The gemara delves into each of the sections of the mishna – questioning things that are listed, items that seem unnecessary (as they can be derived from other ones), and clarifies what is the reason for the halacha in many of the cases. In addition they try to figure out whether the first section in the mishna requires distancing and plastering or just one or the other.
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Rava and Abaye debate whether one can dig a pit build right near the border of another if on the other side of the border, there is no pit right now – or need he be concerned that one may want to dig a pit there in the future. Abaye says he is allowed to and Rava disagrees. One question is raised against Abaye and resolved. 8 questions coming from our mishna and many of the upcoming mishnayot in the chapter are brought to question Rava’s opinion. Each question is resolved (many of them in an identical manner).
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The perek ends with praising the virtues of the avot and other biblical characters (including Yishmael who according to tradition, did teshuva at the end of his life). The new perek begins with a discussion of the need to leave space from a neighboring pit when digging a pit in one’s property or digging various other things or having flammable substances, or anything that could damage the other’s property. Abaye and Rava debate whether or not one can dig a pit near the border of the neighbor if the neighbor does not at present have a pit there. There are two versions regarding what type of field they are debating. The gemara then tries to reconcile which one is correct based on our mishna.
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The gemara brings the narrative of the Job story and explains it in detail including the Satan’s convincing of God to test Job and Job’s reaction to his situation. Some explain that he was firm in his belief and others claim he had complaints against God.
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What is the order of the books of Tanach? This does not match the order that we use today. Who wrote which book of Tanach? Some of the authors mentioned die sometime in the book, including Moshe who dies in the last 8 verses of the Torah. The question is raised in each case – who finished the book? When did Job (איוב) live? Several opinions are brought, including one that he did not ever live and was written as a parable. What is the significance of trying to figure out when he lived?
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Can one write a scroll with Torah, Neviim and Ketuvim together? How many lines does one leave at the end of a book? Can one start a book at the beginning of a section of parchment? What is the ideal size for a Torah scroll to be? How does that size work together with the opinion that there was a sefer Torah that sat in the Aron in the Beit Hamikdash? There is a debate regarding the size of the aron and whether or not there was a Torah inside or adjacent to the aron. The gemara then discusses the order of the books of Tanach, which has several differences from the order in the Tanachim that we use today.
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Different situations are described where one can’t block off entrances or pathways (even if they belong to them) that others use. Even in a case where there are alternate paths. Are the rabbis viewed as replacements for prophets? Some stories are brought that show that children and mentally handicapped people can prophesize. A firstborn can insist that his double portions be 2 pieces of adjacent lands. Can other brothers insist on that in a case where they already own the land nearby? Different positions and situations are brought.
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Can one accept charity from non Jews? What are the minimum sizes of courtyards, fields and gardens to be able to insist that one who the property is shared with needs to split it into 2 separate parts. The same is discussed to various other items – bath house, hallway, tallit, etc. Only a sefer Torah can never be split. A discussion ensues regarding the size for a courtyard (4 square cubits) – does it include the entranceway or not? each house gets an additional 4 cubits outside their door for unloading, If one house has more doors, do they get more of the courtyard – how exactly does it get divided? Various other situations are discussed – if there is a portico and one would not need space to unlaod as one can use the portico, etc. Law regarding shared courtyards that lead to an alleyway are discussed – does one have the right to open an entrance to a different alleyway without the approval of those who already have access to the alleyway. Can one close up an entrance from his courtyard to the alleyway because it may cause others to walk more of a distance to get to the alleyway? Does or does it not depend on whether he is on the inner part of the alleyway and therefore others don’t go through there anyway?
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The gemara continues to discuss the importance of the mitzah of giving tzedaka. Rabbi Akiva and Turnusrufus debate God’s ways of the world and the question of why would God create an imperfect world.
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Rav Chama brings 4 halachot – 3 relating to whether people have the right to make others living next door/on top of them tear down walls, houses, etc. to make their living space better. The third relates to concern over people taking advantage of orphans and forging documents to get out of repaying a loan. For what things can we force members of a courtyard to share costs for? Do residents of the town need to share the costs for a wall to protect the city and a door and lock? Do all the residents need to partake in an equal manner or do the wealthy need to pay more or do the ones living closer to the wall need to pay more as they need the protection more? Do talmidei chachamim need to pay at all because they are considered protected from God? 2 different verses are brought to show that they do not need protection. However Rabbi Yehuda Nesia insisted the talmidei chachamim pay.
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