Shabbat

This follows a fortiori: if small [earthen] pitchers which cannot be defiled by a zab  can be defiled through the dead,  then a mat, which is defiled by a zab,  is surely defiled through the dead? But why so [it may be asked], seeing that it cannot be cleansed in a mikweh?  Said R. Hanina to him: There it is different, since some of its kind [of the same material] are [capable of being cleansed in a mikweh].  The All Merciful save us from this view! he exclaimed.  On the contrary, he retorted, The All Merciful save us from your view! And what is the reason?  Two verses are written: [i] and whosoever touches his bed; and [ii] every bed whereon he that hath the issue lieth [shall be unclean].  How are these [to be reconciled]? If something of its kind [can be cleansed in a mikweh], even if that itself cannot be cleansed in a mikweh [it is susceptible to midras]; but if nothing of its kind [can be cleansed in a mikweh], his bed is assimilated to himself. Raba said: [That] the midras of an earthen vessel is clean [is deduced] from the following: and every open vessel, which hath no covering bound upon it[, is unclean]:  hence, if it has a covering bound upon it, it is clean.  Now, does this not hold good [even] if he had appointed it [as a seat] for his wife, when a niddah, yet the Divine Law states that it is clean. MISHNAH. HOW DO WE KNOW THAT IF A SEED-BED IS SIX HANDBREADTHS SQUARE, WE MAY SOW THEREIN FIVE KINDS OF SEEDS, FOUR ON THE FOUR SIDES, AND ONE IN THE MIDDLE?  BECAUSE IT IS SAID, FOR AS THE EARTH BRINGETH FORTH HER BUD, AND AS THE GARDEN CAUSETH ITS SEEDS TO SPRING FORTH:  NOT ITS SEED, BUT ITS SEEDS IS STATED. GEMARA. How is this implied? — Said Rab judah: For as the earth bringeth forth her bud: 'bringeth forth' [denotes] one, [and] 'her bud' [denotes] one, which gives two; 'her seeds' [denotes] two,  making four; 'causeth to spring forth' denotes one, making five [in all],