From reading Torah text, we are accustomed to long prose
passages describing physical items – forcing the reading to create a mental
image. For example the texts on construction of the Tabernacle in the
wilderness.
The Talmud also contains descriptions such as the this one delineating
the construction of seed-beds contained a variety of plants and how to keep
them separate (so as not to defy the law of “mixed seeds” – see previous post):
R. Assi said: The internal area of
the seed-bed must be six [handbreadths square], apart from its borders. It was
taught likewise: The internal area of the seed-bed must be six [handbreadths
square]. How much must its borders be?
Or
R. Kahana said in R. Johanan's
name: If one desires to fill his whole garden with vegetables, he can divide it
into bed[s] six [handbreadths] square, describe in each a circle five
[handbreadths in diameter], and fill its corners with whatever he pleases.
Interestingly, the commentary contains several diagrams –
illustrations of various layouts of seed beds, six handbreaths square. Here is an image of page 85a with the illustrating diagrams:
Ill
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