Bava Kamma

But did not R. Abin upon arriving [from Palestine] state on behalf of R. Johanan that the owner of a tree which overhangs a neighbour's field as well as the owner of a tree close to the boundary has to bring the first-fruits [to Jerusalem]  and read the prescribed text  as it was upon this stipulation [that trees might he planted near the boundary of fields and even overhang a neighbour's field] that Joshua transferred the land to Israel  for an inheritance.  [How then could R. Johanan describe this as a stipulation of Joshua when it was not included in the authoritative text of the Baraitha cited enumerating all the stipulations of Joshua?] — It must therefore be that the Tanna  of [the text enumerating] the ten stipulations laid down by Joshua was R. Joshua b. Levi.  R. Gebiha of Be Kathil  explicitly taught this in the text: 'R. Tanhum and R. Barias stated in the name of a certain sage, who was R. Joshua b. Levi, that ten stipulations were laid down by Joshua.' The [following] ten enactments were ordained by Ezra: That the law be read [publicly] in the Minhah  service on Sabbath; that the law be read [publicly] on Mondays and Thursdays; that Courts be held on Mondays and Thursdays; that clothes be washed on Thursdays; that garlic be eaten on Fridays; that the housewife rise early to bake bread; that a woman must wear a sinnar;  that a woman must comb her hair before performing immersion;  that pedlars [selling spicery] be allowed to travel about in the towns,  He  also decreed  immersion to be required  by those to whom pollution has happened. 'That the law be read [publicly] in the Minhah service on Sabbath:' on account of shopkeepers [who during the weekdays have no time to hear the reading of the Law]. 'That the law be read [publicly] on Mondays and Thursdays.' But was this ordained by Ezra? Was this not ordained even before him? For it was taught: 'And they went three days in the wilderness and found no water,  upon which those who expound verses metaphorically  said: water means nothing but Torah,  as it says: Ho, everyone that thirsteth come ye for water.  It thus means that as they went three days without Torah they immediately became exhausted. The prophets among them thereupon rose and enacted that they should publicly read the law on Sabbath, make a break on Sunday, read again on Monday, make a break again on Tuesday and Wednesday, read again on Thursday and then make a break on Friday so that they should not be kept for three days without Torah.'  — Originally it was ordained that one man should read three verses or that three men should together read three verses, corresponding to priests, Levites and Israelites.  Then Ezra came and ordained that three men should be called up to read, and that ten verses should be read, corresponding to ten batlanim. 'That Courts be held on Mondays and Thursdays' — when people are about, as they come to read the Scroll of the Law. 'That clothes be washed on Thursdays' — that the Sabbath  may be duly honoured. 'That garlic be eaten on Fridays' — because of the 'Onah.'  as it is written: 'That bringeth forth its fruit in its season'  and Rab Judah, or as others say R. Nahman, or as still others say R. Kahana, or again as others say R. Johanan, stated that this refers to him who performs his marital duty every Friday night. Our Rabbis taught: Five things were said of garlic: It satiates, it keeps the body warm, it brightens up the face, it increases semen, and it kills parasites in the bowels. Some say that it fosters love and removes jealousy. 'That a housewife rise early to bake bread'  — so that there should be bread for the poor. 'That a woman must wear a sinnar — out of modesty. 'That a woman comb her hair before performing the immersion.' But this is derived from the pentateuch! For it was taught:  'And he shall bathe [eth besaro] his flesh in water  [implying] that there should be nothing intervening between the body and the water; "[eth besaro] his flesh", "eth" [including] whatever is attached to his flesh,  i.e. the hair.' [Why then had this to be ordained by Ezra?] — It may, however, be said that as far as the Pentateuch goes it would only have to be necessary to see that the hair should not he knotted or that nothing dirty should be there which might intervene,