Pesachim

A square cubit by three cubits’ depth, and the Sages estimated the standard of the water of a mikweh at forty se'ahs.1 R. Ashi said: Rabin b. Hinena told me, The Table in the Sanctuary was jointed.2 For if you should think that it was [permanently] fastened, how could one immerse a cubit in a cubit?3 What difficulty is this! Perhaps it was immersed in the sea which Solomon made. For R. Hiyya taught: The sea which Solomon made held one hundred and fifty clean [i.e., regulation-sized] mikwoth. AND THEY SHOULD GIVE HIM NOT LESS THAN FOUR [CUPS]. How could our Rabbis enact something whereby one is led into danger: Surely it was taught: A man must not eat in pairs, nor drink in pairs,4 nor cleanse [himself] twice nor perform his requirements5 twice? — Said R. Nahman: Scripture said, [it is] a night of guarding [unto the lord]:6 [i.e.,] it is a night that is guarded for all time7 from harmful spirits. Raba said: The cup of Grace [after meals] combines [with the others] for good, but does not combine for evil.8 Rabina said: Our Rabbis instituted four cups as symbolizing liberty: each one On this basis R. Hisda arrives at his estimate. Thus:1 Se'ah == 96 rebi'ith; 40 se'as == 96 X 40 == 3840 rebi'ith. Hence cubic capacity of mikweh is 3840 X 108 == 41472 fingerbreadths which is the equivalent of cubic capacity of 3 cubic cubits, 1 cubic cubit being equal to 243 ( == 13824 fingerbreadths), and 3 cubic cubits being equal to 3 X 13824 == 41472]. impossible to immerse the Table in the mikweh if it became unclean and needed a ritual bath. which, might be caused by drinking the first two, but is not counted in the four for harm.