Translation:Mishnah/Seder Moed/Tractate Eruvin/Chapter 4

Eruvin 4:1 One who was taken out by gentiles or by an evil spirit has only four cubits. If they brought him back, it is as if he never left, If they took him to another town, or if they put him in a fold or in a corral – Rabban Gamliel and R’ Elazar ben Azarya say: He may traverse its entirety. R’ Yehosua and R’ Akiva say: He has only 4 cubits. It once happened that they arrived from Prandisin and their ship went out to sea. Rabban Gamliel and R’ Elazar ben Azarya traversed its entirety; R’ Yehoshua and R’ Akiva did not move out of 4 cubits, because they wished to be strict. Eruvin 4:2 Once, they did not enter the harbor until night had fallen. They asked Rabban Gamliel: ‘May we disembark?’ He answered them: ‘You are permitted, for I had been observing and we were within the techum before dark.’ Eurvin 4:3 If one left with permission and they said to him: ‘The act has already been done,’ he has 2000 cubits in every direction. If he was within the techum, it is as if he did not leave. And all those leaving to save people may return to their places. Eruvin 4:4 One who sat down while on a journey, then stood up and saw that he was near a city, since it had not been his intention, he may not enter – these are the words of R’ Meir. R’ Yehuda says: He may enter. R’ Yehuda said: It once happened that R’ Tarfon entered without intent. Eruvin 4:5 One who slept which on a journey and did not know that it had become dark has 2000 cubits in every direction – these are the words of R’ Yochanan ben Nuri. But the Sages say he has only 4 cubits. R’ Eliezer says: And he is in their midst. R’ Yehuda says: He may go in any direction he wishes. Yet R’ Yehuda agrees that once he chooses for himself, he cannot retract.

Eruvin 4:6 If there were two, some of the cubits of one overlapping the cubits of the other, they may bring their food and eat in the middle, provided that one does not carry form his into his friend’s. If there were three and the middle one’s area was overlapped but the other two, he is permitted with them and they are permitted with him; but the other two are forbidden with each other. Said R’ Shimon: ‘To what is this comparable? To 3 courtyards which open one into the other and which open into the public domain. If the two made an eruv with the middle one, it is permitted to them, and they are permitted to it; but the 2 outer ones are forbidden to one another.’ Eruvin 4:7 One who was traveling as darkness approached, and he knew of a tree or a fence and said, ‘My Sabbath dwelling place is beneath it,’ has said nothing. If however he said ‘My Sabbath dwelling place is at its trunk,’ he may walk from his present location to the trunk 2000 cubits, and from the trunk to his house 2000 cubits. Thus, he may go 4000 cubits after dark. Eruvin 4:8 If he does not know, or he is not conversant with the law, and he said: ‘My Sabbath dwelling place is at my location,’ his location acquires 2000 cubits for him in every direction. In a circle – these are the words of R’ Chanina ben Antignos. But the Sages say: In a square, like a square board, so that he may gain the corners. Eruvin 4:9 This is what they have said: ‘The poor man may make an eruv with his feet.’ Said R’ Meir: ‘We can apply this only to a poor man.’ R’ Yehuda says: ‘Both a poor man and a rich man they did not say, “we may make an eruv with bread,” except to make it easier for the rich man, so that he not go out and make an eruv with his feet.’ Eruvin 4:10 One who set out for a town for which they may make an eruv, but his friend turned him back, he may go, but all the townspeople are prohibited – these are the words of R’ Yehuda. R’ Meir says: Whoever is able to make an eruv and does not, he is caught in between.

Eruvin 4:11 One who went out of the techum, even one cubit, may not return. R’ Eliezer says: 2 cubits he may return; 3 cubits, he may not return. One who was overtaken by darkness outside the techum, even one cubit, may not enter. R’ Shimon says: Even 15 cubits, he may enter; for the surveyors do not give the full measure, because of those who err.