Gittin 60b

וּפָרָשַׁת שְׁתוּיֵי יַיִן, וּפָרָשַׁת נֵרוֹת, וּפָרָשַׁת פָּרָה אֲדוּמָּה.

the section dealing with priests who have become intoxicated with wine (Leviticus 10:8–11); the section of the lamps (Numbers 8:1–7); and the section of the red heifer (Numbers, chapter 19), as all of these sections are necessary for service in the Tabernacle.

אָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר: תּוֹרָה – רוֹב בִּכְתָב וּמִיעוּט עַל פֶּה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״אֶכְתּוֹב לוֹ רוּבֵּי תּוֹרָתִי כְּמוֹ זָר נֶחְשָׁבוּ״. וְרַבִּי יוֹחָנָן אָמַר: רוֹב עַל פֶּה וּמִיעוּט בִּכְתָב, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״כִּי עַל פִּי הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה״.

§ The Gemara continues its discussion concerning the writing of the Torah: Rabbi Elazar says: The majority of the Torah was transmitted in writing, while the minority was transmitted orally, as it is stated: “I wrote for him the greater part of My Torah; they were reckoned a strange thing” (Hosea 8:12), meaning that the majority of the Torah was transmitted in written form. And Rabbi Yoḥanan says: The majority of the Torah was transmitted orally [ al peh ], while the minority was transmitted in writing, as it is stated with regard to the giving of the Torah to Moses on Mount Sinai: “For on the basis of [ al pi ] these matters I have made a covenant with you and with Israel” (Exodus 34:27), which indicates that the greater part of the Sinaitic covenant was taught orally.

וְאִידַּךְ נָמֵי, הָכְתִיב: ״אֶכְתּוֹב לוֹ רוּבֵּי תּוֹרָתִי״! הָהוּא, אַתְמוֹהֵי קָא מַתְמַהּ: אֶכְתּוֹב לוֹ רוּבֵּי תּוֹרָתִי?! הֲלֹא ״כְּמוֹ זָר נֶחְשָׁבוּ״!

The Gemara asks: And according to the other Sage, Rabbi Yoḥanan, as well, isn’t it written: “I wrote for him the greater part of My Torah”? How does he understand this verse? The Gemara answers: This verse is not a statement, but rather a rhetorical question expressing bewilderment: For did I write for him the greater part of My Torah? In that case they, the Jewish people, would be reckoned as strangers, meaning that there would be no difference between them and the nations of the world if everything was written down. Rather, the majority of the Torah must remain an oral tradition.

וְאִידַּךְ נָמֵי, הָכְתִיב: ״כִּי עַל פִּי הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה״! הַהוּא – מִשּׁוּם דְּתַקִּיפִי לְמִיגְמְרִינְהוּ.

The Gemara asks: And according to the other Sage, Rabbi Elazar, as well, isn’t it written: “For on the basis of these matters I have made a covenant with you and with Israel”? How does he understand this verse? The Gemara answers: That verse, which indicates that the covenant was based on that which was taught by oral tradition, is stated due to the fact that it is more difficult to learn matters transmitted orally, but not because these matters are more numerous than those committed to writing.

דָּרֵשׁ רַבִּי יְהוּדָה בַּר נַחְמָנִי, מְתוּרְגְּמָנֵיהּ דְּרַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן לָקִישׁ, כְּתִיב: ״כְּתוֹב לְךָ אֶת הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה״, וּכְתִיב: ״כִּי עַל פִּי הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה״ – הָא כֵּיצַד? דְּבָרִים שֶׁבִּכְתָב אִי אַתָּה רַשַּׁאי לְאוֹמְרָן עַל פֶּה, דְּבָרִים שֶׁבְּעַל פֶּה אִי אַתָּה רַשַּׁאי לְאוֹמְרָן בִּכְתָב, דְּבֵי רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל. תָּנָא: ״אֵלֶּה״ – אֵלֶּה אַתָּה כּוֹתֵב, וְאִי אַתָּה כּוֹתֵב הֲלָכוֹת.

Rabbi Yehuda bar Naḥmani, the disseminator for Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish, expounded as follows: It is written: “Write you these matters” (Exodus 34:27), and it is written later in that same verse: “For on the basis of [ al pi ] these matters.” How can these texts be reconciled? They mean to teach: Matters that were written you may not express them orally [ al peh ], and matters that were taught orally you may not express them in writing. The school of Rabbi Yishmael taught: The word “these” in the mitzva recorded in the verse “Write you these matters” is used here in an emphatic sense: These matters, i.e., those recorded in the Written Law, you may write, but you may not write halakhot , i.e., the mishnayot and the rest of the Oral Law.

אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: לֹא כָּרַת הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בְּרִית עִם יִשְׂרָאֵל, אֶלָּא בִּשְׁבִיל דְּבָרִים שֶׁבְּעַל פֶּה – שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״כִּי עַל פִּי הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה כָּרַתִּי אִתְּךָ בְּרִית וְאֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל״.

Rabbi Yoḥanan says: The Holy One, Blessed be He, made a covenant with the Jewish people only for the sake of the matters that were transmitted orally [ be’al peh ], as it is stated: “For on the basis of [ al pi ] these matters I have made a covenant with you and with Israel” (Exodus 34:27).

מְעָרְבִין בְּבַיִת יָשָׁן, מִפְּנֵי דַּרְכֵי שָׁלוֹם. מַאי טַעְמָא? אִילֵּימָא מִשּׁוּם כָּבוֹד, וְהָא הָהוּא שִׁיפּוּרָא, דַּהֲוָה מֵעִיקָּרָא בֵּי רַב יְהוּדָה, וּלְבַסּוֹף בֵּי רַבָּה, וּלְבַסּוֹף בֵּי רַב יוֹסֵף, וּלְבַסּוֹף בֵּי אַבָּיֵי, וּלְבַסּוֹף בֵּי רָבָא!

§ The mishna teaches that the Sages enacted that a joining of courtyards [ eiruv ] is placed in an old house where it had regularly been placed on account of the ways of peace. The Gemara asks: What is the reason for this? If we say that it is to show respect to the owner of that house, but wasn’t it related about a certain charity box, which was fashioned for the benefit of the community and brought honor to the person in whose house it was placed, that initially it was placed in Rav Yehuda’s house, and afterward it was moved to Rabba’s house, and afterward it was transferred to Rav Yosef’s house, and afterward it was moved to Abaye’s house, and afterward it was moved to Rava’s house. This teaches that there is no issue here of respect, and that such items would ordinarily be moved from place to place.

אֶלָּא מִשּׁוּם חֲשָׁדָא.

Rather, say instead that the Sages instituted this enactment to avoid arousing suspicion. Since the eiruv had regularly been placed in a particular house, were it to be moved, people might think that the residents of the alleyway suspected that the owner of the house was stealing from them, and therefore they put it somewhere else.

בּוֹר שֶׁהוּא קָרוֹב לָאַמָּה וְכוּ׳: אִיתְּמַר: בְּנֵי נַהֲרָא; רַב אָמַר: תַּתָּאֵי שָׁתוּ מַיָּא בְּרֵישָׁא, וּשְׁמוּאֵל אֲמַר: עִילָּאֵי שָׁתוּ מַיָּא בְּרֵישָׁא.

§ The mishna teaches that the Sages enacted that the pit that is nearest to the irrigation channel that supplies water to several pits or fields is filled first on account of the ways of peace. It was stated that the amora’im disagree about the following issue: When people own fields along a river and they irrigate their fields with water that is redirected from it, who among them enjoys first rights to irrigate his field? Rav said: The owners of the lowermost fields drink the water, i.e., irrigate their fields, first. And Shmuel said: The owners of the uppermost fields drink the water first.

בִּדְמֵיזַל – כּוּלֵּי עָלְמָא לָא פְלִיגִי. כִּי פְלִיגִי – בְּמִיסְכַּר וְאַשְׁקוֹיֵי; שְׁמוּאֵל אָמַר: עִילָּאֵי שָׁתוּ מַיָּא בְּרֵישָׁא, דְּאָמְרִי: אֲנַן מְקָרְבִינַן טְפֵי. וְרַב אָמַר: תַּתָּאֵי שָׁתוּ מַיָּא בְּרֵישָׁא, דְּאָמְרִי: נַהֲרָא כִּפְשָׁטֵיהּ לֵיזִיל.

The Gemara explains: With regard to a case where the water flows on its own, everyone agrees that whoever wishes to irrigate may do so as he wishes. When they disagree, it is with regard to a case where they need to dam the river and irrigate through channels. Shmuel said: The owners of the uppermost fields drink the water first because they can say: We are nearer to the river’s headwaters. And Rav said: The owners of the lowermost fields drink the water first because they can say: Let the river go its natural way and after we take what we need, dam it as you please.

תְּנַן: בּוֹר הַקָּרוֹב לָאַמָּה, מִתְמַלֵּא רִאשׁוֹן – מִפְּנֵי דַּרְכֵי שָׁלוֹם! תַּרְגְּמַהּ שְׁמוּאֵל אַלִּיבָּא דְּרַב: בְּאַמָּה הַמִּתְהַלֶּכֶת עַל פִּי בוֹרוֹ.

We learned in the mishna that the Sages enacted that the pit that is nearest to the irrigation channel that supplies water to several pits or fields is filled first on account of the ways of peace. This teaches that the party who is nearest to the water’s source enjoys first rights, and it supports Shmuel’s opinion and is difficult for Rav. Shmuel interpreted the mishna in accordance with the opinion of Rav: The mishna refers here to an irrigation channel that passes the mouth of the pit, so that the pit fills with water on its own, even without damming.

אִי הָכִי, מַאי לְמֵימְרָא? מַהוּ דְּתֵימָא, מָצֵי אָמְרִי לֵיהּ: סְכַר מִיסְכָּר, וְאַשְׁקִי בְּהִינְדָּזָא; קָא מַשְׁמַע לַן.

The Gemara asks: If so, what is the purpose of stating this? It is obvious. The Gemara answers: Lest you say that the owners of the other fields can say to the owner of the pit: Dam your pit as well so that water not enter it, and irrigate your fields in proportion [ hindeza ], just like the rest of us. The mishna therefore teaches us that the owner of the pit is not required to do this, and consequently his pit is filled first.

אָמַר רַב הוּנָא בַּר תַּחְלִיפָא: הַשְׁתָּא דְּלָא אִיתְּמַר הִלְכְתָא לָא כְּמָר וְלָא כְּמָר, כֹּל דְּאַלִּים גָּבַר.

Rav Huna bar Taḥalifa said: Now that the halakha was stated neither in accordance with the opinion of this Sage, Rav, nor in accordance with the opinion of that Sage, Shmuel, whoever is stronger prevails. Since the halakha has not been decided, the court refuses to judge the case and leaves the claimants to settle the matter themselves, in the hope that the rightful party will exert himself and prevail.

רַב שִׁימִי בַּר אָשֵׁי אֲתָא לְקַמֵּיהּ דְּאַבָּיֵי, אֲמַר לֵיהּ: לוֹתְבַן מָר בְּעִידָּנָא! אֲמַר לֵיהּ: אִית לִי עִידָּנָא לְדִידִי. וְלוֹתְבַן מָר בְּלֵילְיָא! אֲמַר לֵיהּ: אִית לִי מַיָּא לְאַשְׁקוֹיֵי. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: אֲנָא מַשְׁקֵינָא לֵיהּ לְמָר מַיָּא בִּימָמָא, וְלוֹתְבַן מָר בְּלֵילְיָא! אֲמַר לֵיהּ: לְחַיֵּי.

Rav Shimi bar Ashi came before Abaye and said to him: Master, set a time for me to study with you. Abaye said to him: I have a set time for myself, and I cannot devote it to you. Rav Shimi bar Ashi said to him: Master, set a time for me at night, and we can study then. Abaye said to him: I have to bring water at night with which to irrigate my fields. Rav Shimi bar Ashi said to him: I will irrigate for Master during the day, and then Master can set a time for me at night to study with him. Abaye said to him: Very well; this is an acceptable arrangement.

אֲזַל לְעִילָּאֵי, אֲמַר לְהוּ: תַּתָּאֵי שָׁתוּ מַיָּא בְּרֵישָׁא. אֲזַל לְתַתָּאֵי, אֲמַר לְהוּ: עִילָּאֵי שָׁתוּ מַיָּא בְּרֵישָׁא. אַדְּהָכִי סְכַר מִיסְכָּר וְאַשְׁקִי. כִּי אֲתָא לְקַמֵּיהּ דְּאַבָּיֵי, אֲמַר לֵיהּ: כְּבֵי תְרֵי עֲבַדְתְּ לִי! וְלָא טַעְמִינְהוּ אַבָּיֵי לְפֵירֵי דְּהַהִיא שַׁתָּא.

What did Rav Shimi bar Ashi do? He first went to the owners of the uppermost fields, and said to them: The owners of the lowermost fields drink the water first, in accordance with the opinion of Rav. He then went to the owners of the lowermost fields, and said to them: The owners of the uppermost fields drink the water first, in accordance with the opinion of Shmuel. In the meantime, while the owners of the upper fields and the lower fields were arguing over who has first rights to the water, Rav Shimi bar Ashi dammed the river and irrigated Abaye’s fields. When he came before Abaye, the latter said to him: You have acted for me in accordance with two opposing opinions. And Abaye would not even taste the produce of that year because he thought that the water had reached his field in an unlawful manner.

הָנְהוּ בְּנֵי בֵּי חַרְמָךְ, דַּאֲזוּל כְּרוֹ בְּרֵישָׁא דְשַׁנְווֹתָא, וְאַהְדְּרוּהּ וְשַׁדְיוּהּ בְּשִׁילְהֵי נַהֲרָא. אֲתוֹ עִילָּאֵי לְקַמֵּיהּ דְּאַבָּיֵי, אֲמַרוּ לֵיהּ: קָא מַתְקֵיל לְנַהֲרִין! אֲמַר לְהוּ: כְּרוֹ בַּהֲדַיְיהוּ טְפֵי פּוּרְתָּא. אֲמַרוּ לֵיהּ: קָא יָבְשִׁי פֵּירִין. אֲמַר לְהוּ: זִילוּ סַלִּיקוּ נַפְשַׁיְיכוּ מֵהָתָם.

It is related that there were certain residents of a place called Bei Ḥarmakh who went and dug a channel at the head of the Shanvata River in order to divert the water and allow it to circle their fields, and then they returned the water to the river further downstream. Those who owned fields further upstream came before Abaye, and said to him: This damages our river, as the water is not flowing as it once had. Abaye said to them: Dig a little deeper with them, and that should solve the problem. They said to him: If we do that, our pits will become dry. Once Abaye heard this he said to the residents of Bei Ḥarmakh: Go remove yourselves from there, and dam the diversion that you made for the river.

מְצוּדוֹת חַיָּה וְעוֹפוֹת וְדָגִים, יֵשׁ בָּהֶן וְכוּ׳: בְּאוּזְלֵי וְאוֹהָרֵי

§ The mishna teaches: Taking animals, birds, or fish that were caught in traps belonging to another person is considered robbery on account of the ways of peace. And Rabbi Yosei says that this is full-fledged robbery. The Gemara comments: With regard to nets [ uzlei ] and woven traps [ oharei ],