Eruvin 17a

עירובין י״ז ע״א

Learn Eruvin 17a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Partitions for a caravan on שבת, changes in group size during שבת, and the four leniencies for a military camp

Overview

This amud finishes the laws of a שיירא (caravan) that puts up partitions so its members can carry on שבת. First the גמרא explains why רב נחמן's ruling can follow רבי יוסי ברבי יהודה in one clause and the רבנן in the other. רב גידל then reports רב's puzzling rule about three people in five or seven בית סאה. רב אשי explains it: what matters is unused space. If בית סאתים of the enclosure stays empty (empty of utensils, as the ברייתא means), carrying is forbidden. Next, רב הונא and רבי יצחק argue about a group whose size changes during שבת: does the start of שבת decide, or the current residents? The גמרא shows that רב הונא holds שבת גורמת. It then shows that their dispute is not simply the older dispute of רבי יהודה and רבי יוסי. The גמרא also explains how the חכמים in the משנה differ from the תנא קמא: they disagree about a lone person in a settled area. A new משנה then lists four leniencies for soldiers in an army camp. The גמרא explains the wood rule against יהושע's ten conditions, and begins explaining why fallen soldiers are buried where they fell. That answer continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (26)

1. ChallengeDoes one ruling follow two different opinions?
2. ResolutionYes, because the father agrees with the son
3. StatementThree people: forbidden in five, permitted in seven
4. QuestionColleagues doubt the report
5. Responseרב גידל swears the report is true
6. ResolutionIt depends on how much space they need
7. ChallengeChallenge from the ברייתא about empty space
8. ResolutionEmpty means empty of utensils
9. StatementWhen the number of people changes during שבת
10. ProofProof that רב הונא holds שבת decides
11. QuestionIs this the same as the dispute of רבי יוסי and רבי יהודה?
12. Statementרבי יוסי: the status cannot split between this שבת and the future
13. QuestionSuggesting that each אמורא follows one of the תנאים
14. Rejectionרב הונא can agree with רבי יוסי because the walls still stand
15. Rejectionרבי יצחק can agree with רבי יהודה because the residents are gone
16. QuestionHow is the view of the חכמים different from the first opinion?
17. ResponseThe difference: a lone person in a settled area
18. StatementFour leniencies for soldiers in a military camp
19. StatementSoldiers in an optional war may take dry wood
20. StatementCamping anywhere and burying the fallen where they died
21. ChallengeChallenge: יהושע already allowed gathering wood
22. ResolutionFirst answer: thorny shrubs versus other wood
23. ResolutionSecond answer: attached versus cut wood
24. ResolutionThird answer: moist versus dry wood
25. ChallengeWhy teach burial on the spot if a מת מצוה is already buried where found?
26. ResolutionThe burial rule is still needed (the answer begins)