Gemara Clarity

Eruvin 42a

עירובין מ״ב ע״א

Learn Eruvin 42a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Eruvin 42a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Produce returned to the תחום (רבי נחמיה's 'במקומן'), and walking and carrying in a valley walled in on שבת

Overview

The amud opens by asking what רבי נחמיה means when he says produce 'במקומן' (in its place) may be eaten. That cannot mean produce returned on purpose, because another ברייתא has רבי נחמיה permit only an accidental return. So the גמרא fills in missing words (חסורי מחסרא): the תנא קמא permits produce back in its place even if it was returned במזיד, and רבי נחמיה permits it only if it was returned בשוגג. The גמרא tries another reading, in which everyone forbids a deliberate return. It rejects that reading because the wording of the סיפא shows the תנא קמא permits even a deliberate return. Then רב נחמן brings two rulings in the name of שמואל. First, someone who does not know his תחום may count 2,000 medium steps. Second, someone in a valley that נכרים walled in on שבת may walk 2,000 אמה but may carry in the whole enclosure by throwing. רב הונא disagrees: carry only ד' אמות. The גמרא explains his reasons: the person might follow his object, and his zone is like a wall breached completely toward a forbidden area. A statement of חייא בר רב is reread as support for רב הונא. Finally, רב נחמן tells רב הונא that a ברייתא supports שמואל, and the ברייתא is quoted on the next amud.

Opening lines

רַבִּי נְחֶמְיָה אוֹמֵר:

Rabbi Nechemya says:

בִּמְקוֹמָן — יֵאָכֵלוּ,

If in their place, they may be eaten;

שֶׁלֹּא בִּמְקוֹמָן — לֹא יֵאָכֵלוּ.

if not in their place, they may not be eaten.

מַאי בִּמְקוֹמָן?

What is meant by 'in their place'?

The steps (22)

  1. Statementרבי נחמיה's ruling about produce in its place
  2. QuestionWhat does 'in its place' mean?
  3. ChallengeIt cannot mean returned on purpose
  4. ResponseIt means returned by accident, and the ברייתא is missing words
  5. ResponseThe missing words: back in place, even on purpose is fine
  6. Responseרבי נחמיה: even in its place, only an accidental return helps
  7. RejectionAnother way to read the argument: both sides forbid a deliberate return
  8. ChallengeThe wording of the סיפא shows the תנא קמא permits even a deliberate return
  9. ConclusionConclusion: the original inference stands
  10. StatementMeasuring the תחום שבת with ordinary steps
  11. StatementA valley walled in on שבת: walk 2,000, carry everywhere by throwing
  12. Statementרב הונא: walk 2,000 אמה, carry only ד' אמות
  13. ChallengeWhy not carry in the whole area by throwing?
  14. ResolutionHe might follow his object out of his limit
  15. ChallengeThen at least carry normally within 2,000 אמה
  16. ResolutionThe 2,000-אמה zone is like a fully breached wall
  17. Statementחייא בר רב allows carrying throughout the 2,000 אמה
  18. ChallengeThis opinion matches neither side
  19. ResolutionCorrect the wording to four cubits
  20. ChallengeThen it is just רב הונא's opinion
  21. ResolutionIt is a supporting statement for רב הונא
  22. Proofרב נחמן: a ברייתא supports שמואל