Midrash for Shabbat 37:10
אמר רבן שמעון בן גמליאל נוהגין היו וכו': תניא א"ר צדוק כך היה מנהגו של בית רבן גמליאל שהיו נותנין כלי לבן לכובס ג' ימים קודם לשבת וצבועים אפילו בע"ש ומדבריהם למדנו שהלבנים קשים לכבסן יותר מן הצבועין
it is permitted even on the eve of Sabbath.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Being such a short distance. ');"><sup>19</sup></span> Our Rabbis taught: Gentile cities must not be besieged less than three days before the Sabbath, yet once they commence they need not leave off. And thus did Shammai say: until until it fall,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Deut. XX, 20. The reference is to a besieged city. ');"><sup>20</sup></span>
Sifrei Devarim
"many days": "days" — two; "many" — three. We are hereby taught that peace is offered for two days, and a third day for the battle. And even though there is no proof for this, there is an intimation of it in (I Samuel 30:1) "And David and his men came to Tziklag on the third day." Variantly: From here it is derived that gentile cities are not besieged fewer than three days before the Sabbath, (so that the siege not extend into the Sabbath); but if the siege began, it is not interrupted. And a sea voyage is not begun fewer than three days before the Sabbath. When is this so? For a long voyage, but for a short one, it is permissible.
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Sifrei Devarim
(We are hereby taught that peace is offered for two days, and a third day before the battle. And so it states: (I Samuel 30:1) "And David Remained in Tziklag for two days." And gentile cities are not besieged fewer than three days before the Sabbath, (so that the siege not extend into the Sabbath); but if the siege began, it is not interrupted. This is one of three lessons taught by Shammai the Elder: A sea voyage is not begun fewer than three days before the Sabbath. When is this so? For a long voyage, but for a short one, it is permissible.)
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