Study Eruvin folio 9B with parallel Hebrew-English text, traditional commentary, and modern study tools. Free access to Babylonian Talmud online.
Text Excerpt
רב אשי אמר: כגון שרצפו בלחיים פחות פחות מארבעה במשך ארבע אמות.
The Talmud provides an alternative explanation of R' Yoḥanan’s statement. Rav Ashi said: According to R' Yoḥanan, carrying in the area between the side posts is actually permitted. The dispute between Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel and the Rabbis concerning the principle of lavud is in a case where there was an alleyway that one lined with side posts, each positioned less than 4 handbreadths from the next, and the side posts extend for a length of 4 cubits.
לרבן שמעון בן גמליאל דאמר: אמרינן לבוד — הוה ליה מבוי, וצריך לחי אחר להתירו. ולרבנן דאמרי: לא אמרינן לבוד — לא צריך לחי אחר להתירו.
According to Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel, who said that for a gap of up to 4 handbreadths we say that the principle of lavud applies, all the side posts are considered a single side post, and since the side post in that case is 4 cubits long, it is considered a separate alleyway; therefore, it requires an additional side post to permit carrying in it. And according to the Rabbis, who say that we do not say that the principle of lavud applies unless the gap is less than 3 handbreadths, this area does not require an additional side post to permit carrying within it.
ולרבן שמעון בן גמליאל, להוי כנראה מבחוץ ושוה מבפנים!
The Talmud asks: And even according to the opinion of Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel, why is another side post required? Let it have the same legal status as a side post that is visible from the outside, protruding from the wall of the alleyway, but appears to be even with the wall from the inside. Since it is evident from the outside that it is a side post and not part of the building, carrying is permitted there.