Bava Batra — Daf 102a

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

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

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'

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

לעולם רבנן היא וכגון דבדק באלכסונא

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

If three [corpses] were [similarly] found, [then], if [the distance] between them  is from four, to eight [cubits], the area] is [to be considered] a grave-yard;  and a search  must [also] be made [over a distance of] twenty cubits,  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  for the assumption  [that even the single grave is an indication of the existence there of other graves]; although if [the single corpse] had been found first  it should have been removed together with the earth surrounding it. The Master stated, 'from four to eight cubits'.  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  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,  [if the distance is] from four to eight cubits'.  Since this  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;  if according to the Rabbis,  it should be eighteen?  It may, in fact, be according to the Rabbis but there is a possibility that he made the search diagonally.  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]?  — One diagonal [search] is expected; two diagonal [searches] are not.