Pesachim 218

אמה על אמה ברום שלש אמות ושיערו חכמים שיעור מי מקוה ארבעים סאה

A square cubit by three cubits' depth, and the Sages estimated the standard of the water of a mikweh at forty se'ahs.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' 1 se'ah == 6 kabs; 1 kab == 4 logs; 1 log == 4 rebi'ith; 1 cubit == 6 handbreadths; 1 handbreadth = 4 fingerbreadths. On this basis R. Hisda arrives at his estimate. Thus:1 Se'ah == 96 rebi'ith; 40 se'as == 96 X 40 == 3840 rebi'ith. Hence cubic capacity of mikweh is 3840 X 108 == 41472 fingerbreadths which is the equivalent of cubic capacity of 3 cubic cubits, 1 cubic cubit being equal to 243 ( == 13824 fingerbreadths) , and 3 cubic cubits being equal to 3 X 13824 == 41472].');">¹</span> R'Ashi said: Rabin B'Hinena told me, The Table in the Sanctuary was jointed.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' And the joints could be taken apart.');">²</span>

אמר רב אשי אמר לי רבין בר חיננא שולחן של מקדש של פרקים הוה דאי ס"ד הדוקי הוה מיהדק אמתא באמתא היכי מטבליה

For if you should think that it was [permanently] fastened, how could one immerse a cubit in a cubit?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The Table was a cubit square, while a mikweh, as stated here, was likewise a cubit square; hence it would be impossible to immerse the Table in the mikweh if it became unclean and needed a ritual bath.');">³</span> What difficulty is this! Perhaps it was immersed in the sea which Solomon made.

מאי קושיא דילמא בים שעשה שלמה הוה מטביל ליה דתני ר' חייא ים שעשה שלמה מחזיק מאה וחמשים מקוה טהרה:

For R'Hiyya taught: The sea which Solomon made held one hundred and fifty clean [i.e., regulation-sized] mikwoth. AND THEY SHOULD GIVE HIM NOT LESS THAN FOUR [CUPS].

ולא יפחתו לו מארבעה: היכי מתקני רבנן מידי דאתי בה לידי סכנה והתניא לא יאכל אדם תרי ולא ישתה תרי ולא יקנח תרי ולא יעשה צרכיו תרי

How could our Rabbis enact something whereby one is led into danger: Surely it was taught: A man must not eat in pairs, nor drink in pairs,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., he must not eat or drink two or a multiple of two of anything, a malignant potency being ascribed to twos.');">⁴</span> nor cleanse [himself] twice nor perform his requirements<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' A euphemism for intimacy.');">⁵</span>

אמר רב נחמן אמר קרא (שמות יב, מב) ליל שמורים ליל המשומר ובא מן המזיקין

twice? - Said R'Nahman: Scripture said, [it is] a night of guarding [unto the lord]:<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ex. XII, 42.');">⁶</span> [i.e.,] it is a night that is guarded for all time<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'that is guarded and comes on.'');">⁷</span>

רבא אמר כוס של ברכה מצטרף לטובה ואינו מצטרף לרעה רבינא אמר ארבעה כסי תקינו רבנן דרך חירות כל חד וחד

from harmful spirits. Raba said: The cup of Grace [after meals] combines [with the others] for good, but does not combine for evil.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The third cup, which is drunk in collection with Grace after meals, combines with others to break the spell of evil which, might be caused by drinking the first two, but is not counted in the four for harm.');">⁸</span> Rabina said: Our Rabbis instituted four cups as symbolizing liberty: each one