Eruvin 116

אבל חוט המשקולת יורד כנגדו מודדו מדידה יפה

but if it does descend in a straight line<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., if the sides of the glen are practically perpendicular (as will be defined infra) so that they cannot be used at all for walking purposes.');">¹</span> the bottom of the glen is measured by the ordinary method.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'a proper measurement'.');">²</span> What may be the depth of a glen?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' That is spanned if it is not wider than fifty cubits.');">³</span>

וכמה עומקו של גיא אמר רב יוסף אלפים

- R'Joseph replied: Two thousand cubits. Abaye raised an objection against him: [If a glen was] a hundred cubits deep and fifty cubits wide one may span it, otherwise one may not! - He holds the view of 'Others',<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' With a capital O, sc. R. Meir (cf. Hor. 13b) .');">⁴</span> it having been taught: Others rule: Even though a glen was two thousand cubits deep but only fifty cubits wide one may span it.

איתיביה אביי עמוק ק' ורוחב נ' מבליעו ואם לאו אין מבליעו הוא דאמר כאחרים דתניא אחרים אומרים אפילו עמוק אלפים ורוחב נ' מבליעו

Some there are who read: R'Joseph replied: Even if it was deeper than two thousand cubits. In agreement with whose view is this ruling? Is it neither in agreement with that of the first Tanna<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Who limits the depth to one hundred cubits.');">⁵</span>

איכא דאמרי אמר רב יוסף אפילו יתר מאלפים כמאן דלא כת"ק ולא כאחרים

nor with that of the 'Others'?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' R. Meir who allows a depth of two thousand cubits but no more.');">⁶</span> - There<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The case in dispute between the first Tanna and others.');">⁷</span> it is a case where the plumb line does not descend in a straight line<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' As the slopes of the glen, to a limited extent at least, can be used for walking on, its depth was restricted.');">⁸</span>

התם שאין חוט המשקולת יורד כנגדו הכא בחוט המשקולת יורד כנגדו

but here it is one where it does descend in a straight line.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The sides of the glen being absolutely unsuitable for walking, its depth, however great, is of no consequence.');">⁹</span> Where the plumb line does not descend in a straight line how much [deviation]<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' At the bed of the glen in relation to the edge thereof.');">¹⁰</span> is allowed? - Abimi replied: Up to four cubits; and so learned Rami B'Ezekiel: Up to four cubits.

וכי אין חוט המשקולת יורד כנגדו עד כמה אמר אבימי ד' וכן תני רמי בר יחזקאל ד':

IF HE REACHED A HILL HE SPANS IT AND RESUMES HIS MEASURING. Raba explained: This<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' That the method of spanning or piercing is allowed.');">¹¹</span> was learnt only in respect of a hill that has a rise of ten handbreadths to a gradient of four cubits,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. Rashi a.I.');">¹²</span>

הגיע להר מבליעו וחוזר למידתו: אמר רבא לא שנו אלא בהר המתלקט י' מתוך ד' אבל בהר המתלקט י' מתוך ה' מודדו מדידה יפה

but a hill that has a rise of ten handbreadths to five cubits must be measured in the usual manner.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Such a gentle slope is deemed to be on a par with level ground which may not be measured either by spanning or by piercing.');">¹³</span> R'Huna son of R'Nathan taught this<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Raba's view just enunciated.');">¹⁴</span> in the direction of leniency: Raba explained.

רב הונא בריה דרב נתן מתני לקולא אמר רבא לא שנו אלא בהר המתלקט עשרה מתוך חמש אבל בהר המתלקט עשרה מתוך ד' אומדו והולך לו:

This<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' That the method of spanning or piercing is allowed.');">¹⁵</span> was learnt only in respect of a hill that has a rise often handbreadths to a gradient of five cubits,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Since it is not level ground one of the methods of spanning or piercing may be adopted.');">¹⁶</span> but a hill that has a rise of ten handbreadths to a gradient of four cubits<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Being too steep and hardly suitable for walking.');">¹⁷</span>

ובלבד שלא יצא חוץ לתחום: מאי טעמא אמר רב כהנא גזירה שמא יאמרו מדת תחומין באה לכאן:

one need only estimate its base and proceed with his measuring. PROVIDED HE DOES NOT GO BEYOND THE SABBATH LIMIT.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Cf. relevant notes in our Mishnah, and diagram ibid.');">¹⁸</span> What is the reason? - R'Kahana replied: This was ordained as a preventive measure against the possible assumption that the Sabbath limit reached to that point.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Beyond the permitted limit. In the absence of the preventive measure people might desecrate the Sabbath by walking as far as that point, believing it to be within the Sabbath limit of their town.');">¹⁹</span>

אם אינו יכול להבליעו: תנו רבנן כיצד מקדרין תחתון כנגד לבו עליון כנגד מרגלותיו אמר אביי נקיטינן אין מקדרין אלא בחבל של ארבע אמות

IF HE IS UNABle TO SPAN IT. Our Rabbis taught: How is the method of piercing carried out? The man on the lower level holds his end of the rope on a level with his heart while the man on the higher level holds his end on a level with his feet.

אמר ר"נ אמר רבה בר אבוה נקיטינן אין מקדרין לא בעגלה ערופה ולא בערי מקלט מפני שהן של תורה:

Abaye stated: We have it as a tradition that piercing may be effected only with a rope of the length of four cubits. R'Nahman citing Rabbah B'Abbuha stated:<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Cur. edd. in parenthesis, 'we have a tradition'.');">²⁰</span> The method of piercing must not be employed in measurements in connection with the broken-necked heifer<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Supra 35b q.v. notes.');">²¹</span>

<big><strong>מתני׳</strong></big> אין מודדין אלא מן המומחה ריבה למקום א' ומיעט למקום אחר שומעין למקום שריבה ריבה לאחד ומיעט לאחד שומעין למרובה

nor in those around the cities of refuge.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Supra 35b q.v. notes.');">²¹</span> because these are ordinances of the Torah.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Which require exact measurements. No estimates or approximate calculations being allowed, slopes of hills or dales must be carefully measured cubit by cubit as level ground. vjnunv in vjn iht vjnun');">²²</span> <big><b>MISHNAH: </b></big>[THE SABBATH LIMIT OF A TOWN] IS MEASURED ONLY ALONG THE BEATEN TRACK.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Reading , the noun being derived from rt. 'to strike' (R. Han. Cf. Tosaf. s.v. a.l.) . Var. lec. 'expert', 'skilled d" v="" surveyor'="" (cf.="" rashi="" s.v.="" a.l.)="" .');"="">²³</span>

ואפילו עבד אפילו שפחה נאמנין לומר עד כאן תחום שבת שלא אמרו חכמים את הדבר להחמיר אלא להקל:

IF ONE EXTENDED THE LIMIT AT ONE POINT MORE THAN AT ANOTHER,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'and reduced towards another place'.');">²⁴</span> THE EXTENDED LIMIT IS OBSERVED.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'hear', sc. the lesser limit is extended to the length of the greater one. As the measuring rope must be stretched to its utmost capacity so as to cover the maximum length possible it is assumed that the deficiency in the lesser limit is due to all insufficient stretching of the rope.');">²⁵</span> IF THERE WAS A GREATER DISTANCE FOR ONE AND A LESSER DISTANCE FOR ANOTHER,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' This is explained in the Gemara infra.');">²⁶</span> THE GREATER DISTANCE IS OBSERVED. FURTHERMORE, EVEN A BONDMAN AND EVEN A BONDWOMAN ARE BELIEVED WHEN THEY SAY, THUS FAR IS THE SABBATH LIMIT', SINCE THE SAGES DID NOT ENACT THE LAW<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Of Sabbath limits.');">²⁷</span> IN ORDER TO ADD RESTRICTIONS BUT IN ORDER TO RELAX THEM.