Babylonian Talmud: Tractate Shabbath

Folio 98a

less than four cubits, he is not culpable. What does this inform us? — This is what he informs us, that [similar] domains combine,¹  and we do not say, An object caught up [in the air] is as at rest.²

R. Samuel b. Judah said in R. Abba's name in R. Huna's name in the name of Rab: If one carries [an article] four cubits in covered public ground, he is liable, because it is not like the banners of the wilderness.³  But that is not so? for the waggons surely were covered,⁴  and yet Rab said in R. Hiyya's name: As for the waggons, beneath them, between them, and at their sides it was public ground?⁵ — Rab referred to the interspaces⁶  — Consider: what was the length of the waggons? Five cubits. What was the breadth of the board? A cubit and a half. Then how many [rows] could be placed: three: thus leaving half a cubit, and when you divide it among them [the spaces] they are as joined!⁷ — Do you think that the boards lay on their width? they were laid on their thickness. Yet even so, what was the thickness of the board? One cubit. How many [rows] were [then] laid? Four, thus leaving a cubit, and when you divide it among them [the spaces] they are as joined!⁸  Now, on the view that the boards were one cubit thick at the bottom, but tapered to a fingerbreadth, it is well:⁹  but on the view that just as they were a cubit thick at the bottom, so at the top too, what can be said? — Said R. Kahana: (They were arranged] in clasped formation.¹⁰  Now, where were they placed: on the top of the waggon. But the waggon itself was covered?¹¹

1. If it travels part of the ground; this does not agree with R. Jose supra 80a.
2. For if we did, he would be culpable on account of carrying in from public to private ground, even if it does not travel four cubits over the latter.
3. V. supra 5a.
4. With the boards of the Tabernacle placed crosswise on top along their length.
5. V. supra 99a. The width of the waggons was five cubits, and five cubits' space was allowed between them in the breadth, whilst the boards were ten cubits in length. Hence when placed crosswise on top of the waggons they projected two and a half cubits on both sides; thus the space between them was completely covered over, and yet he states that it was public ground.
6. Between the rows of boards, which were not arranged close to each other.
7. For there was only a quarter cubit one and a half handbreadths between the rows of boards, whereas a space less then three cubits is disregarded (v. supra 97a).
8. For there are three spaces which give two handbreadths for each.
9. As there would be more at the ends than three handbreadths' space between each.
10. I.e., the four rows were not equidistant. but in two rows (as though clasped) at the head and at the tail of the waggon respectively, this leaving a cubit between them. This was necessary because each row contained three boards, which would give a height of four and a half cubits, and as the thickness was only one cubit they might otherwise topple over.
11. It is assumed that the floor of the waggon was completely closed, like the floor, e.g., of a cement-carrying lorry. How then did Rab state that the space underneath the waggon too was public ground? [The translation follows Rashi's reading and interpretation. R. Han and Tosaf, adopt different readings both here and supra. 'Rab referred to the interspaces', and explain accordingly.]

— Said Samuel: [The bottom consisted] of laths.

Our Rabbis taught: The boards were one cubit thick at the bottom, but tapered to a fingerbreadth at the top, for it is said, they shall be entire [thammim] unto the top thereof¹  whilst elsewhere it is said, [the waters …] ended [tammu] and were cut off;²  this is R. Judah's view. R. Nehemiah said: Just as their thickness at the bottom, was a cubit, so at the top was their thickness a cubit, for it is said, 'and in like manner [they shall be entire]'. But surely 'thammim' is written? That [teaches] that they were to come whole,³  and not divided.⁴  And the other too, surely is written 'in like manner'? — That [teaches] that they were not to erect them irregularly.⁵  Now, on the view that just as they were a cubit thick at the bottom, so were they at the top, it is well: thus it is written, And from the hinder part of the tabernacle westward thou shalt make six boards, and two boards shalt thou make for the corners of the tabernacle:⁶  thus the breadth of these comes and fills in the thickness of those.⁷  But on the view that they were a cubit thick at the bottom, while they tapered at the top to a fingerbreadth, one receded and the other protruded?⁸  They were planed mountain-fashion.⁹

And the middle bar in the midst of the boards [shall pass through from end to end].¹⁰  A Tanna taught: It lay¹¹  there by a miracle.¹²

Moreover thou shalt make the tabernacle with ten curtains. The length of each curtain shall be eight and twenty cubits.¹³  Throw their length over the breadth of the Tabernacle; how much was it? twenty-eight cubits. Subtract ten for the roof, and this leaves nine cubits on each side. According to R. Judah. the cubit of the sockets was left uncovered; according to R. Nehemiah, a cubit of the boards was uncovered [too].¹⁴  Cast their breadth over the length of the Tabernacle: how much was it? forty cubits.¹⁵  Subtract thirty for the roof,¹⁶  leaves ten. According to R. Judah the cubit of the sockets was covered; according to R. Nehemiah the cubit of the sockets was uncovered.

And thou shalt make curtains of goats' hair for a tent over the tabernacle: [eleven curtains shalt thou make them]. The length of each curtain Shall be be thirty cubits. [and the breadth of each curtain four cubits].¹⁷  Cast their length over the breadth of the Tabernacle; how much was it? Thirty. Subtract ten for the roof, which leaves ten [cubits] on each side. According to R. Judah the cubit of the sockets was covered; according to R. Nehemiah the cubit of the sockets was uncovered. It was taught likewise: And the cubit on one side, and the cubit of the other side of that which remaineth [in the length of the curtains of the tent]:¹⁸  this was to cover the cubit of the sockets: that is R. Judah's view. R. Nehemiah said: It was to cover the cubit of the boards.¹⁹  Cast their breadth over the length of the Tabernacle: how much was it? Forty-four [cubits]. Subtract thirty for the roof leaves fourteen. Subtract two for the doubling over, as it is written, and thou shalt double over the sixth curtain in the forefront of the tent,²⁰  leaves twelve. Now, according to R. Judah, it is well; thus it is written, the half curtain that remaineth shall hang;²¹  but according to R. Nehemiah, what is meant by [the half curtain …] shall hang?²² — It shall hang over its companions.²³  The School of R. Ishmael taught: What did the Tabernacle resemble? A woman who goes in the street and her skirts trail after her.²⁴

Our Rabbis taught: The boards were cut out and the sockets were grooved;²⁵

1. Ex, XXVI. 24.
2. Josh. III, 17.
3. Translating thammim as in E.V.
4. Each board was to be of one piece. not of two joined together (Rashi). Jast. translates: the boards were to be solid, not veneered.
5. Lit.. 'they were not to remove them one from another'; but they were all to stand in the same row.
6. Ex, XXVI, 22f.
7. Since the Tabernacle was ten cubits in breadth, and these six boards accounted for nine only, the additional two boards, one at each side made up the deficiency, whilst the extra cubit left in each fitted exactly over the thickness of the board ranged along the length of the Tabernacle,
8. Obviously these two side boards protruded at the top beyond the attenuated thickness of the boards ranged lengthwise. — 'one receded' refers to the latter.
9. These two boards were wider at the bottom and narrower at the top so that their outward line resembled a mountain slope. 'Aruch reads: like a gusset (ki tariz).
10. Ex. XXVI, 28.
11. Lit.. 'stood'.
12. It was one long straight bar which passed along the three walls; the necessary bending between the angles of the walls was miraculously done by itself.
13. Ibid. If.
14. The boards were fitted into sockets (v. 19) one cubit in height. Consequently if the thickness of the top was only one fingerbreadth, practically the whole length of the boards up to the socket was covered by the curtain; (the fingerbreadth and the slightly larger length of the hypotenuse being disregarded). But if the top too was one cubit in thickness. only eight cubits of the boards were covered.
15. I.e., ten curtains each of four cubits in breadth. Ibid. 2.
16. Which was the length of the Tabernacle, twenty boards each one and a half cubits broad,
17. Ibid. 7f.
18. Ibid. 13.
19. Left uncovered by the first covering. v. supra.
20. Ex. XXVI, 9.
21. Since R. Judah requires only a fingerbreadth for the top thickness of the board, practically two cubits-i.e., half a curtain hung, i.e., trailed on the floor.
22. only one cubit was left over, the other being required for the thickness.
23. Sc. the lower covering, beyond which the upper fell two cubits.
24. On the ground. So did the Tabernacle's covering trail too.
25. So that the former fitted into the latter.