Commentary for Sanhedrin 34:1

ומה נחש שממית ומרבה טומאה טהור שרץ שאינו ממית ומרבה טומאה אינו דין שיהא טהור ולא היא מידי דהוה אקוץ בעלמא

If a snake which causes so much uncleanness through killing is clean,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' As it is not included in the list of unclean creatures in Scripture; ibid.: and its dead carcase does not defile. ');">¹</span> should not a reptile, which does not kill and spread uncleanness, be clean?' But it is not so, [as is proved] by comparison with an ordinary thorn.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' For a thorn-prick also causes death, and so spreads uncleanness, yet it cannot be regarded by anyone as otherwise than clean. ');">²</span> Rab Judah said in Rab's name: A Sanhedrin must not be established in a city which does not contain [at least] two who can speak [the seventy languages] and one who understands them. In the city of Bethar there were three and in Jabneh four [who knew how to speak them]: [viz.,] R. Eliezer, R. Joshua. R. Akiba, and Simeon the Temanite, who used to discuss before them sitting on the ground.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Because he was as yet unqualified owing to his immaturity, yet he was allowed to take part in the discussion. ');">³</span> An objection is raised: A Sanhedrin that has three<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' [Lit. 'of three', v. Yad. Ramah.] ');">⁴</span>

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