What are the implications of the (otherwise superfluous) phrase "ve'Im Lo Karov Achicha Eilecha"?
Ramban #1: It implies that if he lives far away - in another land, you are not obligated to take it to him there. 1
Ramban #2 (citing the Sifri): It means that even if he lives far away - in another town, you must take the article into your house until he comes to seek it. 2
Targum Yonasan: It means 'if you are not on good terms with your brother'. 3
Oznayim la'Torah: In effect, the Torah is teaching us two things here: 1. If you know the identity of the owner but he lives far way, you are not obligated to take the article to him; 2. If you don't know who the owner is, you are obligated to take the article into your house until he comes to look for it.
What are the implications of the words "va'Asafto el Toch Beisecha"?
What are the implications of the words "ve'Hayah Imcha"?
Targum Yonasan: It implies that the finder is obligated to feed the animal until the owner comes to retrieve it. 1
What does the Pasuk mean when it writes "Ad D'rosh Achicha oso"? It is obvious that one cannot return the article before the owner comes to search for it?
Rashi: It means that when the owner comes for his article, question him - demand Simanim to make sure that he is not a swindler. 1
Bava Metzi'a, 28b: It implies that if the claimant names the article without giving Simanim, one may not give him the article, and if he is is clearly a swindler, even if he does give Simanim. 2
Why does the Torah add the (otherwise superfluous) words "va'Hashevoso lo"?
Rashi: To teach us that the finder must make sure that the owner benefits from the return of his article - that he should not keep his animal for so long, that the cost of feeding it, 1 which he charges to the owner, amounts to the value of the animal. 2
Sanhedrin, 73a: To incorporate returing the person - if he is drowning or if people are planning to harm him. 3
