Parallel
עירובין 61:2
Soncino English Talmud · Berean Standard Bible
GEMARA. Rab Judah laid down in the name of Samuel: If a man spent the Sabbath in a deserted town, he may, according to the Rabbis, walk through the whole of it and two thousand cubits beyond it. If, however, he deposited his ‘erub in a deserted town he is allowed no more than a distance of two thousand cubits from the place of his ‘erub. R. Eleazar laid down: Whether a man spent the Sabbath in a town or deposited in it his ‘erub he is permitted to walk through the whole of it and two thousand cubits beyond. An objection was raised: SAID R. AKIBA TO THEM, DO YOU NOT AGREE WITH ME THAT IF A MAN DEPOSITED HIS ‘ERUB IN A CAVE HE MAY WALK NO FURTHER THAN TWO THOUSAND CUBITS FROM THE PLACE OF HIS ‘ERUB? THEY REPLIED: WHEN IS THIS THE CASE? ONLY WHEN NO PEOPLE DWELL THEREIN from which it is obvious, is it not, that where NO PEOPLE DWELL THEREIN they agree with him? — By the expression. NO PEOPLE DWELL THEREIN a place was meant that was unsuitable for dwelling. Come and hear: If a man spent the Sabbath in a town, even though it was as big as Antioch, [or if he spent the Sabbath] in a cave, though it was like the cave of Zedekiah the king of Judah. he may walk through the whole of it and two thousand cubits beyond. Now the town mentioned must be one that is in a condition similar to that of the ‘cave’, so that as the cave is one that is deserted so must the town also be one that is deserted and yet it was stated that only if a man spent the Sabbath in it is the law applicable but not where he only deposited his ‘erub in it. Now whose view could this represent? If it be suggested: It is that of R. Akiba, the difficulty would arise: What was the point in speaking of a deserted town when the same ruling applies also to one that is inhabited. Consequently it must be said to represent the view of the Rabbis. Now is not the reason for the ruling that the man spent the Sabbath in it, but if he had only deposited his ‘erub in it this ruling would not have applied? — Do not say that the ‘town’ mentioned must be one that is in a condition similar to that of the ‘cave’ but rather, the ‘cave must be one that is in a condition similar to that of the town; so that as the town is inhabited the cave also must be one that is inhabited; and this ruling is that of R. Akiba who laid down: HE IS ALLOWED TO WALK NO FURTHER THAN TWO THOUSAND CUBITS FROM THE PLACE OF HIS ‘ERUB, while in the case of one who had spent the Sabbath within the town he agrees with the Rabbis. But was it not stated: ‘Like the cave of Zedekiah’? — Like the cave of Zedekiah [in one respect] but unlike the cave of Zedekiah [in another]. ‘Like the cave of Zedekiah’ in respect of its huge size, ‘but unlike the cave of Zedekiah’ for whereas the latter was deserted, the one referred to was inhabited. Mar Judah once came across the people of Mabrakta who were depositing their ‘erubs at the Be Agobar Synagogue. ‘Penetrate’ he said to them, ‘further into its interior, that you may be allowed to walk a greater distance’. ‘Contentious man’, said Raba to him, ‘in respect of the laws of ‘erub no one takes any notice of the ruling of R. Akiba’. MISHNAH. IF A MAN LIVES IN A COURTYARD WITH A HEATHEN OR WITH ONE WHO DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE PRINCIPLE OF ERUB, EITHER OF THEM CAUSES HIM TO BE RESTRICTED IN THE USE OF THE COURTYARD. R. ELIEZER B. JACOB RULED: NEITHER CAN RESTRICT HIM UNLESS THERE ARE TWO ISRAELITES WHO IMPOSE RESTRICTIONS UPON EACH OTHER. R. GAMALIEL RELATED: A SADDUCEE ONCE LIVED WITH US IN THE SAME ALLEY IN JERUSALEM AND FATHER TOLD US: ‘HASTEN AND CARRY OUT ALL NECESSARY ARTICLES INTO THE ALLEY BEFORE HE CARRIES OUT HIS AND THEREBY IMPOSES RESTRICTIONS UPON YOU’. R. JUDAH RELATED, [THE INSTRUCTION WAS GIVEN] IN A DIFFERENT FORM: HASTEN AND ATTEND TO YOUR REQUIREMENTS IN THE ALLEY BEFORE HE CARRIES OUT HIS ARTICLES AND THEREBY IMPOSES RESTRICTIONS UPON YOU’.58
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