פירוש על כלים 17:15

העושה כלי קבול מכל מקום – and even if he did not make it, it is worthy to receive [ritual defilement] other than something.

If one made a receptacle whatever its size it is susceptible to uncleanness. A vessel that has a receptacle is susceptible to impurity, no matter how small the receptacle is. Others explain the words that I have translated "whatever its size" to mean "whatever it is made of," which then refers to the law in section three even vessels made of poor quality material can be susceptible.

משכב ומושב (surface designated for lying and sitting) – for sitting a little bit, as for example, that he was leaning or suspended upon it.

If one made a couch or a bed whatever its purpose it is susceptible to uncleanness. Vessels which are made to sit upon or lay upon are susceptible, no matter the actual type of sitting or laying done upon them. Commentators explain that this includes vessels which are meant to be leaned upon.

מעור המצה (from an untanned hide) – that it was not pickled nor its hides dressed with flour, nor tanned [with gall-nut].

If one made a wallet from untanned hide or from papyrus it is susceptible to uncleanness. A proper wallet is made from tanned leather. However, a wallet made from the inferior materials of papyrus or untanned leather is still usable and hence susceptible to impurity.

ומן הנייר – that is made from grasses.

A pomegranate, an acorn and a nut which children hollowed out to measure dust or fashioned them into a pair of scales, are susceptible to uncleanness, since in the case of children an act is valid though an intention is not. If an object can be used as a receptacle, all that an adult has to do for it to be susceptible is think about using it in such a manner. Thinking counts as using. However, children must actually use the object in that way for it to be susceptible. So if a child takes a piece of fruit or a nut and makes it into a receptacle it is susceptible once he uses it. But if all he does is think about using it this way, it is not susceptible.

דיש להן מעשה – since they hollowed them out [to shape a vessel].

ואין להם מחשבה (they lack the capacity to effect intention) – if they thought to fashion the dirt as it fashioned on is own, but they didn’t do any work, their intention does not bring them to ritual defilement.