Eruvin 58a

עירובין נ״ח ע״א

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Topic

Measuring the תחום שבת: the fifty-אמה rope, its material, and crossing ravines and walls

Overview

This amud finishes the משנה about measuring the תחום שבת and then explains it. A measurer who reaches a valley or hill may span it straight across with the rope, as long as he does not step past the תחום. If it is too wide, רבי מאיר's tradition says we 'pierce' it and count only the flat horizontal distance. The גמרא learns the fifty-אמה rope from the extra ב in 'חמשים בחמשים' in the פסוק about the חצר of the משכן. A ברייתא explains why the rope must be exactly fifty אמות: a shorter rope stretches and a longer one sags. The גמרא then discusses the rope's material. It brings רבי יהושע בן חנניה, who says iron chains would be more accurate but a פסוק requires a rope, and רב יוסף's list of three kinds of rope. Next it infers, and confirms from a ברייתא, that a ravine too wide to span is crossed at a narrower spot. A wall, which cannot be used, may simply be estimated. The amud ends as שמואל begins to limit the piercing method to a sloped ravine, and this continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (24)

1. StatementSpanning a valley is allowed only if he stays inside the limit
2. StatementIf the hill is too wide, measure as if piercing straight through
3. QuestionWhere do we learn the fifty-cubit rope?
4. Responseרב learns it from 'fifty by fifty' in the חצר of the משכן
5. ChallengeThat phrase is needed to teach the shape of a courtyard's area
6. ResolutionThe extra word 'by' teaches the second lesson
7. StatementWhy the rope must be exactly fifty אמות
8. StatementThe rope must be made of אפסקימא
9. QuestionWhat is אפסקימא?
10. Responseרבי אבא: it is נרגילא
11. QuestionWhat is נרגילא?
12. Responseרבי יעקב: a palm tree with a single fibrous vine
13. ResponseAnother version: רבי אבא and רבי יעקב give two different definitions
14. StatementIron chains measure better, but the Torah requires a rope
15. ChallengeA verse mentions a measuring reed, not a rope
16. ResolutionThe reed was for measuring gates
17. StatementThere are three kinds of rope
18. ProofEach rope has its own job, with sources
19. StatementWhen a ravine is too wide, span it at a narrower spot
20. ProofA ברייתא confirms the method for a ravine too wide to span
21. StatementA curved ravine is measured in pieces, and a wall is only estimated
22. ChallengeWhy is a wall only estimated when the משנה requires measuring?
23. ResolutionA usable area must be measured, but a wall that cannot be used is estimated
24. Statementשמואל limits the measuring rule to a sloped ravine