“Both the qualified noun and the adjective may be omitted when they are understood; but omission is less common with the adjective.”
Thus, the intended wording is: “If she finds the lawful bridal gift defective.” What is meant by a defect is that which diminishes the value of the item sold. If she finds it defective, she is given a choice between two options: its deficiency compensation or its value. The deficiency compensation is the difference between its value when defective and its value when sound.
If he gives her a camel as her bridal gift and she then finds that it is lame, we say: you have the choice. If you wish, you may take its value; and if you wish, you may take the deficiency compensation. She takes its value if she returns it to her husband; but if she keeps it, she is entitled to the deficiency compensation. Thus, it may be said: this camel, if sound, would be worth one hundred, but defective it is worth eighty; so she is given twenty. This is apparent, because she accepted it on the basis that it was sound, but it proved defective, and so she is given compensation for the diminution. This applies when it is an item whose value is assessed individually.
The correct view is that she has no option of taking the deficiency compensation. Rather, it is said: either take it defective, or return it and be given a replacement, because deficiency compensation is, in reality, a new contract. How, then, can we bind the other party to it? This is as we stated concerning a sale.
But if it is a fungible item, she is given its equivalent. For example, if he gives her one hundred measures of wheat as her bridal gift, and she receives it assuming that it is sound, then finds it infested, she is given one hundred sound measures, because it is a fungible item. If it is held that an animal is fungible—and this is the correct view—then she is given the equivalent of the camel.
His statement: “If he marries her on the basis of one thousand for her and one thousand for her father, the specification is valid”: for example, a man marries a woman on the basis of two thousand: one thousand for her and one thousand for her father. Another woman has her brother as her guardian, and a man marries her on the basis of one thousand for her and one thousand for her brother.