Commentary for Shabbat 39:7

עץ יחידי רב אמר רוב עביו ואמרי לה ברוב היקפו אמר רב פפא הלכך בעינן רוב עביו ובעינן רוב היקפו כתנאי ר' חייא אמר כדי שישחת העץ ממלאכת האומן רבי יהודה בן בתירא אומר כדי שתאחז האש משני צדדין ואע"פ שאין ראיה לדבר זכר לדבר (יחזקאל טו, ד) את שני קצותיו אכלה האש ותוכו נחר היצלח למלאכה:

R. Hiyya taught [a Baraitha which affords] support to Samuel: That the flame should ascend of its own accord, and not with the help of something else.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. infra 21a (p. 89). But Rashi observes that its author there is Hama b. Hama, and further that it is not a Baraitha, and so he mentions that other scholars relate it immediately to this Mishnah, whereof it is an explanation. ');">¹⁸</span> As to a single <i>log</i>, Rab said: The greater part of its thickness;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The fire must take hold of the greater part of its thickness before the Sabbath. ');">¹⁹</span> while others state, The greater part of its circumference. R. Papa observed: Therefore we require the greater part of both its thickness and its circumference. This is a controversy of Tannaim: R. Hiyya said: That the <i>log</i> may be rendered unfit for an artisan's work;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., the fire must take hold of the greater part of its thickness. ');">²⁰</span>

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