(Mishnah): Stones that were moved by the plow or were covered and became revealed - if there are two stones that must be carried by two people, he may take all of them (as it is clear that he needs them for construction).

One who removes stones from his field may take the top layer but leave the stones that are touching the ground.

Similarly, regarding a pile of pebbles or stones, he may remove the upper ones and leave the ones that are touching the ground. If there is a stone or straw underneath them, he may take them.

(Gemara): Not only if the plow moved them, but even if the plow will move them in the future, the same rule applies.

Support (R. Yosi from a Tosefta): Stones that were moved by the plow - if each is heavy enough that it needs two people to carry it, he may take them.

(R. Yaakov bar Bun citing R. Shimon ben Lakish): This teaches that it is forbidden to gather pebbles from a neighbor's field - it is considered theft since when a person wants to weed his field, he puts them on top of the pebbles. This applies only to a valley, but in hilly and rough ground, he is doing him a favor.

(Mishnah): On Erev Sheviis, when the rains stop, one may not build steps in a valley to allow himself to safely go down to take water to irrigate his field, as it appears that he is preparing to water his field in Sheviis.

But he may build them in Sheviis when the rains stop, as they will be used only after Sheviis. He shouldn't cement the steps with earth (as when he digs the earth to bring for this purpose, it appears that he is hoeing in Sheviis), although he could make a stone wall (without using earth).

Any stone that he is able to reach out and take (when he is building), he may take and add to the construction (but he may not take from elsewhere as it appears that he is preparing his field in Sheviis).

(Gemara) (R. Krispa citing R. Yochanan/ Chanani ben Gamliel): The Mishnah was referring to the period when there was a prohibition to work the land before Sheviis according to the two times that the Chachamim set. (Later, Rabban Gamliel and his Beis Din permitted them; see Menachos 100-1(e).)

Baraisa: R. Yehuda and R. Nechemya prohibited making steps (even when the rain stops). Surely they were speaking about when there was a prohibition at the two times (on Erev Sheviis); so the Mishnah was also speaking about that time. (Therefore, once the prohibition of plowing on Erev Sheviis was cancelled, the prohibition of our Mishnah was also cancelled.)

Question (R. Shammai): If it was speaking about that time of the prohibition, why would the Baraisa continue to teach, "to plow is prohibited, but to build is permitted''? (Surely the building is also like plowing, since he is removing stones...?)

Rather, the Mishnah must have been referring to when there was no longer a prohibition to work the land on Erev Sheviis at the two times (but it is still prohibited to build steps).

Question: If the Mishnah is referring to the time when it was permitted, how could it then teach, 'But he may build in Sheviis when the rains stop, as they will be used only after Sheviis'? (If building is like plowing, it should also be prohibited in Sheviis?) (The Gemara leaves this question unanswered.)

(R. Mana): R. Shammai spoke correctly. In the first case, he may plow before Sheviis, because that plowing will also help him after Sheviis. However, (building steps before Sheviis does not help him after Sheviis as the rains will ruin them and he will need to rebuild them after Sheviis, so) when he builds before Sheviis, he is preparing them specifically for Sheviis.

Our Mishnah does not say this (that things are permitted on Erev Sheviis if they could be beneficial to him after Sheviis), as it says, "But he may build them on Sheviis when the rains stop, as they will be used only after Sheviis'' (and the implication is that plowing on Erev Sheviis is prohibited, even if it will be beneficial after Sheviis.) (Note: These entries followed the explanation of the Ridbaz.)

The Mishnah taught that he shouldn't cement the steps with earth, although he could "Chaitz'' - make a stone wall (without using earth). What's this terminology of Chaitz? As the pasuk states (Yechezkel 13:10), "and it is building a flimsy wall'' (meaning a stone wall without cement).