Eruvin 84a

עירובין פ״ד ע״א

Learn Eruvin 84a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Eruvin 84a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Whether משניות and a ברייתא about balconies, cisterns and wall ledges settle the dispute between רב and שמואל over a spot reached by lowering versus throwing.

Overview

On the previous amud, רב and שמואל disagree about a spot that one group can reach only by lowering things down (שלשול) and another group only by throwing things up (זריקה). שמואל gives the spot to the lowering side, and רב forbids it to both. The גמרא first tries to prove שמואל from the משנה about a ten-טפחים mound that goes to the מרפסת. רב הונא answers that the משנה means people living right on the balcony, who reach the mound easily. The גמרא then shows that 'לחצר' in the משנה means 'also to the courtyard,' so a shared spot is forbidden to both sides. A second attempt uses the cistern rim and the rock. There the גמרא asks how a cistern can be used without lowering a bucket. אביי answers that it is full of untithed produce (טבל), which is not removed on שבת. The גמרא also explains why the משנה needs both the cistern and the rock. Finally, a ברייתא about courtyard and upper-story residents seems to prove רב, because a middle ledge would be forbidden. רב נחמן answers that the ברייתא speaks of a nineteen-טפחים wall, which has no middle zone at all.

Opening lines

The steps (25)

1. StatementThe balcony people are really upper-story residents
2. ProofSo the lowering side wins, which supports שמואל
3. RejectionNo, the משנה means people living on the balcony itself
4. ChallengeThen why does a low mound go only to the courtyard?
5. Resolution'To the courtyard' means 'also to the courtyard,' so both are forbidden
6. ProofSupport from the later clause of the משנה
7. ChallengeThe plain meaning of 'to the courtyard' does not fit
8. ResolutionIn the later clause, 'to the courtyard' means also to the courtyard
9. ConclusionThe same meaning applies to the earlier clause
10. ProofA new attempted proof from the cistern rim and the rock
11. Rejectionרב הונא: it means people living on the balcony level
12. ChallengeThat works for a rock, but what about a cistern?
13. ResolutionA cistern full of water
14. ChallengeBut the water level goes down
15. ResolutionAllowed when full, so allowed when low
16. RejectionThe opposite argument works just as well
17. ResolutionA cistern full of produce
18. ChallengeBut the produce also goes down
19. ResolutionThe produce is untithed, so none is taken
20. ProofThe wording of the משנה supports this reading
21. ChallengeWhy does the משנה need both cases?
22. ResolutionBoth cases are needed
23. ProofA ברייתא about courtyard and upper-story residents
24. ProofThe middle zone is forbidden to both
25. RejectionThe ברייתא is about a nineteen-handbreadth wall, so it has no middle zone