Study Beitzah folio 8A with parallel Hebrew-English text, traditional commentary, and modern study tools. Free access to Babylonian Talmud online.
Here it is referring to loose earth that does not require further crushing.
The Talmud challenges this: But even in the case of loose earth, one makes a hole by the very act of removing the earth or the shovel from that place. The Talmud answers: This ruling is in accordance with the opinion of R' Abba, as R' Abba said: One who digs a hole on Shabbat, but he needs only its
§ The Mishnah states: That the ashes of a stove are prepared. The Talmud express puzzlement at this statement: The ashes of a stove, who mentioned anything about it? Why does the Mishnah suddenly speak about the ashes of a stove when it had not previously discussed or even mentioned them? Rabba sa
Rav Yehuda said that Rav said: They only taught that the ashes of a stove are considered prepared if the stove was ignited on the Festival eve, so that the ashes had already formed at the start of the Festival. However, if it was ignited on the Festival itself, the ashes are prohibited. And if the
The Talmud comments: That opinion is also taught in a baraita: When they said that the ashes of a stove are prepared, they said so only when it was ignited on the Festival eve; however, if it was ignited on the Festival, they are prohibited. And if the ashes are still hot and fit to roast an egg i