one could gather large wood, stones and grasses from his own field in the sabbatical year just as he could gather things from his neighbor’s field (i.e., it would be apparent that his purpose is not to clear the field). When people took advantage and started removing the small items as well, clearing their fields with plausible deniability, they changed the rule that one may only gather from another’s field but they may not do so quid pro quo, nor may the field owner feed the gatherers.

Sheviis 4:2

If a field was cleared of thorns in the sabbatical year (which shouldn’t be done), it may still be sown in the eighth year, but if it was improved during the sabbatical year, or used to graze cattle (which caused it to be fertilized), then it may not be sown in the eighth year. Regarding a field that was improved in the sabbatical year, Beis Shammai say that one may not eat its fruit during the sabbatical but Beis Hillel permit it. Beis Shammai say one may not eat the fruit of the sabbatical year as a favor from the landowner (as this implies ownership of the fruit, which the Torah declares ownerless), but Beis Hillel permit it whether or not it’s a favor. Rabbi Yehuda says the names in this latter law should be reversed, as this is one of the cases where Beis Shammai are lenient and Beis Hillel are stringent.