Shevuot 4: The Value of Things and People

The rabbis continue to apply the suggestions of our last Mishna.  How do we know how many lashes are administered for different transgressions?  We are reminded of types of crimes that are not punishable by lashes, including crimes punishable by the death penalty - like all transgressions of Shabbat.  

We learn that one cannot use anything (which means anything worth at least five shekalim) to redeem a firstborn son, except for documents.  The Sages suggest that slaves and land could also be used to this end.  It is notable that the reason for thinking of slaves in this context is because slaves are owned, just like land is owned.  Further, documents are truly only paper and thus have very little worth.

The rabbis discuss what could be included or excluded from this list.  Part of that discussion includes the tools that might be used to mark a slave's ear when s/he wishes to stay with her/his owner beyond the seven year limit.