Study Eruvin folio 16B with parallel Hebrew-English text, traditional commentary, and modern study tools. Free access to Babylonian Talmud online.
Text Excerpt
אתאן לרבן שמעון בן גמליאל דאמר: פחות מארבעה לבוד. דאי רבנן: משלשה ועד ארבעה? שלשה וארבעה חד הוא.
we have arrived at the opinion of Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel, who said: Concerning any gap less than 4 handbreadths wide, the principle of lavud is applied. As had it been taught in accordance with the opinion of the Rabbis, why does the baraita list from 3 to 4 handbreadths as a separate category? In the case of both 7 handbreadths, the halakha is one and the same: The principle of lavud does not apply from 3 handbreadths upward.
אמר אביי: מדרישא רבנן, סיפא נמי רבנן, ומודו רבנן דכל למישרא כנגדו, אי איכא מקום ארבעה — חשיב, ואי לא — לא חשיב.
Abaye said: From the fact that the first clause is in accordance with the opinion of the Rabbis, the latter clause must also be in accordance with the opinion of the Rabbis. And the Rabbis concede that with regard to any case where the halakha permits sowing other species in the area opposite the standing portion, if there is an area of 4 handbreadths, it is considered a significant partition, which permits sowing; and if not, it is not considered a significant partition and does not permit sowing. Accordingly, there is a difference between a fence of 3 handbreadths and one of 4 handbreadths, as even the Rabbis concede that a fence of 4 handbreadths is more significant.
רבא אמר: מדסיפא רבן שמעון בן גמליאל, רישא נמי רבן שמעון בן גמליאל. וכי אמר רבן שמעון בן גמליאל אמרינן לבוד — הני מילי למעלה, אבל למטה, הוה ליה כמחיצה שהגדיים בוקעין בה — לא אמרינן: לבוד.
Rava said: From the fact that the latter clause is in accordance with the opinion of Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel, the first clause must also be in accordance with the opinion of Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel. And when Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel said that we say the principle of lavud in the case of a gap up to 4 handbreadths wide, this applies above, off the ground, e.g., in the case of a cross beam suspended at a distance from the wall. However, below, near the ground, it is like a partition through which goats can pass, and therefore he too agrees that we do not say the principle of lavud in that case.