Talmud for Gittin 120:17

מצודות חיה ועופות ודגי' יש בהן וכו': באוזלי ואוהרי

which at first was in the house of Rab Judah and later in that of Rabbah and then in the house of R. Joseph and then in the house of Abaye and finally in the house of Raba? — The real reason is, so as not to excite suspicion.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lest, if people come into the room where they have been used to see the 'erub and miss it, they will think that the residents of the court have neglected to make an 'erub. ');">¹⁷</span> THE PIT WHICH IS NEAREST THE HEAD OF THE WATERCOURSE. It has been stated: ['Where fields] adjoin a river, Rab says that the owners lower down have the right to draw off water first, while Samuel says that the owners higher up have the right to draw off water first. So long as the water is allowed to flow, both agree that no problem arises.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' All having an equal right to draw at any time. ');">¹⁸</span> Where they differ is on the question of damming for the purpose of watering. Samuel says that those above can draw off water first, for they can say 'We are nearer to the source', while Rab holds that those below can draw off first, for they can say 'The river should be allowed to take its natural course'.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Till they have drawn off the water they require. ');">¹⁹</span> 'We have learnt: THE PIT WHICH IS NEAREST TO THE HEAD OF THE WATERCOURSE MAY BE FILLED FROM IT FIRST, IN THE INTERESTS OF PEACE!<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Which seems to support the opinion of Samuel. ');">²⁰</span> — Samuel explained this on behalf of Rab to refer to a watercourse which passes close to a man's pit.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' So that he could fill it without damming. ');">²¹</span> If so, what is the point of the remark? — You might think that the others can say to him, 'Close up the mouth of your pit so as to take in water only in due proportion'; we are therefore told [that this is not so]. R. Huna b. Tahalifa said: Seeing that the law has not been determined one way or the other, each must fend for himself.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'Whoever is stronger (whether by argument or force) prevails.' V. B.B. 34b. ');">²²</span> R. Shimi b. Ashi presented himself before Abaye with a request that he should give him lessons.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'let the Master allow' me to sit for awhile.' ');">²³</span> He replied: I use my time for my own studies. Then, he said, would your honour teach me at night. He said: I have to do some irrigation. Said the other: I will irrigate for your honour by day, and do you teach me by night. Very well, he said. So he went to the people higher up and said to them: The people lower down have the right to draw water first. Then he went to those lower down and said, The people higher up have the right to draw water first. Meanwhile he had dammed the watercourse and irrigated Abaye's fields. 'When he presented himself before Abaye, the latter said to him: You have acted on my behalf according to two contradictory authorities;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Rab and Samuel. ');">²⁴</span> and Abaye would not taste of the produce of that year. Certain peasants in Be Harmah<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' [Near Pumbeditha. v. Aruch, s.v. [H], in name of Hai Gaon.] ');">²⁵</span> went and dug a trench from the upper waters of the canal Shanwatha and brought it round [their fields] to the lower waters. Those higher up came and complained to Abaye, saying, They are spoiling our river.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Owing to its longer course, the current of the river was now slower, and the waters above the trench were not carried off and overflowed the adjoining fields. ');">²⁶</span> He said to them: Deepen the bed a little [before it reaches them]. They said to him: If we do this, our trenches will be dry.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' If there was not much water, the level of the river would fall and it would not flow into the trenches. ');">²⁷</span> He then said to the first set: Leave the river alone.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'depart from there.' ');">²⁸</span> [THE TAKING OF] BEASTS, BIRDS AND FISHES. If loose or close nets are used,

Jerusalem Talmud Megillah