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How can a shevuah be chal on eating chatzi shiur if it's already forbidden? The Gemara (גמרא) distinguishes between derabanan and de'orayta prohibitions. The Rambam (רמב"ם) and Meiri offer fundamental approaches to understanding shevuot: the Meiri distinguishes between intrinsic issurim and harchakah, while the Rambam treats shevuot as declaratory statements rather than commitments.
The shiur analyzes a fundamental question in the laws of shevuot bitui (oaths of utterance): when can a shevuah take effect on an action that is already forbidden? The Gemara (גמרא) on Yoma 73b-74a discusses whether one can be chayav a korban shevuah for swearing not to eat neveilot and treifot, forbidden foods, or for swearing not to eat chatzi shiur (less than the minimum prohibited measure). The basic principle is that a shevuah requires the action to be l'hara'ah l'heitiv—purely optional. The Gemara presents two answers: Rav Yochanan holds the shevuah is only chal if formulated b'kollel (including permitted items); Reish Lakish says it's chal on chatzi shiur which is forbidden only miderabanan. The Gemara then questions this from shevuat eidut regarding a pasul witness miderabanan, and answers that there it lacks practical benefit.
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Yoma 73b-74a
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