MISHNAH. SABBATH LIMITS MAY BE
MEASURED ONLY WITH A ROPE OF THE LENGTH OF FIFTY CUBITS NEITHER LESS NOR MORE;
The rabbis discuss what precisely this rope is. And why it
can only be 50 cubits long.
AND A MAN MAY MEASURE ONLY WHILE
HOLDING THE END OF THE ROPE ON A LEVEL WITH HIS HEART.
So it is long enough to be stretched between two people who
hold it at the same level. There is some recognition that some ropes will be
stretched slightly more than others, but the attempt is to be as precise as
possible.
IF IN THE COURSE OF MEASURING THE
SURVEYOR REACHED A GLEN OR A FALLEN WALL HE SPANS IT AND RESUMES HIS MEASURING;
IF HE REACHED A HILL HE SPANS IT AND RESUMES HIS MEASURING; PROVIDED HE DOES
NOT GO BEYOND THE SABBATH LIMIT. IF HE IS UNABLE TO SPAN IT — IN CONNECTION
WITH THIS R. DOSTAI B. JANNAI STATED IN THE NAME OF R. MEIR, I HAVE HEARD THAT
HILLS ARE TREATED AS THOUGH THEY WERE PIERCED’.
The rabbis give some detail on how this is accomplished:
it may be inferred that if he is unable
to span it he proceeds to a position from where he is able to do so and, after
spanning it, he makes the necessary observations [whereby he is enabled to
locate the point on the far side] that is in a straight line with his original
line of measuring and then he resumes [his measurements in a straight line] —
Thus we have here learnt what the Rabbis have taught elsewhere: If in the
course of measuring the measuring rope reached a glen, the surveyor may span it
if he can do so with a rope of fifty cubits, but if not, he proceeds to a
position from where he is able to span it and, having spanned it, he makes the
necessary observations [whereby he is enabled to locate the point on the far
sides that is in a straight line with his original line of measuring] and then
he resumes his measuring.
If the glen was a crooked one it is
pierced in an upward, as well as in a downward direction. If it reached a wall
we do not say: ‘Let the wall be bored through’; its thickness rather is estimated
and the measuring continues.
Yet, with all this attempt at precision, you can imagine
that there would be some variation. You would be right. Multiple measurements
might be made. What if they don’t agree?
IF THERE WAS A GREATER DISTANCE FOR
ONE AND A LESSER DISTANCE FOR ANOTHER, THE GREATER DISTANCE IS OBSERVED.
FURTHERMORE, EVEN A BONDMAN AND
EVEN A BONDWOMAN ARE BELIEVED WHEN THEY SAY, THUS FAR IS THE SABBATH LIMIT’, SINCE
THE SAGES DID NOT ENACT THE LAW IN ORDER TO ADD RESTRICTIONS BUT IN ORDER TO
RELAX THEM.
This is in keeping with the general principle “that you may
live by them” (Lev. 18:5) – the law should be liberalized! Or at least not be onerous.
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