פירוש על עירובין 2:5

ועוד א"ר יהודה בן בבא – because he said one stringent thing regarding boards when he said that we don’t make them other than for a public well, and now he stated another stringency, for even if surrounding the dwelling, they did not permit more than from two Se’ah’s space (i.e., 70 2/3 cubits square); because of this it (i.e., the Mishnah) teaches "ועוד" /”and furthermore.”

Introduction In mishnah three we learned that the maximum size of a garden or karpaf (enclosed area for storing wood) within which one may carry on Shabbat is two bet se’ah, or 5000 square cubits, the size of the mishkan (tabernacle) which was 100 cubits by 50 cubits. Our mishnah discusses a square garden or karpaf.

שומירה – a booth/shed for watchmen and even though it surrounds the dwelling it is two Se’ah in size which is permitted, but not more.

Rabbi Judah ben Bava further said: a garden or a karpaf whose [area does not exceed] seventy cubits and a fraction by seventy cubits and a fraction, which is surrounded by a fence ten handbreadths high, it is permitted to carry within it, provided there is in it a watchman’s hut or a dwelling place or it is near to a town. If the garden or karpaf is square its sides can be 70 and a fraction cubits long. Most commentators consider this “fraction” to be up to 2/3. 70 2/3 squared is 4993 7/9, a number pretty close to the maximum 5000 (the square root of 5000 is 70.71...). Other commentators reckon the exact fraction slightly differently. Rabbi Judah ben Bava also requires that the garden or karpaf be at least partially enclosed to serve as living quarters (see mishnah three). If it has a watchman’s hut, or is used even temporarily as a dwelling place he may carry witin it. Additionally, if it is close enough to town (within 2000 cubits, the Shabbat limit see introduction) then he frequently goes there and it is as if he lives in it. If it does not meet these requirements Rabbi Judah ben Bava forbids carrying there.

סמוכה לעיר – for since it is near to his house, his intention is to use it always and is like it surrounding the house.

Rabbi Judah says: even if it contained only a cistern, a ditch or a cave it is permitted to carry within it. According to Rabbi Judah, in order to be allowed to carry in the garden or karpaf they need not serve as dwelling places, but they must have been enclosed to serve some purpose for human beings (and not just to store things). A cistern and a ditch are used to collect rain water and a cave protects a person from the hot sun.

ובלבד שתהא שבעים ושירים על שבעים ושירים – but not more, for the First Tanna/teacher also, above (Chapter 2, Mishnah 3), that they (i.e., the Rabbis) said to him: they did not state two Se’ah other than for a garden and an enclosed space (of seventy square cubits) outside of a town or a settlement, but if it was a shed (for cattle)/store-house or an enclosure (for cattle) or a courtyard, etc., it is according to Rabbi Akiva who stated it, for where there is a dwelling place, and even many of them also, and it is not surrounded by two Se’ah for a dwelling. And what is the difference between them? We stated in the Gemara (Talmud Eruvin 23b) that there is a small amount of difference between them, for two Se’ah is larger than seventy cubits and a fraction (i.e. 70 2/3 cubits) square for the first Tanna/teacher permits two complete Se’ah and Rabbi Akiva seventy cubits and a fraction by seventy cubits and a fraction (i.e. 70 2/3 cubits but no further. But how did we know that two Se’ah is more than seventy cuits and a fraction squared, for we said in the Gemara (Talmud Eruvin 23b) and how much are the two Se’ah? Like the courtyard of the Tabernacle/Mishkan and it is written about the courtyard of the Tabernacle (Exodus 27:18): “The length of the enclosure shall be a hundred cubits, and the width fifty throughout.” And we expound: What is "חמשים בחמשים" /”fifty throughout?” The Torah stated: Take fifty whose length is greater than its width and surround the fifty remaining to the measure of Shabbat which would be for them seventy cubits and four handbreadths square. How so? He made from them five strips of ten cubits wide and their length was fifty. Take one to the east and one to the west, its width is seventy and its length is fifty. Place one to the south and one to the north, one has seventy [cubits] by seventy [cubits], but the corners are impaired for each corner by ten by ten because of the addition that had been added. Take from the fifth strip four pieces of ten apiece and place them on the four corners and they will be filled. Take ten [cubits] by ten [cubits] that are remaining which are sixty handbreadths [by sixty handbreadths] and make of them strips of two handbreadths – that makes thirty strips the length of each one is ten cubits which are three-hundred cubits, put seventy in each direction that makes seventy [cubits] and four handbreadths by seventy cubits and four handbreadths, but the corners are impaired by two handbreadths by two handbreadths. And there remained in your hand twenty cubits: take from them eight handbreadths and place them on the corners and they will be filled, and there will remain in your hand eighteen cubits and four handbreadths length with the width of two handbreadths, and that is a small mount, and if you came to divide them and to surround [it], it does not reach the addition for the width two-thirds fingers for you have to make of it a strap of two hundred and eighty-three [cubits] length to encompass the four directions. Such I have found in the explanation of this approach in the commentary of Rashi, and it is correct. But Maimonides requested many calculations and I did not go down to the end of this knowledge and in what Rabbi Akiva said: Even if there isn’t even one of these things we carry in it, the Halakha is according to him, but what he is in dispute with the Sages and they said to him that above and he holds that seventy cubits and a fraction by seventy cubits and a fraction and no more – in this, the Halakha is according to the Sages. For the two Se’ah is like the courtyard of the Tabernacle is permitted for it is a small amount more than seventy cubits and a fraction squared.

Rabbi Akiva says: even if it contained none of these it is permitted to carry within it, provided its area [does not exceed] seventy cubits and a fraction by seventy cubits and a fraction. Rabbi Akiva says that as long as the karpaf or garden do not exceed the maximum size, it is permitted to carry within them, no matter what they are used for.

אם היתה ארכה יותר כעל רחבה – and even though he reduced its width and added on to its length, there isn’t in all of it other than two-Seah – we don’t carry for it is something squared that the Rabbis permitted where it is not surrounded for living. But the Halakha is according to Rabbi Yosi who disputes with Rabbi Eliezer and does not required squared.

Rabbi Eliezer says: if its length exceeded its breadth even by a single cubit it is not permitted to carry within it. Rabbi Eliezer says that one can only carry in a square karpaf or garden and not in a rectangular one.

Rabbi Yose says: even if its length is twice its breadth it is permitted to carry within it. Rabbi Yose says that the garden and karpaf can be rectangular or square. They can even be more rectangular than the mishkan, whose length was twice its width (100 x 50 cubits).