Keilim 17:8-9
Keilim 17:8
The olive mentioned in halacha as a measure is neither large nor small, but medium-sized, i.e., the Egori olive. The barleycorn mentioned in halacha as a measure is neither large nor small, but medium-sized, i.e., the desert barleycorn. The lentil mentioned in halacha as a measure is neither large nor small, but medium-sized, i.e., the Egyptian lentil. All movable objects convey ritual impurity if they are the diameter of an ox goad (mishna 9:7) – the referent is neither large nor small, but a medium-sized ox goad. A medium-sized ox goad is one whose circumference is a handbreadth.
Keilim 17:9
The cubit mentioned in halacha as a measure is neither large nor small, but medium-sized. There were two cubit measuring rods kept in Shushan HaBirah (the name of a room on the Temple Mount), one in the northeastern corner and one in the southeastern corner. The one in the northeastern corner exceeded the cubit of Moshe by a half-fingerbreadth, while the one in the southeastern corner exceeded the first one by another half-fingerbreadth, with the result that it exceeded the cubit of Moshe by a fingerbreadth. There was a larger cubit and a smaller cubit so that craftsmen would take orders according to the smaller cubit and deliver according to the larger cubit; this was to avoid the possibility of misappropriating Temple funds.
Grateful Thanks for the Mishna Yomit Dedication of
Rabbi Louis Leifer and Mrs. Miriam D. Leifer z"l
Next In This Series
