Parallel
עירובין 21:1
Soncino English Talmud · Berean Standard Bible
must climb up or climb down. But this is not [so]? Did not R. Isaac in the name of Rab Judah who had it from, Samuel actually state: Strips [of wood] around wells were permitted only where a well is one of spring water; now if [strips of wood were permitted] for cattle only, what difference is there whether [the water was] springing or collected? — It is required that the water should be fit for human consumption. [To turn to] the main text. Strips [of wood] around wells were permitted for cattle only, but a human being must climb up or climb down. If, however, they [the wells] were wide they are permitted for a human being also. No man may fill [a bucket with] water to hold it before his cattle, but one may fill [a bucket with water] and pour [it into a trough] before cattle which drink of their own accord. R. Anan demurred: If so, what was the use of strips [of wood] around wells? — ‘What was the use’ [you ask, surely] to [enable people to] draw water from the wells! — This rather [is the question:] Of what use is it that the head and the greater part of the body of the cow [is within the enclosure]? Abaye replied: Here we are dealing with a manger that stood in a public domain, that was ten handbreadths high and four handbreadths wide, and one of whose sides projected into [an area] between strips [of wood] etc. R. Jeremiah b. Abba laid down, in the name of Rab: [The law of] isolated huts is not [applicable] to Babylon nor [that of] strips [of wood] around wells to [any country] outside the Land of Israel. ‘[The law of] isolated huts is not [applicable] to Babylon’ because there the bursting of dams is common; ‘nor [that of] strips of wood around wells to [any country] outside the Land of Israel’ because there colleges are rare. The reverse, however, is applicable. Others say that R. Jeremiah b. Abba laid this down in the name of Rab: [The laws of] isolated huts and strips [of wood] around wells are not [applicable] either to Babylon or to other countries outside the Land of Israel. [The law of] isolated huts [is inapplicable] to Babylon because the bursting of dams is of frequent occurrence. In other countries outside the Land of Israel also it is not [applicable] because there thieves are common. [The law of] strips [of wood] around wells is not [applicable] to Babylon because it has water in abundance. In [other countries] outside the Land of Israel also it is not [applicable] because there colleges are rare. Said R. Hisda to Mari son of R. Huna the son of R. Jeremiah b. Abba: People say that you walk on the Sabbath from Barnish to Daniel's Synagogue which is [a distance of] three parasangs; what do you rely upon? On the isolated huts? But did not the father of your father lay down in the name of Rab [that the law of] isolated huts is not [applicable] to Babylon? — The other, thereupon, went out [with him and] showed him certain [ruined] settlements that were contained within the radius of seventy cubits and a fraction [from the town]. R. Hisda stated: Mari b. Mar made the following exposition: It is written, I have seen an end to every purpose; but Thy commandment is exceeding broad. This statement was made by David but he did not explain it; Job made a similar statement and did not explain it; Ezekiel also made a similar statement and did not explain it, [and the exact magnitude remained unknown] until Zechariah the son of Iddo came and explained it. ‘It was made by David but he did not explain it’ for it is written in Scripture: I have seen an end to every purpose; but Thy commandment is exceeding broad. ‘Job made a similar statement and did not explain it,’ for it is written in Scripture: The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea . ‘Ezekiel also made a similar statement and did not explain it’, for it is written in Scripture: And he spread it before me, and it was written within and without; and there was written therein lamentations, and meditation of joy and woe; ‘lamentation’ refers to the retribution of the just in this world, for so it is said: This is the lamentation wherewith they shall lament; ‘and meditation of joy’ refers to the reward of the righteous in the hereafter for so it is said: With the joy of solemn sound upon the harp; ‘and woe’ refers to the retribution of the wicked in the hereafter for so it is said: Calamity shall come upon calamity; ‘until Zechariah the son of Iddo came and explained it,’ for it is written: And he said unto me: ‘What seest thou?’ And I answered: ‘I see a folded roll; the length thereof is twenty cubits, and the breadth thereof ten cubits’, and, when you unfolded it, [its extent] is twenty by twenty [cubits], and since it is written: ‘It was written within and without’, what will be [its size] when you split it? Forty by twenty cubits. But, as it is written: Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span etc., it follows that the entire universe is [equal to] a three thousand and two hundredths part of the Torah. R. Hisda further stated: Mari b. Mar made this exposition: What [is the significance] of the Scriptural text: And behold two baskets of figs set before the temple of the Lord; one basket had very good figs, like the figs
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