GEMARA: It was taught in the mishna that all substitutes for the language of vows are like vows, substitutes for the language of dedications are like dedications, substitutes for the language of oaths are like oaths, and substitutes for the language of nazirite vows are like nazirite vows. The Gemara asks: What is different with regard to the first mishna of tractate Nazir that it does not teach all of them, i.e., all of the cases listed above besides nazirite vows, and what is different with regard to the first mishna of tractate Nedarim that it teaches all of them and not merely the case of vows, which is the subject directly relevant to this tractate?

The Gemara answers that due to the fact that vows and oaths are written next to each other in the Torah in the verse: “When a man takes a vow to the Lord, or swears an oath” (Numbers 30:3), the mishna teaches these two cases, i.e., substitutes for the language of vows and oaths. And since it taught two of the cases, it taught all of them.

The Gemara asks: If so, let the mishna teach the halakha with regard to substitutes for the language of oaths immediately after the case of substitutes for the language of vows. The Gemara answers: Since it taught the case of vows, whereby an object becomes forbidden to one, it taught also the case of dedications, whereby an object becomes forbidden to one. This is to the exclusion of an oath, whereby one prohibits himself from making use of an object. In the case of an oath, unlike a vow or a dedication, one prohibits himself from performing a particular action rather than declaring an object to be forbidden.

§ The Gemara asks a question with regard to the style of the mishna: The mishna began with the case of substitutes when it stated: All substitutes for the language of vows are like vows, and it then immediately explains the halakha with regard to intimations of vows, as the next line addresses a case of one who says to his fellow: I am avowed from you. And furthermore, did the tanna forget to mention intimations of vows? Why doesn’t the mishna state that intimations of vows are considered vows before it gives examples of intimations?

The Gemara answers: The mishna is dealing with them, i.e., intimations of vows, and the text of the mishna is incomplete and is teaching the following: All substitutes for the language of vows are like vows, and intimations of vows are like vows. The mishna then continues by giving examples of intimations of vows.

The Gemara asks: Let the mishna explain the case of substitutes for the language of vows first, i.e., before it gives examples of intimations, just as the basic halakha of substitutes for the language of vows was mentioned first. In fact, it is not until later (10a) that the mishna provides examples of substitutes for the language of vows.

The Gemara answers: The general style of the Mishna is that the subject with which it concludes is the one that it explains first, as in that which we learned in a mishna (Shabbat 20b): With what may one light the Shabbat lamp and with what may one not light it? One may not light with cedar bast, etc. The mishna provides examples of items one may not use to light the Shabbat lamp, which was the concluding phrase of the mishna’s introductory question, rather than beginning with examples of what one may use to light the Shabbat lamp.

Similarly, another mishna (Shabbat 47b) states: In what may one insulate a pot of cooked food on Shabbat eve, and in what may one not insulate it? One may not insulate it, etc. A third example of this style is in the following mishna (Shabbat 57a): With what items may a woman go out into the public domain on Shabbat and with what items may she not go out? A woman may not go out with strings of wool and other adornments that she may take off and carry.

The Gemara challenges this explanation: And is it true that wherever it begins, i.e., whichever topic the mishna mentions first, it does not explain first? But didn’t we learn in a mishna (Bava Batra 108a): There are some relatives who inherit and bequeath, e.g., a father and a son, who inherit property from each other, and there are those who inherit but do not bequeath, e.g., a son and his mother; and these are the ones who inherit and bequeath, etc. This mishna provides examples of the opening line of the introductory statement before providing examples of the concluding line of the introductory statement.

Similarly, another mishna (Yevamot 84a) states: There are some women who are permitted to their husbands and forbidden to their yevamin, i.e., their husband’s brothers if their husbands die childless. These cases include one where the yavam is the High Priest, who is prohibited from marrying a widow. There are other women who are permitted to their yevamin if their husbands die childless but forbidden to their husbands, e.g., if a High Priest betrothed a widow and his brother is a common priest. The mishna immediately provides the details of the first principle: And these are the women who are permitted to their husbands and forbidden to their yevamin.

Similarly, another mishna (Menaḥot 59a) states with regard to meal-offerings: There are some meal-offerings that require oil and frankincense and some that require oil but not frankincense. The mishna continues: And these are the ones that require oil and frankincense. Yet another mishna (Menaḥot 60a) states: There are meal-offerings that require bringing near, a ritual where the priests were required to carry the offering in their hands and bring it near the altar, and they do not require waving; other meal-offerings require waving but not bringing near. And these are the meal-offerings that require bringing near.

Another mishna (Bekhorot 46a) states: There are some who are considered a firstborn with regard to receiving a double portion of inheritance, as they are the firstborn of their fathers, and they are not considered a firstborn with regard to a priest, i.e., with regard to the mitzva of redemption of the firstborn, which applies only to a woman’s firstborn son. There are others who are considered a firstborn with regard to a priest and are not considered a firstborn with regard to inheritance. And who is considered a firstborn with regard to inheritance who is not a firstborn with regard to a priest? In each of these five cases, the mishna first explains the opening portion of its introductory statement and only then explains the second part of its introductory statement.

The Gemara explains: In these cases, because there are many [avshu] categories, the mishna explains the statement with which it began first. However, when there are only two categories, the mishna first provides detail for the latter part of its opening statement.

The Gemara asks: Didn’t the mishna (Shabbat 51b) state: With what may an animal go out into the public domain on Shabbat and with what may it not go out? This is a case that does not have many categories, and yet the mishna teaches: A camel may go out on Shabbat with an afsar, etc., which clarifies the opening portion of the mishna’s introductory statement.