Shabbos 9:1-2

Shabbos 9:1

Rabbi Akiva says that a Biblical verse supports the halacha that carrying an idol imparts ritual impurity even if one doesn't touch it, the same as the laws of menstrual impurity: Isaiah 30:22 says to "put them far away, like a menstruant...." Just as such a woman imparts uncleanliness by carrying, so does an idol.

Shabbos 9:2

A Biblical verse also supports the idea that a ship is not susceptible to ritual impurity. Proverbs 30:19 refers to "the way of a ship at sea" (just as the sea cannot be rendered unclean, neither can the ship). A verse also supports the idea that one is permitted to plant five different vegetables in a bed six handbreadths by six handbreadths: four on the four sides and one in the middle. Isaiah 61:11 says, “Just as the earth brings forth its growth and the garden causes the things planted in it to sprout….” The verse does not refer to “its seed” (which would be one thing), but to “the things planted in it.” (Five things are derived as follows: “Brings forth” refers to one species of vegetable; “Its growth” refers to one species; “things planted,” which is plural, refers to two species; and “sprout” refers to one species, totaling five. This is not the source of the law but a Biblical allusion in support of a known law.)