Study Eruvin folio 19B with parallel Hebrew-English text, traditional commentary, and modern study tools. Free access to Babylonian Talmud online.
so that the total width of 6 oxen is approximately 10 cubits; this is the statement of R' Meir. R' Yehuda said the following, in accordance with his own opinion that the gap may be the size of two teams of 4 oxen each: The total width is approximately 13 cubits or approximately 14 cubits.
The Talmud asks: Why does the tanna of the baraita say: Approximately 10 cubits in R' Meir’s statement? Isn’t it exactly 10 cubits? The Talmud answers: Since he wanted to teach: Approximately 13, in the last clause, i.e., R' Yehuda’s statement, he therefore also taught: Approximately 10, in the fir
The Talmud asks: But how could he say: Approximately 13, when it is more? The Talmud answers: Since he wanted to teach: Approximately 14, he therefore also teaches: Approximately 13. The Talmud continues this line of questioning: But they are not approximately 14, but rather are less. Rav Pappa
Rav Pappa said: With regard to a water cistern whose own width is 8 cubits, everyone agrees, both R' Yehuda and R' Meir, that there is no need to position upright boards between the double posts. In such a case, the width of the enclosed area, which is the width of the cistern together with the spa
With regard to a cistern whose width is 12 cubits, everyone agrees that there is a need for upright posts. In this case, even if only two cubits are added on each side for the cows, the enclosed area will be 16 cubits, and the gap between the double posts will be 14 cubits, which must be closed off