## Eruvin Daf 58a

###### Eruvin 58a:1
[Eruvin 58a:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Eruvin/r/58a:1)

וּבִלְבַד שֶׁלֹּא יֵצֵא חוּץ לַתְּחוּם.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**provided he does not** thereby **go out beyond the** city’s Shabbat **limit,** as those watching the surveyor might mistakenly think the limit extends to that point.


###### Eruvin 58a:2
[Eruvin 58a:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Eruvin/r/58a:2)

אִם אֵינוֹ יָכוֹל לְהַבְלִיעוֹ — בְּזוֹ אָמַר רַבִּי דּוֹסְתַּאי בַּר יַנַּאי מִשּׁוּם רַבִּי מֵאִיר: שָׁמַעְתִּי שֶׁמְּקַדְּרִין בֶּהָרִים.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**If,** due to the width of the canyon or hill, **he cannot span it, with regard to this** situation **Rabbi Dostai bar Yannai said in the name of Rabbi Meir: I heard that one may pierce hills.** In other words, one measures the distance as if there were a hole from one side of the hill to the other, so that in effect, he measures only the horizontal distance and ignores the differences in elevation.


###### Eruvin 58a:3
[Eruvin 58a:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Eruvin/r/58a:3)

**גְּמָ׳** מְנָא הָנֵי מִילֵּי? אָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה אָמַר רַב: דְּאָמַר קְרָא ״אֹרֶךְ הֶחָצֵר מֵאָה בָאַמָּה וְרוֹחַב חֲמִשִּׁים בַּחֲמִשִּׁים״, אָמְרָה תּוֹרָה: בְּחֶבֶל שֶׁל חֲמִשִּׁים אַמָּה מְדוֹד.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**GEMARA:** The Gemara asks: **From where are these matters,** that the Shabbat limit must be measured with a rope fifty cubits long, derived? **Rav Yehuda said** that **Rav said:** They are derived from **that** which **the verse states: “The length of the courtyard shall be one hundred cubits, and the breadth fifty by fifty”** (Exodus 27:18). **The Torah states: Measure with a rope of fifty cubits,** i.e., the length and breadth of the courtyard must be measured “by fifty,” with a rope fifty cubits long.


###### Eruvin 58a:4
[Eruvin 58a:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Eruvin/r/58a:4)

הַאי מִיבְּעֵי לֵיהּ לִיטּוֹל חֲמִשִּׁים וּלְסַבֵּב חֲמִשִּׁים.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara asks: **This** repetitive usage of the word fifty **is necessary** to teach us something else, namely, that the area of a courtyard is equivalent to a square the size of the Tabernacle’s courtyard. To this end, the Torah states: **Take** a square of **fifty** cubits by fifty cubits, **and surround** it with the remaining **fifty** cubits in order to form a square, each side of which is just over seventy cubits long.


###### Eruvin 58a:5
[Eruvin 58a:5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Eruvin/r/58a:5)

אִם כֵּן לֵימָא קְרָא: ״חֲמִשִּׁים חֲמִשִּׁים״, מַאי ״חֲמִשִּׁים בַּחֲמִשִּׁים״? שָׁמְעַתְּ מִינַּהּ תַּרְתֵּי.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara answers: **If so, let the verse state: Fifty, fifty,** which would have sufficed to teach us the size and shape of a courtyard. **What is** the significance of the phrase: **Fifty by fifty? Conclude from this** that the verse comes to teach **two** things, both the matter of the square courtyard and that the length of the rope used to measure the Shabbat limit should be fifty cubits long.


###### Eruvin 58a:6
[Eruvin 58a:6](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Eruvin/r/58a:6)

לֹא פָּחוֹת וְלֹא יוֹתֵר. תָּנָא: לֹא פָּחוֹת — מִפְּנֵי שֶׁמַּרְבֶּה, וְלֹא יוֹתֵר — מִפְּנֵי שֶׁמְּמַעֵט.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
We learned in the mishna: One may measure a Shabbat limit only with a rope fifty cubits long, **not less and not more. It was taught** in the *Tosefta*: **No less, because** a shorter rope improperly **increases** the Shabbat limit, as the rope is likely to be stretched. **And no more, because** a longer rope **reduces** the limit, as the rope is likely to sag due to its weight.


###### Eruvin 58a:7
[Eruvin 58a:7](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Eruvin/r/58a:7)

אָמַר רַבִּי אַסִּי: אֵין מוֹדְדִין אֶלָּא בְּחֶבֶל שֶׁל אַפְסְקִימָא. מַאי אַפְסְקִימָא? אָמַר רַבִּי אַבָּא: נַרְגִּילָא. מַאי נַרְגִּילָא? אָמַר רַבִּי יַעֲקֹב: דִּיקְלָא דְּחַד נְבָרָא. אִיכָּא דְּאָמְרִי: מַאי אַפְסְקִימָא? רַבִּי אַבָּא אָמַר: נַרְגִּילָא, רַבִּי יַעֲקֹב אָמַר: דִּיקְלָא דְּחַד נְבָרָא.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Rabbi Asi said: One may measure only with a rope of *afsakima*.** The Gemara asks: **What is *afsakima*? Rabbi Abba said:** It is the ***nargila*** plant. This name was also not widely known, and therefore the Gemara asks: **What is *nargila*? Rabbi Ya’akov said: A palm tree** that has only **one fibrous vine** wrapped around it. **Some say** a different version of the previous discussion, according to which the Gemara asked: **What is *afsakima*? Rabbi Abba said:** It is the ***nargila*** plant. **Rabbi Ya’akov** disagreed and **said:** It is **a palm tree** with **one fibrous vine.**


###### Eruvin 58a:8
[Eruvin 58a:8](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Eruvin/r/58a:8)

תַּנְיָא, אָמַר רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן חֲנַנְיָא: אֵין לְךָ שֶׁיָּפֶה לִמְדִידָה יוֹתֵר מִשַּׁלְשְׁלָאוֹת שֶׁל בַּרְזֶל, אֲבָל מַה נַּעֲשֶׂה שֶׁהֲרֵי אָמְרָה תּוֹרָה: ״וּבְיָדוֹ חֶבֶל מִדָּה״.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**It was taught** in a *baraita* that **Rabbi Yehoshua ben Ḥananya said: You have nothing better for measuring than iron chains,** as they do not stretch. **But what shall we do, as the Torah states:** “I lifted up my eyes again and looked, and behold a man **with a measuring rope in his hand”** (Zechariah 2:5), from which it is derived that measurements must be made with a rope.


###### Eruvin 58a:9
[Eruvin 58a:9](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Eruvin/r/58a:9)

וְהָכְתִיב: ״וּבְיַד הָאִישׁ קְנֵה הַמִּדָּה״? הָהוּא, לְתַרְעֵי.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara asks: **Isn’t it** also **written: “And in the man’s hand a measuring reed** of six cubits long, of one cubit and a handbreadth each” (Ezekiel 40:5), which indicates that reeds may also be used for measuring? The Gemara answers: **That is** used **for** measuring **gates,** which are too narrow to be measured with lengthy ropes.


###### Eruvin 58a:10
[Eruvin 58a:10](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Eruvin/r/58a:10)

תָּנֵי רַב יוֹסֵף, שְׁלֹשָׁה חֲבָלִים הֵם: שֶׁל מָגָג, שֶׁל נֵצֶר, וְשֶׁל פִּשְׁתָּן.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Rav Yosef taught** that **there are three** kinds of **rope,** each required by *halakha* for a different purpose: A rope **of *magag*,** a kind of bulrush reed; a rope **of *netzer*,** made from fibrous palm vines; **and** a rope **of flax.**


###### Eruvin 58a:11
[Eruvin 58a:11](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Eruvin/r/58a:11)

שֶׁל מָגָג לְפָרָה, דִּתְנַן: כְּפָתוּהָ בְּחֶבֶל הַמָּגָג וּנְתָנוּהָ עַל גַּב מַעֲרַכְתָּהּ. שֶׁל נְצָרִים לְסוֹטָה, דִּתְנַן: וְאַחַר כָּךְ מֵבִיא חֶבֶל הַמִּצְרִי וְקוֹשְׁרוֹ לְמַעְלָה מִדַּדֶּיהָ. שֶׁל פִּשְׁתָּן לִמְדִידָה.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
They are used for the following purposes: A rope **of *magag*** is utilized **for** the burning of **the** red **heifer, as we learned** in a mishna: **They would bind** the heifer **with a rope of *magag* and place it on its woodpile,** where it would be burned after it was slaughtered. A rope **of *netzer*** was required **for a *sota*,** a woman suspected of adultery, **as we learned** in a mishna: Before the *sota* is compelled to drink the bitter waters, her clothes are torn. **And after that** a priest **brings a *mitzri* rope,** i.e., a rope made of reeds [*netzarim*], **and binds it above her breasts,** so that her garments will not fall. A rope **of flax** is used **for measuring.**


###### Eruvin 58a:12
[Eruvin 58a:12](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Eruvin/r/58a:12)

הָיָה מוֹדֵד וְהִגִּיעַ. מִדְּתָנֵי: ״חוֹזֵר לְמִידָּתוֹ״, מִכְּלָל דְּאִם אֵינוֹ יָכוֹל לְהַבְלִיעוֹ — הוֹלֵךְ לְמָקוֹם שֶׁיָּכוֹל לְהַבְלִיעוֹ, וּמַבְלִיעוֹ, וְצוֹפֶה כְּנֶגֶד מִידָּתוֹ, וְחוֹזֵר.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
It was stated in the mishna: If **he was measuring** the limit **and he reached** a canyon or a fence, he spans the area as if it were completely flat and then resumes his measurement. The Gemara comments: **From** the fact that **it taught** that **he resumes his measurement,** it may be derived **by inference that if he cannot span it** because it is too wide, **he goes to a place where** it is narrower so that **he can span it. And he spans it, and he** then **looks** for the spot at the same distance that is **aligned with his** original **measurement, and he resumes** his measurement from there.


###### Eruvin 58a:13
[Eruvin 58a:13](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Eruvin/r/58a:13)

תְּנֵינָא לְהָא, דְּתָנוּ רַבָּנַן: הָיָה מוֹדֵד וְהִגִּיעַ הַמִּידָּה לְגַיְא, אִם יָכוֹל לְהַבְלִיעוֹ בְּחֶבֶל שֶׁל חֲמִשִּׁים אַמָּה — מַבְלִיעוֹ. וְאִם לָאו — הוֹלֵךְ לִמְקוֹם שֶׁיָּכוֹל לְהַבְלִיעוֹ, וּמַבְלִיעוֹ, וְצוֹפֶה וְחוֹזֵר לְמִידָּתוֹ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara comments that **we have** indeed **learned this, as the Sages taught** the following *baraita*: In the case of **one who was measuring** the Shabbat limit **and the measurement reached a canyon, if he can span** the canyon **with a rope of fifty cubits,** i.e., if the canyon is less than fifty cubits wide, **he spans it. And if not,** i.e., if the valley is more than fifty cubits wide, **he goes to a place where** it is narrower so that **he can span it, and he spans it, and he** then **looks** for the spot at the same distance that aligns with his original measurement, **and he resumes his measurement** from there.


###### Eruvin 58a:14
[Eruvin 58a:14](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Eruvin/r/58a:14)

אִם הָיָה גֵּיא מְעוּקָּם — מַקְדִּיר וְעוֹלֶה, מַקְדִּיר וְיוֹרֵד. הִגִּיעַ לְכוֹתֶל — אֵין אוֹמְרִים יִקּוֹב הַכּוֹתֶל, אֶלָּא אוֹמְדוֹ וְהוֹלֵךְ לוֹ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The *baraita* continues: **If the canyon was curved** so that it surrounds the city on more than one side, and it cannot be spanned on the side where he wishes to measure the limit, **he pierces and ascends, pierces and descends,** thereby measuring the canyon’s width bit by bit. If **he reached a wall, we do not say that he should pierce the wall** so that it can be precisely measured; **rather, he estimates** its width **and** then **leaves** and continues on.


###### Eruvin 58a:15
[Eruvin 58a:15](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Eruvin/r/58a:15)

וְהָא אֲנַן תְּנַן: מַבְלִיעוֹ וְחוֹזֵר לְמִידָּתוֹ? הָתָם, נִיחָא תַּשְׁמִישְׁתָּא. הָכָא, לָא נִיחָא תַּשְׁמִישְׁתָּא.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara asks: **Didn’t we learn** in the mishna: If he reached a canyon or fence, **he spans it and** then **resumes his measurement?** Why is a precise measurement required there, whereas in the case of a wall, an estimate is sufficient? The Gemara explains: **There,** in the mishna, we are dealing with a place whose **use is convenient,** i.e., where the slope is relatively gentle so that the area can be crossed. Therefore, the area must actually be measured. However, **here,** in the *baraita*, the wall’s **use is not convenient.** Since one cannot walk through the wall, an estimate of its width is sufficient.


###### Eruvin 58a:16
[Eruvin 58a:16](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Eruvin/r/58a:16)

אָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה אָמַר שְׁמוּאֵל: לֹא שָׁנוּ אֶלָּא שֶׁאֵין חוּט הַמִּשְׁקוֹלֶת יוֹרֵד כְּנֶגְדּוֹ,

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Rav Yehuda said** that **Shmuel said: They taught** the method of piercing **only where a plumb line does not drop straight down,** i.e., where the canyon has a slope.