Eruvin 38

שהן כעשר דברי ר"מ ר' יהודה אומר כשלש עשרה אמה וכארבע עשרה אמה

so that the extent<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'which are'.');">¹</span> [of all the cows is] about ten cubits;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The extent of the thickness of one cow being in cubits that of two teams of three cows each amounts to (1 2/3 X 2 X 3 =) ten cubits. The expression 'about' is discussed infra.');">²</span> so R'Meir, but R'Judah said: About thirteen or about fourteen cubits.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' According to R. Judah each team may consist of four cows so that the total extent of their thicknesses amounts to (1 2/3 X 2 X 4 =) thirteen and a third cubits.');">³</span>

כעשר הא עשר הויין משום דבעי למיתנא סיפא כשלש עשרה

'About ten' [you say], but are they not in fact ten exactly?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Cf. supra n. 10.');">⁴</span> As it was desired to state 'about thirteen' in the final clause 'about ten' was stated in the first clause also.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' So Bah. Cur. edd. omit 'about ten was stated . . also'.');">⁵</span> 'About thirteen' [you said] but are there not more? - ['About' was used] because it was desired to state 'about fourteen'.

כשלש עשרה טפי הויין משום דבעי למתני כארבע עשרה וכארבע עשרה הא לא הויא אמר רב פפא יתירות על שלש עשרה ואינן מגיעות לארבע עשרה

But there are not really 'about fourteen', [are there]?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Obviously not. As the number thirteen and a third was said to be 'about thirteen' because it exceeded the latter by one third only, was it proper to describe it also in the same context, as 'about fourteen' which exceeds it by two thirds?');">⁶</span> - R'Papa replied: [The meaning is:] More than thirteen but less than<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'and they do not reach'.');">⁷</span> fourteen.

א"ר פפא בבור שמונה דכ"ע לא פליגי דלא בעינן פשוטין

R'Papa stated: In respect of a cistern that is eight [cubits wide]<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' In which case the length of each side of the space enclosed by the corner-pieces is twelve cubits: Eight cubits (the width of the cistern) plus twice two cubits (the length of the head and the greater part of a cow's body on each side of the cistern) .');">⁸</span> no one disputes the ruling<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'that all the world do not differ', sc. even R. Meir agrees.');">⁹</span> that no single boards are required.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Since the gaps between the corner-pieces that screen the space of one cubit at the extremity of each side do not exceed (12 - 2 =) ten cubits, and may in consequence be regarded as doorways, even according to R. Meir.');">¹⁰</span>

בבור שתים עשרה דכ"ע לא פליגי דבעינן פשוטין

In respect of a cistern that is twelve [cubits wide]<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' So that each side of the enclosure is sixteen cubits wide: Twelve cubits (the width of the cistern) plus twice two (as supra n. 3) .');">¹¹</span> no one disputes the ruling<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Even R. Judah admits.');">¹²</span> that single boards also are required.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Because the distances between the corner-pieces are (16 - 2 =) fourteen cubits and represent gaps which even R. Judah does not allow.');">¹³</span>

כי פליגי משמונה עד שתים עשרה לר' מאיר בעינן פשוטין לר' יהודה לא בעינן פשוטין

They only differ [in the case of a cistern that was] from eight to twelve [cubits in width]. According to R'Meir single boards are required<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' In addition to the corner-pieces.');">¹⁴</span> and according to R'Judah no single boards are required.

ורב פפא מאי קמ"ל תנינא

What [new principle], however, does R'Papa teach us? Did we not learn [what he said] in our Mishnah?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Sc. in accordance with the measurements laid down in the Baraitha just discussed, his statement follows naturally from the respective rulings of R. Meir and R. Judah in our MISHNAH: For as the former allows a space for six oxen, corresponding to a distance of (6 X 1 2/3 =) ten cubits, and the latter allows one for eight oxen, corresponding to a distance of (8 X 1 2/3 =) thirteen and a third cubits, it is obvious that R. Meir does not require single boards in the case of a cistern that is eight cubits wide where the gaps in the enclosure are not wider than ten cubits and that R. Judah does require such boards where a cistern is twelve cubits wide and the gaps in the enclosure are bigger than thirteen and a third cubits.');">¹⁵</span> R'Papa did not hear of the Baraitha<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Just discussed, which lays down the measurements of the length and thickness of a cow.');">¹⁶</span>

רב פפא ברייתא לא שמיע ליה וקמ"ל כברייתא:

and he told us<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Independently of the Baraitha, by his own exposition of our MISHNAH:');">¹⁷</span> [the same measurements] as the Baraitha.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' These measurements being derived from his exposition.');">¹⁸</span> <br>(Mnemonic:<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Embodying striking words or phrases in Abaye's enquiries of Rabbah that follow.');">¹⁹</span>

ארי"ך יות"ר בת"ל חיצ"ת חצ"ר שיבש"ה סימן: בעא מיניה אביי מרבה האריך בדיומדין כשיעור פשוטין לר"מ מהו

Extended more in a mound fence of a courtyard that dried up) Abaye enquired of Rabbah: What is the ruling according to R'Meir where one extended the corner-piece [so that the excess of their width<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Above that of one cubit in extent at the extremities of each side of the well enclosure.');">²⁰</span> was] equal to the required width of the single boards?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Is the reduction of the gaps to ten cubits in this manner effective, or is it necessary, once a gap was wider than the permitted ten cubits, to reduce it by the fixing of two special boards on each side of the enclosure and at the same distance from each corner-piece so that the additional single boards might be distinguishable?');">²¹</span>

א"ל תניתוה ובלבד שירבה בפסין מאי לאו דמאריך בדיומדין לא דמפיש ועביד פשוטין

- The other replied: You have learnt this: PROVIDED ONE INCREASES THE STRIPS OF WOOD, [which means,] does it not, that one extends [the width of] the corner-pieces? - No; [it might mean] that one provides more single boards. If so, instead of<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'that'. ihxpc');">²²</span> 'Provided one increases the strips'<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' This is the literal meaning of the original in our Mishnah, 'in the strips', sc. the corner-pieces themselves.');">²³</span>

א"ה האי ובלבד שירבה בפסין עד שירבה פסין מיבעי ליה תני עד שירבה פסין

[should not the reading] have been, 'Provided<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'until'.');">²⁴</span> one increases the number of the strips'? - Read:<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' As actually rendered.');">²⁵</span> PROVIDED<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' So with marginal note. Cur. edd. 'until'.');">²⁶</span>

א"ד א"ל תניתוה ובלבד שירבה בפסין מאי לאו דמפיש ועביד פשוטין לא דמאריך בדיומדין

ONE INCREASES THE NUMBER OF STRIPS. There are others who read: The other replied: You have learnt it: PROVIDED ONE INCREASES THE STRIPS [which means,] does it not, that one must provide more single boards? - No; that one extends [the width of] the corner-pieces. By deduction also one arrives at the same conclusion, since it was stated: 'PROVIDED ONE INCREASES THE STRIPS'.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' This is the literal meaning of the original in our Mishnah, 'in the strips', sc. the corner-pieces themselves.');">²³</span>

הכי נמי מסתברא מדקתני ובלבד שירבה בפסין ש"מ

This is decisive. Abaye enquired of Rabbah: What is the ruling according to R'Judah<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Who, unlike R. Meir, did not mention single boards at all.');">²⁷</span> where [the distance between the corner-pieces was] more than thirteen and a third cubits?

בעא מיניה אביי מרבה יותר משלש עשרה אמה ושליש לר' יהודה מהו פשוטין עביד או בדיומדין מאריך

[Is it necessary] to provide [additional] single boards<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' At a slight distance from the corner-pieces so as to make a proper display of the means whereby the gaps are reduced.');">²⁸</span> or must one rather extend [the width of] the corner-pieces?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The erection of additional single boards being inadmissible on account of the gaps on either side of them that would virtually annul their existence.');">²⁹</span> - The other replied: You have learnt it: How near<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' To the well.');">³⁰</span>

א"ל תניתוה כמה הן מקורבין כדי ראשה ורובה של פרה וכמה מרוחקין אפי' כור ואפי' כוריים

may they<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The boards forming the enclosures round it.');">³¹</span> be? As the length of the head and the greater part of the body of a cow.

ר' יהודה אומר בית סאתים מותר יותר מבית סאתים אסור אמרו לו לר' יהודה אי אתה מודה בדיר וסהר ומוקצה וחצר אפילו בת חמשת כורים ואפי' בת עשרה כורים שמותר

And how far may they be? Even [as far as to enclose an area in which] a kor<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. Glos.');">³²</span> and even two kors [of seed may be sown].

אמר להן זו מחיצה ואלו פסין

R'Judah ruled: [An area of] two beth se'ah<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. Glos.');">³²</span> is permitted but one that exceeds two beth se'ah is forbidden. Do you not admit, the Rabbis said to R'Judah, that if [the enclosure] was a cattle-pen or a cattle-fold, a rearcourt or a courtyard it may be [as big as] five or even ten [beth] kor?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. Glos.');">³²</span>

ואם איתא זו מחיצה וזו (היא) מחיצה מיבעי ליה

This,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Any of the enclosures specified.');">³³</span> he - replied, is [one that has a complete] partition<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Hence the permissibility of an unlimited area.');">³⁴</span> but those<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The boards in a well enclosure.');">³⁵</span>

הכי קאמר זו תורת מחיצה עליה ופרצותיה בעשר ואלו תורת פסין עליהן ופרצותיהן בשלש עשרה אמה ושליש

are [isolated] boards.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' With gaps between them. Tosef. 'Er. I.');">³⁶</span> Now, if that were so<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' That the corner-pieces may be extended and no single boards are required.');">³⁷</span> should they [not have objected:] The one as well as the other<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'this ... this'.');">³⁸</span>

בעא מיניה אביי מרבה תל המתלקט עשרה מתוך ארבע נידון משום דיומד או אינו נידון משום דיומד

is a proper partition?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Extended corner-pieces, surely, are as good a partition as any of the others.');">³⁹</span> - It is this that he<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' R. Judah in his reply to the Rabbis.');">⁴⁰</span> meant: The one<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. supra n. 5.');">⁴¹</span>

א"ל תניתוה ר' שמעון בן אלעזר אומר היתה שם אבן מרובעת רואין כל שאילו תחלק ויש בה אמה לכאן ואמה לכאן נידון משום דיומד ואם לאו אינו נידון משום דיומד

is subject to the law of a partition, and gaps in it [must not be wider] than ten cubits,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'within (the limit of) ten'.');">⁴²</span> but those<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The boards in a well enclosure.');">⁴³</span> are subject to the law of strips of wood and gaps of thirteen and a third cubits between then, [are allowed].<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' As such a partition is obviously much inferior than the others, only a limited area of two beth se'ah was allowed.');">⁴⁴</span>

רבי ישמעאל בנו של רבי יוחנן בן ברוקה אומר היתה שם אבן עגולה רואין כל שאילו תחקק ותחלק ויש בה אמה לכאן ואמה לכאן נידון משום דיומד ואם לאו אינו נידון משום דיומד

Abaye enquired of Rabbah: Is a mound that rises to a height of<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'that collects itself'.');">⁴⁵</span> ten [handbreadths] within an area of<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'from the midst of'.');">⁴⁶</span> four [cubits]<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Where the area is larger, and a height of ten handbreadths is in consequence not well pronounced (v. next note) , the question does not arise, because a mound of such dimensions is regarded as a piece of solid ground forming a part of the domain in which it is situated.');">⁴⁷</span>

במאי קא מיפלגי מר סבר חד רואין אמרינן תרי רואין לא אמרינן ומר סבר אפי' תרי רואין נמי אמרינן

treated as a corner-piece<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Since such a mound, owing to its pronounced proportional height, has, in respect of the Sabbath laws, the status of a private domain (cf. Shab. 100a) .');">⁴⁸</span> or not? - The other replied: You have learnt it: R'Simeon B'Eleazar ruled: If a four sided stone was present<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' At one of the corners of a well enclosure.');">⁴⁹</span> we must consider this: If on being cut<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'divided', sc. shaped into a corner-piece.');">⁵⁰</span>

בעא מיניה אביי מרבה חיצת הקנים קנה קנה פחות משלשה נידון משום דיומד או לאו

there would remain a cubit length for either side<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'and there is in it a cubit towards here' etc.');">⁵¹</span> it may be regarded as a valid corner-piece, otherwise it cannot be so regarded. R'Ishmael son of R'Johanan B'Beroka ruled: If a round stone was present<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' At one of the corners of a well enclosure.');">⁴⁹</span>

אמר ליה תניתוה היה שם אילן או גדר או חיצת הקנים נידון משום דיומד מאי לאו קנה קנה פחות משלשה

we consider this: If on being chiselled<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' To alter its circular shape into a square.');">⁵²</span> and cut<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'divided', sc. shaped into a corner-piece.');">⁵⁰</span> there would remain a cubit length for either side<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'and there is in it a cubit towards here' etc.');">⁵¹</span>

לא גודריתא דקני אי הכי היינו אילן

it may be regarded as a valid corner-piece, otherwise it cannot be so treated.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Tosef. 'Er. I.');">⁵³</span> On what principle do they differ? - One Master<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' R. Simeon b. Eleazar.');">⁵⁴</span> is of the opinion that one imaginary act<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The cutting of the stone.');">⁵⁵</span>

ואלא מאי קנה קנה פחות משלשה היינו גדר אלא מאי אית לך למימר תרי גווני גדר הכא נמי תרי גווני אילן

may be assumed<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'one (assumption of) " we="" see"="" say'.');"="">⁵⁶</span> [as having been effected] but not two,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Chiselling and cutting.');">⁵⁷</span> and the other Master<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' R. Ishmael son of R. Johanan b. Beroka.');">⁵⁸</span>

איכא דאמרי גודריתא דקני קא מיבעיא ליה גודריתא דקני מאי א"ל תניתוה היה שם גדר או אילן או חיצת הקנים נידון משום דיומד מאי לאו גודריתא דקני

is of the opinion that two imaginary acts may also be assumed [to have been effected].<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The mound under discussion being circular in shape has the same status as a round stone and its admissibility as a corner-piece depends, therefore, on the respective opinions of R. Simeon and R. Ishmael.');">⁵⁹</span> Abaye enquired of Rabbah: Is a fence of reeds<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Growing on the two sides of the corner of a well enclosure.');">⁶⁰</span> [in which the distance between] any two reeds was less than three handbreadths regarded as a valid corner-piece or not? - The other replied: You have learnt this: If there was present a tree or a wall or a fence of [growing] reeds it may be treated as a corner-piece.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Supra 15a q.v. notes.');">⁶¹</span>

לא קנה קנה פחות משלשה אי הכי היינו גדר

Does not [this refer to a fence in which the distance between] any two reeds was less than three handbreadths? - No; [it may refer to] a hedge of reeds.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' All growing from the same stem.');">⁶²</span> If so, is it not exactly [of the same nature as] a tree?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Which was already mentioned in the same context.');">⁶³</span> - What then [would you suggest?

ואלא מאי גודריתא דקני היינו אילן אלא מאי אית לך למימר

That it referred to a fence in which the distance between] any two reeds was less than three handbreadths? Is not this [one could well retort] exactly [of the same nature as] a wall?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Which was already mentioned in the same context.');">⁶³</span> What then could you reply?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' To this objection.');">⁶⁴</span> [That there are] two kinds of wall? [Well then] in this case also [one might reply that there are] two kinds of tree.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' No answer, therefore, may be derived from these rulings to Abaye's enquiry.');">⁶⁵</span> There are [others] who say that he<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Abaye.');">⁶⁶</span> enquired concerning a hedge of reeds<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' All growing from the same stem.');">⁶⁷</span> What [he asked, is the ruling in respect of] a hedge of reeds?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Is it a valid corner-piece?');">⁶⁸</span> - The other replied: You have learnt this: If there was present a tree or a wall or a fence of [growing] reeds it may be treated as a corner-piece. Does not this refer to a hedge of reeds? - No; [it may refer to a fence in which the distance between] any two reeds was less than three handbreadths. If so, is it not exactly [of the same nature as] a wall?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. supra p. 136, n. 15.');">⁶⁹</span> - What then [would you suggest? That it refers to] a hedge of reeds? Is not this exactly [of the same nature as] a tree?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. supra p. 136, n. 15.');">⁶⁹</span> What then could you say in reply