Sifra Chovah Chapter 15

¹1) How so? If five say to another: Come and testify for us that so and so owes us a pledge, a deposit, a theft, and a lost object, and he says: I swear that I have no testimony for you that he owes you a pledge, a deposit, a theft, and a lost object — Whence is it derived that he is liable for each one. From: "for one," etc. ²2) I might think that this is so because they are five. Whence do I know that the same applies in the instance of only one claimant? From: "for one," etc. ³3) I might think that this is so because there are many different claims. Whence do I derive that the same applies even if one says to him: Come and testify for me that so and so owes me wheat, barley, and spelt, etc. … From "for one," etc. ⁴4) I might think that this is so because they are many species. Whence do I derive that the same applies even if he says to him: Come and testify for me that so and so owes me wheat that I deposited with him last night, and before that, etc. … From "for one," etc. ⁵5) I might think that in the instance of a court-imposed oath ("hearing the voice," viz. Vayikra 5:1), where deliberate violation (of the oath) is equated with unwitting violation (in respect to bringing an offering," "and it be hidden" not being written in that regard), he is liable for each one, but in the instance of an oath of pronouncement, (viz. Vayikra 5:4) where deliberate violation is not equated with unwitting violation, "and it be hidden" (i.e., unwitting) being written in that regard), I might think that he is liable for one (offering) alone; it is, therefore, (to negate this), written (Vayikra 5:5): "for one," to impose liability for each one. ⁶6) How so? (in the instance of an oath of pronouncement) (If one said:) I swear that I will not eat a wheat loaf and a barley loaf and a spelt loaf and he did eat them, whence is it derived that he is liable for each one, etc. ⁷7) (If one said:) I swear that I will not drink, wine and oil and honey, etc.