בבא מציעא קז

בבא מציעא קז

מֵיקֵל,

is lenient, as he maintains that donors are not particular in this regard. This shows that Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel is not bothered by a change of mind if no harm results.

אָמַר אַבָּיֵי, טַעְמָא דְּרַבָּן שִׁמְעוֹן כִּדְמָר. דְּאָמַר מָר: הַאי מַאן דְּנִיחָא לֵיהּ דְּתִתְבַּיַּר אַרְעֵיהּ – לִיזְרְעַהּ שַׁתָּא חִטֵּי וְשַׁתָּא שְׂעָרֵי, שַׁתָּא שְׁתִי וְשַׁתָּא עֵרֶב.

Abaye said: Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel’s reason is as explained by the Master, Abaye’s teacher Rabba, as the Master says: One for whom it is preferable to grow crops and yet have his land remain as fertile as if it lay fallow should plant wheat one year and barley the next year. In addition, he should plant one year lengthwise and the following year crosswise. In this manner, he will prevent the field from being weakened.

וְלָא אֲמַרַן אֶלָּא דְּלָא כָּרֵיב וְתָנֵי, אֲבָל כָּרֵיב וְתָנֵי – לֵית לַן בַּהּ.

The Gemara comments: And we said that his use of the land with-out following these dictates would weaken it only where he does not plow and repeat his plowing, i.e., plow the field twice before reseeding it, but if he plows and repeats his plowing, we have no problem with it. Consequently, the reasoning of Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel is that a change of crops at the wrong time can weaken the field.

תְּבוּאָה לֹא יִזְרָעֶנָּה קִטְנִית [וְכוּ׳]. מַתְנֵי לֵיהּ רַב יְהוּדָה לְרָבִין: תְּבוּאָה – יִזְרָעֶנָּה קִטְנִית. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: וְהָא אֲנַן תְּנַן: תְּבוּאָה – לֹא יִזְרָעֶנָּה קִטְנִית! אֲמַר לֵיהּ: לָא קַשְׁיָא, הָא לַן וְהָא לְהוּ.

§ The mishna states that one who receives a field to plant it with grain may not plant it with legumes. Rav Yehuda taught Ravin that the halakha is that one who receives a field to plant it with grain may plant it with legumes. Ravin said to him: But didn’t we learn in the mishna that one who receives a field to plant it with grain may not plant it with legumes? Rav Yehuda said to him: This is not difficult, as this halakha is for us, the residents of Babylonia, and that halakha is for them, the residents of Eretz Yisrael. Since what type of seed to plant depends on the quality of the land, in Eretz Yisrael, where the land is weak, there is concern that the land will be weakened. This concern does not apply to Babylonian fields.

אֲמַר לֵיהּ רַב יְהוּדָה לְרָבִין בַּר רַב נַחְמָן: רָבִין אֲחִי, הָנֵי תַּחְלֵי דְּבֵי כִתָּנָא אֵין בָּהֶן מִשּׁוּם גָּזֵל. עוֹמְדוֹת עַל גְּבוּלִין – יֵשׁ בָּהֶן מִשּׁוּם גָּזֵל.

Rav Yehuda said to Ravin bar Rav Naḥman: Ravin my brother, those cress plants that grow among flax are not subject to the prohibition of robbery, as the one taking them is effectively weeding the field, and the owner prefers that the cress not grow so as to not affect the growing flax. But if the plants stand on the boundary of where the flax is growing, so that their remaining there would not have a negative impact on the growing flax, they are subject to the prohibition of robbery, as it is assumed that the owner grew the plants there intentionally.

וְאִם הוּקְשׁוּ לְזֶרַע – אֲפִילּוּ דְּבֵי כִתָּנָא נָמֵי יֵשׁ בָּהֶם מִשּׁוּם גָּזֵל. מַאי טַעְמָא? מַאי דְּאַפְסֵיד – אַפְסֵיד.

And if the cress plants were sufficiently grown to the point that they were hardened with seed growing inside, i.e., they were fully grown, then even if they were among the flax, they are subject to the prohibition of robbery. What is the reason? Concerning that flax to which they have already caused a loss, they have already caused the loss. Since the flax has already been damaged, by removing the cress now he does nothing to improve the crop and merely takes something from the owner.

אֲמַר לֵיהּ רַב יְהוּדָה לְרָבִין בַּר רַב נַחְמָן: רָבִין אַחִי, הָנֵי דִּילִי – דִּילָךְ, וְדִילָךְ – דִּילִי. נְהוּג בְּנֵי מִצְרָא: אִילָן הַנּוֹטֶה לְכָאן – לְכָאן, וְהַנּוֹטֶה לְכָאן – לְכָאן.

Ravin bar Rav Naḥman and Rav Yehuda owned adjacent fields, and their trees leaned over the boundaries. Rav Yehuda said to Ravin bar Rav Naḥman: Ravin my brother, these that are mine are yours, and those that are yours are mine. This is because it is customary with regard to those whose fields border on the field of their neighbors that with regard to a tree that tilts to here, i.e., to the property of one of them, its fruit belongs to the owner of the field here, to where it is tilting, and with regard to one that tilts to there, i.e., to the other side, its fruit belongs to the owner of the field there, as neighbors are not particular which portion of the land actually grew the fruit.

דְּאִיתְּמַר: אִילָן הָעוֹמֵד עַל הַמֶּיצֶר, אָמַר רַב: הַנּוֹטֶה לְכָאן – לְכָאן. וְהַנּוֹטֶה לְכָאן – לְכָאן, וּשְׁמוּאֵל אָמַר: חוֹלְקִין.

As a dispute was stated about this issue between amora’im: With regard to a tree that stands on the border between fields, Rav says: That which tilts to here, i.e., to this field, its fruit belongs to the owner of the field here, and that which tilts to there belongs to the owner of the field there. And Shmuel says: The owners of the two fields divide all the fruit.

מֵיתִיבִי: אִילָן הָעוֹמֵד עַל הַמֶּיצֶר – יַחְלוֹקוּ. תְּיוּבְתָּא דְּרַב! תַּרְגְּמָא שְׁמוּאֵל אַלִּיבָּא דְּרַב, בִּמְמַלֵּא כָּל הַמֶּיצֶר כּוּלּוֹ.

The Gemara raises an objection from a baraita: With regard to a tree that stands on the border between fields, they divide its fruit. This is apparently a conclusive refutation of Rav. The Gemara responds: Shmuel interpreted the baraita so that it should be in accordance with the opinion of Rav as referring to a case where the tree fills the entire boundary, and consequently it belongs to both of them.

אִי הָכִי, מַאי לְמֵימְרָא? לָא צְרִיכָא דִּתְלֵי טוּנֵיהּ לְחַד גִּיסָא. וְאַכַּתִּי מַאי לְמֵימְרָא? מַהוּ דְּתֵימָא: דְּאָמַר לֵיהּ פְּלוֹג הָכִי, קָא מַשְׁמַע לַן דְּאָמַר לֵיהּ: מַאי חָזֵית דְּפָלְגַתְּ הָכִי – פְּלוֹג הָכִי.

The Gemara asks: If so, this is obvious; what is the purpose of the baraita stating its ruling? The Gemara answers: No, it is necessary in a situation where its boughs hang more to one side. The Gemara asks: But still, what is the purpose of stating it? The novelty of this halakha remains unclear. The Gemara explains: It is necessary, lest you say that the owner of the field above which the boughs hang can say to the owner of the other field: Let us divide the fruit in this manner, where each of us receives the fruit that grows over his land. The tanna therefore teaches us that the owner of the other field may say to him: What did you see to make you prefer to divide the fruit in this manner, based on bisecting the tree in one direction; divide the fruit instead in that manner, i.e., based on bisecting the tree in the other direction, so that we each receive an equal share.

אֲמַר לֵיהּ רַב יְהוּדָה לְרָבִין בַּר רַב נַחְמָן: רָבִין אֲחִי, לָא תִּזְבֹּין אַרְעָא דִּסְמִיכָא לְמָתָא, דְּאָמַר רַבִּי אֲבָהוּ אָמַר רַב הוּנָא אָמַר רַב: אָסוּר לוֹ לְאָדָם שֶׁיַּעֲמוֹד עַל שְׂדֵה חֲבֵירוֹ בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁעוֹמֶדֶת בְּקָמוֹתֶיהָ.

§ Rav Yehuda said to Ravin bar Rav Naḥman: Ravin my brother, do not buy land that is near a town, as Rabbi Abbahu says that Rav Huna says that Rav says: It is prohibited for a person to stand by another’s field when its ripe grain is standing, i.e., when its produce is ready for harvest, as he might harm the produce with the evil eye. Similarly, land near a town may be harmed by the people of the town watching it.

אִינִי? וְהָא אַשְׁכְּחִינְהוּ רַבִּי אַבָּא לְתַלְמִידֵיהּ דְּרַב, אֲמַר לְהוּ: מַאי אָמַר רַב בְּהָנֵי קְרָאֵי ״בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה בָּעִיר וּבָרוּךְ אַתָּה בַּשָּׂדֶה״, ״בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה בְּבֹאֶךָ וּבָרוּךְ אַתָּה בְּצֵאתֶךָ״?

The Gemara asks: Is that so? But when Rabbi Abba encountered Rav’s students he said to them: What does Rav say with regard to the meaning of these verses of blessing: “Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the field” (Deuteronomy 28:3), and: “Blessed shall you be when you enter, and blessed shall you be when you exit” (Deuteronomy 28:6)?

וַאֲמַרוּ לֵיהּ, הָכִי אָמַר רַב: ״בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה בָּעִיר״ – שֶׁיְּהֵא בֵּיתְךָ סָמוּךְ לְבֵית הַכְּנֶסֶת. ״בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה בַּשָּׂדֶה״ – שֶׁיְּהוּ נְכָסֶיךָ קְרוֹבִים לָעִיר. ״בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה בְּבֹאֶךָ״ – שֶׁלֹּא תִּמְצָא אִשְׁתְּךָ סְפֵק נִדָּה בִּשְׁעַת בִּיאָתְךָ מִן הַדֶּרֶךְ. ״בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה בְּצֵאתֶךָ״ – שֶׁיְּהוּ צֶאֱצָאֵי מֵעֶיךָ כְּמוֹתְךָ.

And they said to him: This is what Rav said: “Blessed shall you be in the city” means that your house should be adjacent to a synagogue, and the phrase: “Blessed shall you be in the field” means that your property should be near the city. “Blessed shall you be when you enter” means that you will not find your wife in a state where it is uncertain whether she has the halakhic status of a menstruating woman when you come in from a journey, which would render her forbidden to you. “Blessed shall you be when you go out” means that those who emerge from you, i.e., your descendants, should be like you.

וַאֲמַר לְהוּ: רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן לָא אָמַר הָכִי, אֶלָּא: ״בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה בָּעִיר״ – שֶׁיְּהֵא בֵּית הַכִּסֵּא סָמוּךְ לְשׁוּלְחָנְךָ, אֲבָל בֵּית הַכְּנֶסֶת לָא. וְרַבִּי יוֹחָנָן לְטַעְמֵיהּ, דְּאָמַר: שְׂכַר פְּסִיעוֹת יֵשׁ.

And Rabbi Abba said to them: Rabbi Yoḥanan did not say this, but he interpreted the verse as follows: “Blessed shall you be in the city,” means that there should be a bathroom near your table, but he did not refer to a synagogue. The Gemara adds: And Rabbi Yoḥanan conforms to his line of reasoning in this regard, as he says: There is a reward for the steps one takes to reach the location of a mitzva, and one who lives adjacent to a synagogue will not have the opportunity to earn this reward.

״בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה בַּשָּׂדֶה״ – שֶׁיְּהוּ נְכָסֶיךָ מְשׁוּלָּשִׁין: שְׁלִישׁ בִּתְבוּאָה, שְׁלִישׁ בְּזֵיתִים, וּשְׁלִישׁ בִּגְפָנִים. ״בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה בְּבֹאֶךָ וּבָרוּךְ אַתָּה בְּצֵאתֶךָ״ – שֶׁתְּהֵא יְצִיאָתְךָ מִן הָעוֹלָם כְּבִיאָתְךָ לְעוֹלָם. מָה בִּיאָתְךָ לְעוֹלָם בְּלֹא חֵטְא, אַף יְצִיאָתְךָ מִן הָעוֹלָם בְּלֹא חֵטְא.

The Gemara returns to Rabbi Yoḥanan’s exposition of the verses: “Blessed shall you be in the field” means that your property should be divided into thirds: One-third should be invested in grain, one-third in olives, and one-third in grapevines. “Blessed shall you be when you enter and blessed shall you be when you exit” means that your exit from the world should be like your entry into the world: Just as your entry into the world was without sin, so too your exit from the world should be without sin.

לָא קַשְׁיָא: הָא דִּמְהַדַּר לֵיהּ שׁוּרָא וְרִתְקָא, הָא דְּלָא מְהַדַּר לֵיהּ שׁוּרָא וְרִתְקָא.

In any case, it is evident that Rav approves of one whose property is located near a city. How does this accord with his statement that there is concern for the evil eye when one’s field is viewed by people? The Gemara answers: This is not difficult. This statement is referring to a wall and an additional partition [ritka] that surround the plot and prevent it from being harmed by the evil eye. That statement is referring to a case where a wall and an additional partition do not surround it.

״וְהֵסִיר ה׳ מִמְּךָ כׇּל חֹלִי״, אָמַר רַב: זוֹ [הָ]עַיִן. רַב לְטַעְמֵיהּ. דְּרַב סָלֵיק לְבֵי קִבְרֵי, עֲבַד מַאי דַּעֲבַד, אֲמַר: תִּשְׁעִין וְתִשְׁעָה בְּעַיִן רָעָה, וְאֶחָד בְּדֶרֶךְ אֶרֶץ.

§ The Gemara returns to expounding the themes of blessings and the evil eye. The Torah states: “And the Lord will take away from you all sickness” (Deuteronomy 7:15). In interpreting this verse, Rav says: This verse is speaking about the evil eye. The Gemara comments: Rav conforms to his line of reasoning, as Rav went to a graveyard, and did what he did, i.e., he used an incantation to find out how those buried there died, and he said: Ninety-nine of these died by the evil eye, and only one died by entirely natural means.

וּשְׁמוּאֵל אָמַר: זֶה הָרוּחַ. שְׁמוּאֵל לְטַעְמֵיהּ, דְּאָמַר שְׁמוּאֵל: הַכֹּל בָּרוּחַ. וְלִשְׁמוּאֵל: הָא אִיכָּא הֲרוּגֵי מַלְכוּת! הָנָךְ נָמֵי, אִי לָאו זִיקָא, עָבְדִי לְהוּ סַמָּא וְחָיֵי.

And Shmuel says: This term: “All sickness,” refers to the wind. The Gemara comments: Shmuel conforms to his line of reasoning, as Shmuel says: Every injury suffered by people is due to the wind that enters wounds and bodily cavities. The Gemara asks: But according to Shmuel, aren’t there those executed by the monarchy and others killed by traumatic injury and not the wind? The Gemara responds: With regard to these too, were it not for the wind, they would prepare a medicine for those injured people and they would be healed and live, but the wind prevents this from happening.

רַבִּי חֲנִינָא אָמַר: זוֹ צִינָּה, דְּאָמַר רַבִּי חֲנִינָא: הַכֹּל בִּידֵי שָׁמַיִם, חוּץ מִצִּנִּים פַּחִים. שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״צִנִּים פַּחִים בְּדֶרֶךְ עִקֵּשׁ שׁוֹמֵר נַפְשׁוֹ יִרְחַק מֵהֶם״.

Rabbi Ḥanina says: This phrase: “All sickness,” refers to the cold, as Rabbi Ḥanina says: All occurrences that befall man are at the hands of Heaven, except for excess cold and heat, as it is stated: “Cold and heat are on the path of the perverse; he who guards his soul shall keep far from them” (Proverbs 22:5). This indicates that cold and heat are forms of harm caused by man, from which one can protect himself.

רַבִּי יוֹסֵי בַּר חֲנִינָא אָמַר: זוֹ צוֹאָה. דְּאָמַר מָר: צוֹאַת הַחוֹטֶם, וְצוֹאַת הָאוֹזֶן – רוּבָּן קָשֶׁה, וּמִיעוּטָן יָפֶה.

Rabbi Yosei bar Ḥanina says: This phrase: “All sickness,” refers to excrement, as the Master says: With regard to excrement of the nose, i.e., mucous, and excrement of the ear, i.e., earwax, if a large amount is emitted, having much of it is harmful, but having a bit of it is beneficial.

רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר אָמַר: זוֹ מָרָה. תַּנְיָא נָמֵי הָכִי: ״מַחֲלָה״ – זוֹ מָרָה, וְלָמָּה נִקְרָא שְׁמָהּ ״מַחֲלָה״ – שֶׁהִיא מַחֲלָה כׇּל גּוּפוֹ שֶׁל אָדָם. דָּבָר אַחֵר: ״מַחֲלָה״, שֶׁשְּׁמוֹנִים וּשְׁלֹשָׁה חֳלָאִים תְּלוּיִן בַּמָּרָה. וְכוּלָּן, פַּת שַׁחֲרִית בְּמֶלַח וְקִיתוֹן שֶׁל מַיִם מְבַטַּלְתָּן.

Rabbi Elazar says: This term: “All sickness,” refers to the gall bladder. The Gemara adds: This is also taught in a baraita: With regard to the term: “Sickness,” this refers to the gall bladder. And why is the gall bladder called sickness? It is because it makes a person’s entire body ill. Alternatively, it is called sickness because eighty-three diseases, the numerical value of maḥala, sickness, are dependent on the gall bladder. The Gemara comments: And with regard to all of them, consuming bread in the morning with salt and drinking a large jug of water negates their ill effects, as a simple morning meal is beneficial to the body.

תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: שְׁלֹשָׁה עָשָׂר דְּבָרִים נֶאֶמְרוּ בְּפַת שַׁחֲרִית: מַצֶּלֶת מִן הַחַמָּה, וּמִן הַצִּנָּה, וּמִן הַזִּיקִין, וּמִן הַמַּזִּיקִין, וּמַחְכִּימַת פֶּתִי, וְזוֹכֶה בַּדִּין, לִלְמוֹד תּוֹרָה וּלְלַמֵּד, וּדְבָרָיו נִשְׁמָעִין, וְתַלְמוּדוֹ מִתְקַיֵּים בְּיָדוֹ,

§ The Gemara cites a related baraita: The Sages taught that thirteen matters of praise were stated with regard to a meal of bread eaten in the morning: It protects the diner from the heat, and from the cold, and from the winds, and from the harmful spirits; and it makes the simple wise, and one who consumes it will be victorious in judgment, he will merit to learn Torah and to teach it, and his statements are heard, and his study will remain in his possession.

וְאֵין בְּשָׂרוֹ מַעֲלֶה הֶבֶל, וְנִזְקָק לְאִשְׁתּוֹ, וְאֵינוֹ מִתְאַוֶּה לְאִשָּׁה אַחֶרֶת, וְהוֹרֶגֶת כִּינָּה שֶׁבִּבְנֵי מֵעַיִם. וְיֵשׁ אוֹמְרִים: אַף מוֹצִיאָ[ה] אֶת הַקִּנְאָה וּמַכְנֶיסֶ[ת] אֶת הָאַהֲבָה.

In addition, his flesh does not generate excess sweat, and he engages in intercourse with his wife at the proper time, and he does not lust for another woman, and this meal is so advantageous that it even kills any louse in his intestines. And some say it even removes jealousy and brings in love. Since he is completely healthy, he is not inclined to be angered by others.

אֲמַר לֵיהּ רַבָּה לְרָבָא בַּר מָרִי: מְנָא הָא מִילְּתָא דְאָמְרִי אִינָשֵׁי: שִׁיתִּין רָהֹיטֵי רְהוּט וְלָא מְטוֹ לְגַבְרָא דְּמִצַּפְרָא כְּרַךְ. וַאֲמַרוּ רַבָּנַן: הַשְׁכֵּם וֶאֱכוֹל, בְּקַיִץ מִפְּנֵי הַחַמָּה וּבַחוֹרֶף מִפְּנֵי הַצִּינָּה.

In relation to the above baraita, Rabba said to Rava bar Mari: From where is this matter that people say derived: Sixty runners ran but could not catch the man who ate in the morning, and the Sages likewise said: Arise early and eat, in the summer due to the sun and in the winter due to the cold, so that one’s body should have the strength to withstand the climate.

אֲמַר לֵיהּ, דִּכְתִיב: ״לֹא יִרְעָבוּ וְלֹא יִצְמָאוּ וְלֹא יַכֵּם שָׁרָב וָשָׁמֶשׁ״, לֹא יַכֵּם שָׁרָב וָשָׁמֶשׁ – כֵּיוָן דְּלָא יִרְעָבוּ וְלֹא יִצְמָאוּ.

Rava bar Mari said to him: It is derived from a verse, as it is written: “They shall not hunger nor thirst, neither shall the heat nor sun smite them” (Isaiah 49:10). Why will the heat and the sun not smite them? Since they shall not hunger nor thirst, as they rose early to eat.

אֲמַר לֵיהּ: אַתְּ אָמְרַתְּ לִי מֵהָתָם, וַאֲנָא אָמֵינָא לָךְ מֵהָכָא: ״וַעֲבַדְתֶּם אֵת ה׳ אֱלֹהֵיכֶם וּבֵרַךְ אֶת לַחְמְךָ וְאֶת מֵימֶיךָ״. ״וַעֲבַדְתֶּם אֵת ה׳ אֱלֹהֵיכֶם״ – זוֹ קְרִיאַת שְׁמַע וּתְפִלָּה. ״וּבֵרַךְ אֶת לַחְמְךָ וְאֶת מֵימֶיךָ״ – זוֹ פַּת בַּמֶּלַח וְקִיתוֹן שֶׁל מַיִם, מִכָּאן וְאֵילָךְ: ״וַהֲסִרֹתִי מַחֲלָה מִקִּרְבֶּךָ״.

Rava said to him: You said to me that it is derived from there, but I say to you that it is derived from here, a different verse: “And you shall serve the Lord your God, and He will bless your bread and your water” (Exodus 23:25), which he interprets as follows: “And you shall serve the Lord your God,” this refers to the recitation of Shema and the Amida prayer, both of which constitute daily service of God. “And He will bless your bread and your water,” this refers to bread with salt and a large jug of water consumed after morning prayers. From that point onward, the rest of the verse: “And I will take sickness away from your midst,” will be fulfilled.

אֲמַר לֵיהּ רַב יְהוּדָה לְרַב אַדָּא מָשׁוֹחָאָה: לָא תְּזַלְזֵל בְּמִשְׁחֲתָא, דְּכֹל פּוּרְתָּא וּפוּרְתָּא חֲזִי לְכוּרְכְּמָא רִישְׁקָא. אֲמַר לֵיהּ רַב יְהוּדָה לְרַב אַדָּא מָשׁוֹחָאָה: אַרְבַּע אַמּוֹת דְּאַנִּיגְרָא – זַלְזֵל בְּהוּ. דְּאַנַּהֲרָא לָא תִּמְשְׁחִנְהוּ כְּלָל.

§ Rav Yehuda said to Rav Adda the surveyor: Do not treat measuring lightly even for small areas of land, as each little bit is suitable for growing the cultivated [rishka] saffron, a very expensive product. Rav Yehuda further said to Rav Adda the surveyor: With regard to the four cubits measured adjacent to an irrigation channel, you may treat them lightly, and it is not necessary to provide an exact measurement of them when calculating the areas of fields. And as for the four cubits adjacent to a river, do not measure them at all, but simply estimate the size and include them in the larger measurement.

רַב יְהוּדָה לְטַעְמֵיהּ, דְּאָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה: אַרְבַּע אַמּוֹת דְּאַנִּיגְרָא – לִבְנֵי אנִיגְרָא. דְּאַנַּהֲרָא – דְּכוּלֵּי עָלְמָא.

The Gemara comments: In this regard, Rav Yehuda conforms to his line of reasoning, as Rav Yehuda says: The four cubits adjacent to a channel belong to the residents of the houses alongside the channel, while the four cubits adjacent to a river belong to everyone.

מַכְרִיז רַבִּי אַמֵּי: מְלֵא כַּתְפֵי נַגָּדֵי בִּתְרֵי עֶבְרֵי נַהֲרָא – קוּצוּ. רַב נָתָן בַּר הוֹשַׁעְיָא קַץ שִׁיתְּסַר אַמְּתָא. אֲתוֹ עֲלֵיהּ בְּנֵי מַשְׁרוֹנְיָא, דַּפְנוּהּ. הוּא סָבַר כִּרְשׁוּת הָרַבִּים, וְלָא הִיא: הָתָם בָּעֵינַן כּוּלֵּי הַאי, הָכָא מִשּׁוּם אַמְתּוֹחֵי (אַשְׁלֵיהֶן) [אַשְׁלַיְהוּ] הוּא, כִּמְלֵא כַּתְפֵי נַגָּדֵי סַגִּי.

Rabbi Ami would announce: Cut down the trees along the width of the full shoulders of the pullers of the boat on both sides of the river so that the trees should not interfere with the pulling of the boats. The Gemara relates: Rav Natan bar Hoshaya instructed people to cut down sixteen cubits on each side of the river, and the residents of Mashronya came upon him and beat him for issuing this directive. The Gemara explains: He holds that any pathway must be made as wide as like a public domain, which is sixteen cubits wide. But that is not so, as there, in the case of a public domain, we do require that much space; here, however, the space is necessary needs to be only enough to enable the stretching of the ropes to pull the boats. Therefore, the width of the full shoulders of the pullers is the sufficient measure of space needed in order not to interfere with the pulling of the boats.

רַבָּה בַּר רַב הוּנָא הֲוָה לֵיהּ הָהוּא אִבָּא אַגּוּדָּא דְנַהֲרָא, אֲמַרוּ לֵיהּ: נִיקּוֹץ מָר! אֲמַר לְהוּ: קוּצוּ עִילָּאֵי וְתַתָּאֵי, וַהֲדַר נִיקּוֹץ אֲנָא. הֵיכִי עָבֵיד הָכִי? וְהָכְתִיב: ״הִתְקוֹשְׁשׁוּ וָקוֹשּׁוּ״, וְאָמַר רֵישׁ לָקִישׁ: קְשׁוֹט עַצְמְךָ וְאַחַר כָּךְ קְשׁוֹט אֲחֵרִים!

The Gemara relates another incident: Rabba bar Rav Huna had a certain forest on the bank of a river. They said to him: Let the Master cut down the trees on the riverbank in accordance with the above statement. Rabba bar Rav Huna said to them: Let those above and below me along the river cut down their trees first, and then I will cut down my trees. I will achieve nothing by cutting down my trees on my own. The Gemara asks: How can he do so, i.e., wait for others to act? But isn’t it written: “Gather yourselves together, and gather [hitkosheshu vakoshu]” (Zephaniah 2:1), and Reish Lakish says concerning this: Adorn [keshot] yourself and afterward adorn others. Therefore, one must first perform the required action himself before offering advice to others.

הָתָם אִבָּא דְּבֵי פַרְזַק רוּפִילָא הֲוָה, וְאָמַר: אִי קָיְיצוּ – קָיֵיצְנָא, וְאִי לָא קָיְיצוּ – אַמַּאי אִיקּוֹץ. דְּאִי מִמַּתְחִי לְהוּ – אַשְׁלַיְיהוּ מִסְתַּגִּי לְהוּ,

The Gemara responds: There it was the forest of the house of Parzak, the general, and it was obvious that they would pay no attention to a Jewish scholar. Rabba bar Rav Huna therefore said: If the workers of the Persian officer cut down, I will cut down as well, and if they do not cut down, why should I cut down for no purpose? Since if the pullers can stretch their ropes they can go along this side of the river,