Bava Batra 203

מצא שלשה אם יש ביניהן מארבע עד שמונה הרי זו שכונת קברות ובודק ממנו ולהלן עשרים אמה מצא אחד בסוף עשרים אמה בודק ממנו ולהלן כ' אמה שרגלים לדבר שאילו מתחלה מצאו נוטלו ואת תפוסתו

If three [corpses] were [similarly] found, [then], if [the distance] between them<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Between the first and the third. ');">¹</span> is from four, to eight [cubits], the area] is [to be considered] a grave-yard;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' According to this Tanna, a grotto which forms part of a family grave contains an area of four by eight cubits. If the three corpses were found within four cubits, it is assumed that the wide side of such a grotto had been found. If within eight cubits, the long side of such a grotto is assumed to have been discovered. In either case, the discovery points to the existence of a family grave in that area which is, therefore, to be regarded as a grave. yard, the extent of which must be ascertained. ');">²</span> and a search<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' To ascertain whether any other graves are to be found in the vicinity, and to determine the extent of the area that is henceforward to be regarded as Levitically unclean. ');">³</span>

אמר מר מארבע ועד שמונה מני אי רבנן הא אמרי ד' אמות על שש אי ר' שמעון הא אמר שש על שמונה

must [also] be made [over a distance of] twenty cubits,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., the approximate length of the court (six cubits) and of the two grottos that open out from its opposite sides (eight cubits each, according to the Tanna.) The actual length is, of course, twenty two cubits and the discrepancy is discussed in the Gemara. ');">⁴</span> from that spot onwards. [If] at the end of twenty cubits a corpse is found, a search of [another] twenty cubits from that spot onwards must be made; for there is reasonable ground<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'feet' on which to stand. ');">⁵</span> for the assumption<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Since one group of graves had already been discovered within twenty cubits. ');">⁶</span>

לעולם ר' שמעון היא והאי תנא הוא דתניא מצאן רצופין ואין ביניהן מד' אמות עד ח' יש להן תפוסה ואין להן שכונת קברות רבי שמעון בן יהודה אומר משום ר' שמעון רואין את האמצעיים כאילו אינן והשאר מצטרפין מד' אמות ועד ח'

[that even the single grave is an indication of the existence there of other graves]; although if [the single corpse] had been found first<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Before the other three corpses, without any further search having had to be made. ');">⁷</span> it should have been removed together with the earth surrounding it.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V, supra n. 1. ');">⁸</span> The Master stated, 'from four to eight cubits'.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' That a spot to be regarded as a graveyard must contain three corpses within four to eight cubits. ');">⁹</span>

במאי אוקימתא כר' שמעון אימא סיפא בודק הימנו ולהלן עשרים אמה מני אי ר"ש עשרים ותרתין הויין אי רבנן תמני סרי הויין

According to whom [is this Mishnah]? If according to the Rabbis, surely they said [that the area of a grotto is to be] four cubits by six? If according to R. Simeon, surely he said [that the grotto must contain an area of] six [cubits] by eight? — [This Mishnah] is, in fact, [in agreement with] R. Simeon; but it is [in accordance with the version of R. Simeon's view as reported by] the following Tanna. For it has been taught: 'If they<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., the corpses. ');">¹⁰</span> were found close to one another, and there was not a distance of four to eight cubits between them, the earth surrounding their bodies belongs to them but they do not constitute the ground as a graveyard. R. Simeon b. Judah said in the name of R. Simeon: The intervening ones are regarded as if they did not exist and the rest are combined,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' To constitute the ground as a graveyard. ');">¹¹</span> [if the distance is] from four to eight cubits'.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' This author [it is who] is of the opinion that according to R. Simeon these are the dimensions. ');">¹²</span>

לעולם רבנן היא וכגון דבדק באלכסונא

Since this<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Tho Mishnah of Ohaloth mentioned. ');">¹³</span> has been assumed to be in accordance with R. Simeon, explain the final clause [which reads]: A search must [also] be made [over a distance of] twenty cubits from that spot onwards. According to whom [is this]? If according to R. Simeon, [the distance] should be twenty-two;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The length of the court is six cubits, and the length of each of the two grottos is eight cubits. ');">¹⁴</span> if according to the Rabbis,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Though the first clause will still be according to R. Simeon. ');">¹⁵</span>

ומדהא באלכסונא הא נמי באלכסונא עשרים ותרתי הויין חדא באלכסונא אמרינן תרי באלכסון לא אמרינן

it should be eighteen?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The length of each grotto is six cubits and that of the court also six. ');">¹⁶</span> It may, in fact, be according to the Rabbis but there is a possibility that he made the search diagonally.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Though the length of the grotto is only six cubits, the diagonal of the area of the graves (the sepulchral chambers) thus searched would be longer. The diagonal of four, (respective lengths of chambers), by six, (length of grotto wall), is more than seven cubits in length √(42 + 62) = √52, say roughly eight cubits. Add length of court (six cubits) and length of corresponding grotto (six cubits) and the total obtained is roughly twenty. ');">¹⁷</span> But since the one [grotto is assumed to be searched] diagonally, the other also [should be assumed to be searched] diagonally [and, consequently, the distance] should be twenty-two [cubits]?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Eight for the diagonal of each grotto and six for the court. ');">¹⁸</span> — One diagonal [search] is expected; two diagonal [searches] are not.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Since no corpses were found in the first. ');">¹⁹</span>