Shabbat

but does not defile? — Said Rabbah b. Bar Hanah, It is R. Joshua. For we learnt: R. Eliezer said: One who eats food of the first degree is [himself defiled in] the first degree; of the second degree, is [defiled in] the second degree, of the third degree, is [defiled in] the third degree.  R. Joshua said: One who eats food of the first or of the second degree is [defiled in] the second degree;  of the third degree, [he enters] the second degree in respect of hekdesh,  but not in respect of terumah,  this referring to hullin subjected to the purity of terumah. When one eats food of the first or of the second degree, why did the Rabbis decree uncleanness in his case? Because one may sometimes eat unclean food [hullin] and take a liquid of terumah and put it in his mouth and thus render it unfit.  When one drinks unclean liquid, why did the Rabbis decree uncleanness in his case? — Because he may sometimes drink unclean liquid and take food of terumah and put it in his mouth, and thus render it unfit. But it is the same thing! — You might argue, The first is usual but not the second:  therefore he informs us [that it is not so]. And one who comes with his head and the greater part of his body] into drawn water, why did the Rabbis decree uncleanness in his case? — Said R. Bibi in R. Assi's name: Because originally people performed tebillah  in collected pit water, which was stagnant [noisome], and so they poured drawn water upon them selves.  [But when] they began to make this a fixed [law], the Rabbis imposed uncleanness thereon. What is meant by 'a fixed [law]?'Abaye said: They maintained, Not this [pit water] purifies, but both together purify. Said Raba to him, Then what did it matter, seeing that they did perform tebillah in this [the pit water]? But, said Raba, they maintained, Not this [the pit water] purifies but that [the drawn water]. And a clean person upon whose head and the greater part of his body there fell three logs of drawn water, why did the Rabbis decree uncleanness in his case? For if not this, the other would not stand. And why did the Rabbis impose uncleanness upon a Book? Said R. Mesharsheya: Because originally food of terumah was stored near the Scroll of the Law, with the argument, This is holy and that is holy.  But when it was seen that they [the Sacred Books] came to harm,  the Rabbis imposed uncleanness upon them. 'And the hands'? — Because hands are fidgety.  It was taught: Also hands which came into contact with a Book  disqualify terumah, on account of R. Parnok['s dictum]. For R. Parnok said in R. Johanan's name: One who holds a Scroll of the Law naked  will be buried naked. 'Naked!' can you really think so? Rather said R. Zera, [It means] naked without good deeds.  'Without good deeds!' can you really think so?  Rather say, naked, without that good deed [to his credit]. Which was first enacted? Shall we say that the former was first enacted?