Midrash for Bava Kamma 121:16
מאן דאמר מקום שמי גשמים שוללין שם כ"ש אמת המים ומאן דאמר אמת המים אבל מקום שמי גשמים שוללין שם לא מפסקי דהנהו
to the banks. The one who says that it means a [low-lying] place where rain water collects would certainly apply the ruling to a pond of water,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' As this is of a more permanent nature. ');"><sup>24</sup></span> but the one who says that it means a pond of water would on the other hand maintain that [low-lying] places where rain-water collects would not cause a division, as these
Mekhilta d'Rabbi Yishmael
"If fire go out and it find thorns": "thorns" are mentioned only to assign a limit (for his liability). If thorns are present (and carry the fire), there is a limit (for his liability). If they are not present (and he lights it directly) there is no limit. From here they ruled: If it crossed a river or a (public) way or a fence ten cubits high and caused damage, he is not liable. How is he perceived? He is perceived as standing in the midst of a beth-kor and damaging, (liability obtaining up to about 137 cubits on all sides.) R. Eliezer says: Sixteen cubits, as (the distance of) the public way. R. Akiva says: Fifty cubits. R. Shimon says: "Pay shall he pay, he that lights the fire" — all according to the fire (i.e., according to the height of the fire and its mass. The bigger it is, the farther it travels.) It once happened that a fire crossed the Jordan and caused damage because of its mass. When is this so? When it moves in spurts; but when it moves contiguously, even up to a mil, he is liable.
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