Bava Batra 205:1

אין נמדדין עמה פחות מכאן נמדדין עמה

these are not measured with it.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., their redemption price is not the higher one given, according to Leviticus, for an 'inherited' field. Only their actual price has to be paid, as for a 'purchased' field. V. ibid. XXVII, 22. ');">¹</span> [If they are] less than this, they are to be measured with it.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' 'Ar. 25a. ');">²</span> Now, why [should they<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The clefts and rocks deeper and higher respectively than ten handbreadths. ');">³</span>

ואמאי לקדשו באנפי נפשייהו וכי תימא כיון דלא הוי בית כור לא קדשי

not be measured with it]? Let them<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' If they are not regarded as part of the field. ');">⁴</span> [at least], be [treated as if they had been] consecrated separately!<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' And be redeemed at the higher rate of an 'inherited' field. ');">⁵</span> And if you will suggest [that] since they do not contain a [full] <i>beth kor</i> they cannot become consecrated,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., they cannot be treated like an 'inherited' field, with reference to which a homer is expressly mentioned. ');">⁶</span>

והא תניא שדה מה ת"ל לפי שנאמר (ויקרא כז, טז) זרע חומר שעורים בחמשים שקל כסף אין לי אלא שהקדיש בענין הזה

surely it has been taught: Why is it expressly said, [the] field!<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lev. XXVII, 19. Cf. however Rashi, 'Ar. 25a. ');">⁷</span> — Because, since it was said, the sowing of a <i>homer</i> of barley shall be valued at fifty <i>shekels</i> of silver,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ibid. 26. ');">⁸</span> one might infer only a similar consecration;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., a complete homer (beth kor). ');">⁹</span>

מנין לרבות לתך וחצי לתך סאה תרקב וחצי תרקב ת"ל שדה מכל מקום

whence [however, may it be inferred that] a lethek,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Half a kor. ');">¹⁰</span> half a lethek, a <i>se'ah</i>,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. Glos. ');">¹¹</span> a <i>tarkab</i><span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. Glos. ');">¹²</span>

אמר רב עוקבא בר חמא הכא בנקעים מלאים מים עסקינן דלאו בני זריעה נינהו דיקא נמי דקתני דומיא דסלעים שמע מינה

and half a <i>tarkab</i> are also included [in this law]? [For this reason] it has been expressly stated, [the] field, [which implies consecration in any manner.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Even small areas. ');">¹³</span> [Why, then, could not the clefts or the rocks be consecrated separately?] R. Ukba b. Hama replied: Here is a case of clefts full of water in which no sowing is possible. This may also be proved by deduction, for [the clefts] were mentioned in an analogous position to that of rocks.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' And sowing in rocks is impossible. ');">¹⁴</span> This proves it. If so,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' That the reason why clefts and rocks are excluded is on account of their unsuitability for sowing. ');">¹⁵</span>

אי הכי אפי' פחות מכאן נמי הנהו נגאני דארעא מיקרו שדרי דארעא מיקרו

even [if they are] less than [ten handbreadths they should] also [not be measured with the field]! These<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Those which are of less than ten handbreadths. ');">¹⁶</span> are called small clefts of the earth [and] the spines of the earth.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Clefts and rocks which are respectively less than ten handbreadths in depth and height are treated as part of the field. A field cannot be expected to be absolutely level. ');">¹⁷</span> What [is the law] here?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' In the case of a sale, dealt with in our Mishnah, are the clefts excluded only when they are full of water? ');">¹⁸</span>

הכא מאי אמר רב פפא אע"פ שאין מלאים מים מאי טעמא אין אדם רוצה שיתן מעותיו במקום אחד ויראו לו כשנים ושלשה מקומות

— R. Papa said: Even though they are not full of water. What is the reason? — A person does not wish to invest his money in one plot which has the appearance of two or three plots.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The clefts and the rocks break up the unity of the field and this involves more labour in ploughing, sowing and harvesting. ');">¹⁹</span> Rabina raised an objection: Surely, [the clefts] were mentioned in an analogous position to that of the rocks; as the rocks [are excluded] because they are unsuitable for sowing so these also [should be excluded only] when unsuitable for sowing? — The similarity to rocks refers to [the case where they are] less<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The Mishnah, in its second clause, teaches that in such a case they are included in the field even though they are full of water and are unsuitable for sowing as the rocks. The first clause, however, as R. Papa said, excludes clefts of ten handbreadths deep even though they are not full of water. ');">²⁰</span> than [ten handbreadths].

מתקיף לה רבינא והא דומיא דסלעים קתני מה סלעים דלאו בני זריעה נינהו אף הני נמי דלאו בני זריעה נינהו כי קתני דומיא דסלעים אפחות מכאן:

R. Isaac said: The rocks<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Or clefts, of less than ten handbreadths. ');">²¹</span> which have been spoken of<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' In our Mishnah which authorizes their inclusion in the measuring of the field. ');">²²</span> [must not together cover more than an] area [requiring] four <i>kab</i> [of seed].<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' And in proportion, if the area sold is smaller or bigger. ');">²³</span>

(פחות מכאן נמדדין עמה): אמר ר' יצחק טרשים שאמרו בית ארבעת קבין אמר רב עוקבא בר חמא והוא שמובלעין בחמשת קבין רב חייא בר אבא אמר רבי יוחנן והוא שמובלעין ברובה של שדה

R. 'Ukba b. Hama said: And this, only when they<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The four kab of rocks or clefts. ');">²⁴</span> are distributed over [an area which requires not less than] five <i>kab</i> [of seed].<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' But if their distribution is over a smaller area, they are regarded as one big ravine or rock, and are excluded from the measurements of the field. ');">²⁵</span> R. Hiyya b. Abba said in the name of R. Johanan: This, only when they<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The four kab of rocks or clefts. ');">²⁴</span>

בעי רב חייא בר אבא רובן במעוטה ומעוטן ברובה מהו תיקו

are distributed over the greater part of the field.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Contrary to the opinion of R. 'Ukba, it is not enough for the clefts and rocks to be distributed over an area of five kab. If they are distributed over an area which does not represent the greater part of the field they are regarded as one big ravine or rock which is not to be included in the land sold. ');">²⁶</span> R. Hiyya b. Abba inquired: [What is the law if] the greater part of them<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Of the four kab of clefts and rocks. ');">²⁷</span> is [scattered] over its<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The field's. ');">²⁸</span>

בעי רבי ירמיה

smaller part, and the smaller part of them<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Of the four kab of clefts and rocks. ');">²⁷</span> over its<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The field's. ');">²⁸</span> greater part? — The matter is undecided?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' v. Glos. s.v. Teko. ');">²⁹</span> R. Jeremiah inquired: