פירוש על כלים 21:2

קטרב (cross-piece in front of yoked animals; the pin fastening the ropes of the yoke to the pole) – it is explained above in Chapter “Metal Vessels” (Tractate Kelim, Chapter 14, Mishnah 4) which are two pieces of wood from two sides of the yoke in which incisions have been made , and they bring into this incision a piece of wood called a קטרג /cross-piece in front of yoked animals/the pin fastening the ropes of the yoke to the pole, and tie it so that the cattle will not become detached/slip away.

Introduction Today's mishnah is similar to yesterday's except that it discusses instruments connected to the plow.

בעין (ring-shaped pad around the animal’s neck – a halter of soft material) – a woolen or leather pad or sack that they tie on the neck of the animal and the yoke is upon it.

One who touches the yoke, the crossbar, the collar-piece, or the thick ropes, even when they are being used, he remains clean. These are all pieces of the plow that are not considered to be connected to it, so if the plow is impure, the person who touches one of them is still pure.

עבות (chain or rope for fastening the yoke of the animal to the plough – the pole tied to the yoke by means of a knotted rope) – a long and thick piece of wood tha tis in the plough, that enters into the yoke.

If he touched the tail piece, knee or handle, he becomes unclean. These are all pieces of the plow itself, and not just things that connect the plow to something else. Therefore one who touches them is unclean.

החרב (the sword-shaped handle of a plough) – a piece of wood made in the shape of a sword that catches in the wild-growing bushes.

If he touched the metal rings, the guides, or the flanks, he becomes unclean. Rabbi Judah says that he remains clean if he touched the guides since they only serve to increase the soil. The "guides" are two pieces of wood used to bring the soil into contact with the plow, to "increase the soil" in the words of Rabbi Judah. The "flanks" are made to crush the soil. With regard to the metal rings and the flanks, all sages agree that one who touches them is unclean. There is a debate with regard to the "guides." The first opinion holds that they are considered connected to the plow, whereas Rabbi Judah says that they are not really part of the plow. Their sole function is put more soil into contact with the plow. Therefore, one who touches them remains pure.

והכורך (part of a plough containing a receptacle out of which the seed falls during the ploughing) – a curved piece of wood similar to a saddle/handle of a saddle and it is sunk in the ground at the time of the ploughing.

ביצול (in the cross-piece or handle of the plough) – a piece of wood that the person who ploughs holds in his hand, and he strikes the plough on each side when he wants. The explanation of – [the word] "יצול" – is a staff [as in] (Deuteronomy 16:19): “you shall not judge unfairly,” which we translate into Aramaic, “you shall not pervert the law.”

עין של מתכת – the metal ring.

לחיים (cheek pieces/plough guides) – two pieces of wood that are in the incisions of the yoke.

עריים (iron-tipped ploughshare) – made like a kind of vessel of chiseling stones and with it breaks up clods of dirt. And it is called עריים from the language of (Jeremiah 51:58): “[Babylon’s broad wall] shall be knocked down,” (Psalms 137:7): “Strip her, Strip her to her very foundations!” But the Halakha is not according to Rabbi Yehuda who declares the cheek pieces/plough guides to be pure [used to increase the soil].