Review Mishna דף לט and the Gemara until דף לט: “מתיב רב ששת (third line from top of the Amud)
Question:
Can the prohibition of doing commerce with fruits of shmitta be circumvented with selling the fruits בהבלעה?
See שפת אמת “וליתיב
Learn תוספות “שאין
And תוספות “יותר
See פני יהושע and שפת אמת who have big dispute whether the extra money paid for the Esrog sold for a mitzvah more than the cost of the Esrog if we’re to be sold as a fruit has kedushas shviis
Learn תוספות “מעות
Continue learning the Gemara דף לט”: “מתיב רב ששת until “אי הכי לולב נמי ”
Learn תוספות “בד”א
Question:
In conclusion of the Gemara would it be permissable to purchase an Esrog during shmita year from an Am Haaretz for less than the price of 3 meals?
Learn רמב״ם הלכות שמיטה ח:י-יב
https://hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=58962&st=&pgnum=242
Take note how the Rambam defines פירות משומר
See מהר”י קורקוס on the side of the Rambam
Questions:
The Rambam introduces the prohibition of purchasing fruits during shmita from an Am Haaretz with the prohibition of doing business or guarding fruits during shmita year.
How are these prohibitions connected?
If one is prohibited from purchasing any fruit that is normally guarded from an Am Haaretz as we are concerned he will not be careful to use the money with kedushas sheviis so why is it permissible to purchase a wild growing herb from him, we should have the same concern regarding what he will do with the money from the sale?