Eruvin

while the other Master1 holds the view that the donor's intention was to provide a generous offering.2 Abaye stated: This3 was learnt only in respect of a tree the diameter underneath which was [no less than] twelve cubits4 but in the case of a tree the diameter underneath which was less than twelve cubits, behold a part at least of the man's house5 is well marked out.6 R. Huna son of R. Joshua demurred: Whence is it proved that he has at all intended7 the middle four cubits? Is it not possible that he intended either the four cubits on the one side or the four on the other side?8 Rather, said R. Huna son of R. Joshua: This9 was learnt only in respect of a tree the diameter underneath which was [no less than] eight cubits,10 but in the case of a tree the diameter underneath which was only seven cubits, behold a part at least of his house is well marked out. 11 It was taught in agreement with Rab and it was also taught in agreement with Samuel. ‘It was taught in agreement with Rab’: If a man who was on a journey [homeward] was overtaken by dusk, and he knew of a tree or a wall and said: ‘Let my Sabbath base be under it’, his statement is of no avail, but if he said: ‘Let my Sabbath base be in such and such a place’12 he may continue his journey until he arrives at that place. Having arrived there he may walk throughout its interior and along a distance of two thousand cubits beyond it. This,13 however, applies only to a well defined spot as, for instance, a mound14 that was ten handbreadths high15 and from four cubits to two beth se'ah16 in area, or17 a valley that was ten handbreadths deep18 and from four cubits to two beth se'ah16 in area, but where the place is not well defined19 he is not allowed to move20 more than four cubits. If two were [travelling together] and one of them knows [of a well defined place] and the other does not know of it, the latter transfers his right to choose a place21 to the former who then declares, ‘My Sabbath base shall be in such and such a place’.22 This23 only applies where the man had indicated the four cubits he selected by a mark,24 but if he did not indicate the four cubits he had selected by any mark he must not stir25 from his place.26 Must it be said that this27 presents an objection against Samuel?28 Samuel can answer you: Here29 we are dealing with a case where from the place on which the man stood to the root of the tree there were two thousand30 and four31 cubits, so that if you were to put him on the further side of the tree32 he would be standing33 outside his permitted limit;34 hence, if he indicated four cubits [on the near side of the tree] he may proceed thither, otherwise he may not.35 ‘It was taught in agreement with Samuel’: If a man made a mistake and prepared ‘erubs in two opposite directions, believing that it is permitted to provide ‘erubs in two opposite directions, or if he said to his servants, ‘Go and prepare an ‘erub for me’ and one prepared for him an ‘erub in a northerly direction and the other prepared one for him in a southerly direction, he may proceed northwards as far as the limit of his southern ‘erub and southwards as far as the limit of his northern ‘erub.36 But if they measured each limit exactly37 he38 may not stir from his place.39 Must it be said that this40 presents an objection against Rab?41 — No; Rab is a Tanna42 and is privileged to differ.43 IF, HOWEVER, HE SAID LET MY SABBATH BASE BE AT ITS ROOT’, HE MAY WALK FROM THE PLACE WHERE HE STANDS TO ITS ROOT A DISTANCE OF TWO THOUSAND CUBITS, AND FROM ITS ROOT TO HIS HOUSE ANOTHER TWO THOUSAND CUBITS. THUS HE CAN WALK FOUR THOUSAND CUBITS AFTER DUSK. been shown that only where the donor's expression, explicit or implicit, was ‘forty out of eighty’ does Hezekiah maintain that the prescribed forty are consecrated. This, therefore, in no way contradicts Rabbah's ruling, since in the case of ‘erub also a man may acquire his Sabbath base under a tree if he used the expression, ‘Let me acquire an area of four cubits out of the eight’ (supra 50a ab init.). the middle section or one of the outer ones that the man desired to acquire as his Sabbath base. overlap half a cubit with the middle four cubits. If then the man chose the middle section, all his Sabbath base is obviously well defined; but even if he intended one of the outer sections to be his Sabbath base each of them is at least partially defined in that part where it overlaps with the middle sections. His base may, therefore, be regarded as located in full or in part in that section. be ‘well marked out’? throughout its interior. beyond. thousand cubits in all its directions. cannot acquire the place on which he stands on account of his declaration that he desired to acquire another one. This ruling being in complete agreement with that of Rab (v. supra 49b and notes) the Baraitha may well be cited in his support. he had selected. which he is permitted to walk. root and branches were within the two thousand and four cubits from the place where the man stood when the Sabbath had set in. the northern one alone should have enabled him to proceed two thousand cubits in all directions including two thousand cubits in the direction of his home terminating at a distance of a thousand cubits from its southern side. The southern ‘erub alone should have entitled him to similar privileges including two thousand in a northerly direction terminating at a distance of a thousand from the northern side of his house. As it is uncertain which of his ‘erubs is more effective than the other the restriction resulting from both are imposed upon him and he may not move beyond a thousand cubits from his house either in a northerly or in a southerly direction. distances of two thousand cubits from his home. desire to acquire other abodes for that day. similarly prevents him from moving a single step to the north of his house. Now this Baraitha shows that in a case of uncertainty in connection with two ‘erubs the restrictions of both are imposed but the man is nevertheless free to move with, the permitted margin though he did not indicate which of the two ‘erubs he preferred. This is in agreement with the view of Samuel (v. supra 49b and notes) who also imposed double restrictions but allowed the man to move within the permitted margin between the tree and his house though it was uncertain which particular four cubits under the tree he selected.