PROVIDED 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 line39ᵃᵇᶜᵈᵉᶠᵍʰⁱʲᵏˡᵐⁿᵒᵖᵠʳˢᵗᵘᵛʷˣʸᶻᵃᵃᵃᵇᵃᶜᵃᵈᵃᵉᵃᶠᵃᵍᵃʰᵃⁱᵃʲᵃᵏᵃˡᵃᵐ