A farmer harvests grain intending to sell it, completes all preparation work, then changes his mind and decides to eat it himself. According to Rambam, what is his obligation?
Since he was not obligated at the moment of completion (his intent was to sell), no Scriptural obligation was created. Changing his mind afterwards does not retroactively trigger the Torah obligation, but Rabbinic decree still requires him to tithe.
Question 2
A buyer purchases grain after the seller has already completed all preparation work. According to Rambam, what is the buyer's obligation?
The Torah says 'the produce of YOUR crops' — implying crops you prepared yourself. Since the seller completed the work, the buyer is only Rabbinically obligated. Had the buyer completed the preparation himself, he would be Scripturally obligated.
Question 3
According to Halachah 5, at what stage must olives be tithed?
For olives, the phase of tithing is reached when they have produced one-ninth of the oil they will eventually yield when fully ripe. Rambam notes this equals one-third of their overall growth — consistent with the general rule for reaching the phase of tithing.
Question 4
A person mixes 3 measures of water into wine dregs and filters the mixture, obtaining 4 measures of liquid with the flavor of wine. What must he do?
Since he put in 3 measures and received 4, the extra measure is considered wine and must be tithed. He does not separate terumah because terumah was already separated for the entire amount. If he had received less than 4 measures (no net gain of a quarter), he would be fully exempt.
Question 5
Produce reached the 'phase of tithing' while it was in the possession of the Temple treasurer (i.e., while consecrated). The owner then redeems it. Is the redeemed produce obligated in tithes?
The moment the tithe obligation took hold, the produce was consecrated — and consecrated property is exempt from tithes. Since no obligation attached at that moment, redeeming the produce afterwards does not create a new obligation. This contrasts with produce consecrated before the phase of tithing, which becomes obligated upon redemption.