עירובין 58 — Soncino English Talmud

¹PROVIDED HE DOES NOT GO BEYOND THE SABBATH LIMIT. IF HE IS UNABLE TO SPAN IT — IN CONNECTION WITH THIS R. DOSTAI B. JANNAI STATED IN THE NAME OF R. MEIR, I HAVE HEARD THAT HILLS ARE TREATED AS THOUGH THEY WERE PIERCED’. GEMARA. Whence is this deduced? — Rab Judah citing Rab replied: From Scripture which says. The length of the court shall be a hundred cubits, and the breadth fifty by fifty, the Torah having thus enjoined: Measure with a rope of the length of fifty cubits. But is not this text required for the ordinance to take away fifty and to surround with them the other fifty? — If for that purpose only, Scripture might have said ‘fifty, fifty’ why then did it say ‘fifty by fifty’? Hence both may be deduced. NEITHER LESS NOR MORE. One taught: Neither less because the measurements are increased, nor more because they are reduced. R. Assi ruled: One must measure only with a rope of apeskima. What is the meaning of apeskima? — R. Abba replied: Nargila. What is Nargila?- R. Jacob replied: A palm-tree which has only one bast. Others read: What is the meaning of apeskima? — R. Abba replied: Nargila; R. Jacob replied: A palm-tree which has only one bast. It was taught: R. Joshua b. Hananiah said: ‘You have nothing more suitable for measuring than iron chains, but what can we do in face of what the Torah said: With a measuring line in his hand. Is it not, however, written: And in the man's hand was a measuring rod? — That was used for measuring the gates. R. Joseph learned: There are three kinds of rope. Those made of megeg, of wicker and of flax. The megeg rope was used for the heifer; for we learned: They bound it with a rope of megeg and put it on its pile. The wicker rope was used in connection with the test of a faithless wife; for we learned: And after that he brings a wicker rope and binds it above her breasts. The flax rope was used for measuring purposes. IF IN THE COURSE OF MEASURING THE SURVEYOR REACHED. Since it was stated: RESUMES HIS MEASURING it may be inferred that if he is unable to span it he proceeds to a position from where he is able to do so and, after spanning it, he makes the necessary observations [whereby he is enabled to locate the point on the far side] that is in a straight line with his original line of measuring and then he resumes [his measurements in a straight line] — Thus we have here learnt what the Rabbis have taught elsewhere: If in the course of measuring the measuring rope reached a glen, the surveyor may span it if he can do so with a rope of fifty cubits, but if not, he proceeds to a position from where he is able to span it and, having spanned it, he makes the necessary observations [whereby he is enabled to locate the point on the far sides that is in a straight line with his original line of measuring] and then he resumes his measuring. If the glen was a crooked one it is pierced in an upward, as well as in a downward direction. If it reached a wall we do not say: ‘Let the wall be bored through’; its thickness rather is estimated and the measuring continues. Have we not, however, learnt: HE SPANS IT AND RESUMES HIS MEASURING? — There it is a case of one that can be conveniently used but here it is a case of one that cannot conveniently be used. Rab Judah citing Samuel stated: This was learned only in the case where a plumb line does not descend in a straight line39^ᵃ^ᵇ^ᶜ^ᵈ^ᵉ^ᶠ^ᵍ^ʰ^ⁱ^ʲ^ᵏ^ˡ^ᵐ^ⁿ^ᵒ^ᵖ^ᵠ^ʳ^ˢ^ᵗ^ᵘ^ᵛ^ʷ^ˣ^ʸ^ᶻ^ᵃᵃ^ᵃᵇ^ᵃᶜ^ᵃᵈ^ᵃᵉ^ᵃᶠ^ᵃᵍ^ᵃʰ^ᵃⁱ^ᵃʲ^ᵃᵏ^ᵃˡ^ᵃᵐ

^ᵃnote:Supra 35b q.v. notes.
^ᵇnote:That in measuring Sabbath limits only A ROPE OF THE LENGTH OF FIFTY CUBITS may be used.
^ᶜnote:Ex. XXVII, 18. E.V. ‘everywhere’.
^ᵈnote:By the phrase ‘by fifty’.
^ᵉnote:Supra 23b q.v. notes.
^ᶠnote:Lit., ‘if so’.
^ᵍnote:The deduction supra (v. prev. n.) as well as the ruling in our Mishnah.
^ʰnote:A shorter rope is likely to be stretched and each unit of rope would consequently cover more cubits of ground than the standard number it represents. The Sabbath limits would in consequence be greater than the permitted distance.
^ⁱnote:A longer rope cannot be so well stretched and each unit of it would cover less ground than the standard number it represents. This would result in a loss in the Sabbath limits.
^ʲnote:Aruk, ‘Ammi’.
^ᵏnote:One (as explained presently) made of the fibers of a particular kind of palm-tree.
^ˡnote:The term is here used in its wider signification which includes also the Prophetic writings.
^ᵐnote:Zech. II. 5.
^ⁿnote:Ezek. XL, 5.
^ᵒnote:A certain kind of reed. Aliter: Bast.
^ᵖnote:Because it is not susceptible to levitical uncleanness.
^ᵠnote:The red heifer (cf. Num. XIX, 2ff) which had to be prepared under conditions of strict levitical cleanness.
^ʳnote:Parah III, 9.
^ˢnote:A sotah (v. Glos. and cf. Num. V, 12ff).
^ᵗnote:Hebel ha-mizri, lit,’ an Egyptian rope’. Aliter: A common cord. Aliter: A rope of rushes.
^ᵘnote:Sotah 7b. Cf. Sonc. ed., p. 31, n. 1f.
^ᵛnote:The GLEN, the WALL or the HILL where, for instance, the section that along the town is wider than fifty cubits.
^ʷnote:Away from the town.
^ˣnote:The width across being less than fifty cubits.
^ʸnote:Lit., , ‘and looks’.
^ᶻnote:Of the obstruction that could not be spanned.
^ᵃᵃnote:Cf. relevant notes on our Mishnah and first diagram ibid. Lit., ‘corresponding to his measure’.
^ᵃᵇnote:I.e., its narrow section (not exceeding fifty cubits) that could be spanned was not on that side of the town from which the sabbath limit was being measured (v. Rashi).
^ᵃᶜnote:The method of piercing is described infra 58b.
^ᵃᵈnote:The measuring line.
^ᵃᵉnote:Sc. that poles towering above it shall be held up on both its sides and the rope stretched from one to the other (Tosaf. s.v. iht a.l.).
^ᵃᶠnote:Tosef. ‘Er. IV.
^ᵃᵍnote:Why then is a mere estimate allowed in this case?
^ᵃʰnote:In our Mishnah.
^ᵃⁱnote:One for instance that rises gently to a height of ten handbreadths in all area of four cubits. Hence it must either be spanned or pierced.
^ᵃʲnote:A wall, for instance, that rose sharply in a perpendicular direction. As its sides are of no use for walking purposes they may be disregarded and only the estimated thickness of the wall need be included in the measurements.
^ᵃᵏnote:That the method of piercing is admissible.
^ᵃˡnote:Suspended from the edge of the glen and reaching the bed.
^ᵃᵐnote:Lit., ‘corresponding to it’. This is defined infra 58b.

²but if it does descend in a straight line the bottom of the glen is measured by the ordinary method. What may be the depth of a glen? — R. Joseph replied: Two thousand cubits. Abaye raised an objection against him: [If a glen was] a hundred cubits deep and fifty cubits wide one may span it, otherwise one may not! — He holds the view of ‘Others’, it having been taught: Others rule: Even though a glen was two thousand cubits deep but only fifty cubits wide one may span it. Some there are who read: R. Joseph replied: Even if it was deeper than two thousand cubits. In agreement with whose view is this ruling? Is it neither in agreement with that of the first Tanna nor with that of the ‘Others’? — There it is a case where the plumb line does not descend in a straight line but here it is one where it does descend in a straight line. Where the plumb line does not descend in a straight line how much [deviation] is allowed? — Abimi replied: Up to four cubits; and so learned Rami b. Ezekiel: Up to four cubits. IF HE REACHED A HILL HE SPANS IT AND RESUMES HIS MEASURING. Raba explained: This was learnt only in respect of a hill that has a rise of ten handbreadths to a gradient of four cubits, but a hill that has a rise of ten handbreadths to five cubits must be measured in the usual manner. R. Huna son of R. Nathan taught this in the direction of leniency: Raba explained. This was learnt only in respect of a hill that has a rise often handbreadths to a gradient of five cubits, but a hill that has a rise of ten handbreadths to a gradient of four cubits one need only estimate its base and proceed with his measuring. PROVIDED HE DOES NOT GO BEYOND THE SABBATH LIMIT. What is the reason? — R. Kahana replied: This was ordained as a preventive measure against the possible assumption that the Sabbath limit reached to that point. IF HE IS UNABle TO SPAN IT. Our Rabbis taught: How is the method of piercing carried out? The man on the lower level holds his end of the rope on a level with his heart while the man on the higher level holds his end on a level with his feet. Abaye stated: We have it as a tradition that piercing may be effected only with a rope of the length of four cubits. R. Nahman citing Rabbah b. Abbuha stated: The method of piercing must not be employed in measurements in connection with the broken-necked heifer nor in those around the cities of refuge. because these are ordinances of the Torah. MISHNAH. [THE SABBATH LIMIT OF A TOWN] IS MEASURED ONLY ALONG THE BEATEN TRACK. IF ONE EXTENDED THE LIMIT AT ONE POINT MORE THAN AT ANOTHER, THE EXTENDED LIMIT IS OBSERVED. IF THERE WAS A GREATER DISTANCE FOR ONE AND A LESSER DISTANCE FOR ANOTHER, THE GREATER DISTANCE IS OBSERVED. FURTHERMORE, EVEN A BONDMAN AND EVEN A BONDWOMAN ARE BELIEVED WHEN THEY SAY, THUS FAR IS THE SABBATH LIMIT’, SINCE THE SAGES DID NOT ENACT THE LAW IN ORDER TO ADD RESTRICTIONS BUT IN ORDER TO RELAX THEM.^ᵃⁿ^ᵃᵒ^ᵃᵖ^ᵃᵠ^ᵃʳ^ᵃˢ^ᵃᵗ^ᵃᵘ^ᵃᵛ^ᵃʷ^ᵃˣ^ᵃʸ^ᵃᶻ^ᵇᵃ^ᵇᵇ^ᵇᶜ^ᵇᵈ^ᵇᵉ^ᵇᶠ^ᵇᵍ^ᵇʰ^ᵇⁱ^ᵇʲ^ᵇᵏ^ᵇˡ^ᵇᵐ^ᵇⁿ

^ᵃⁿnote:I.e., if the sides of the glen are practically perpendicular (as will be defined infra) so that they cannot be used at all for walking purposes.
^ᵃᵒnote:Lit., ‘a proper measurement’.
^ᵃᵖnote:That is spanned if it is not wider than fifty cubits.
^ᵃᵠnote:With a capital O, sc. R. Meir (cf. Hor. 13b).
^ᵃʳnote:Who limits the depth to one hundred cubits.
^ᵃˢnote:R. Meir who allows a depth of two thousand cubits but no more.
^ᵃᵗnote:The case in dispute between the first Tanna and others.
^ᵃᵘnote:As the slopes of the glen, to a limited extent at least, can be used for walking on, its depth was restricted.
^ᵃᵛnote:The sides of the glen being absolutely unsuitable for walking, its depth, however great, is of no consequence.
^ᵃʷnote:At the bed of the glen in relation to the edge thereof.
^ᵃˣnote:That the method of spanning or piercing is allowed.
^ᵃʸnote:V. Rashi a.I.
^ᵃᶻnote:Such a gentle slope is deemed to be on a par with level ground which may not be measured either by spanning or by piercing.
^ᵇᵃnote:Raba's view just enunciated.
^ᵇᵇnote:That the method of spanning or piercing is allowed.
^ᵇᶜnote:Since it is not level ground one of the methods of spanning or piercing may be adopted.
^ᵇᵈnote:Being too steep and hardly suitable for walking.
^ᵇᵉnote:Cf. relevant notes in our Mishnah, and diagram ibid.
^ᵇᶠnote:Beyond the permitted limit. In the absence of the preventive measure people might desecrate the Sabbath by walking as far as that point, believing it to be within the Sabbath limit of their town.
^ᵇᵍnote:Cur. edd. in parenthesis, ‘we have a tradition’.
^ᵇʰnote:Supra 35b q.v. notes.
^ᵇⁱnote:Which require exact measurements. No estimates or approximate calculations being allowed, slopes of hills or dales must be carefully measured cubit by cubit as level ground.
^ᵇʲnote:Reading vjnunv in, the noun being derived from rt. vjn ‘to strike’ (R. Han. Cf. Tosaf. s.v. iht a.l.). Var. lec. vjnun ‘expert’, ‘skilled surveyor’ (cf. Rashi s.v. d"v a.l.).
^ᵇᵏnote:Lit., ‘and reduced towards another place’.
^ᵇˡnote:Lit., ‘hear’, sc. the lesser limit is extended to the length of the greater one. As the measuring rope must be stretched to its utmost capacity so as to cover the maximum length possible it is assumed that the deficiency in the lesser limit is due to all insufficient stretching of the rope.
^ᵇᵐnote:This is explained in the Gemara infra.
^ᵇⁿnote:Of Sabbath limits.