1)

(a)This entire Perek deals with lists of three objects that bear the same basic name. The three Halachic categories into which the three fall are - Tamei Medras, Tamei Meis (i.e. Maga ... ) and Tahor.

(b)The Mishnah lists three kinds of shields. 'T'ris ha'Kafuf' (a bent shield, that covers the body on the three sides) is used - to protect the soldiers from arrows in wartime.

(c)And it is subject to Tum'as Medras - because the soldiers would also use it to lie down on at night time.

(d)Whatever is subject to Tum'as Medras - is automatically subject to Tum'as Meis (see Tos. Yom-Tov).

2)

(a)'Kumpon' is - where soldiers the art of self-protection using of a small round shield, by means of tournamentsinvolving sword-fights on horseback (see Mishnah 2 of the previous Perek, where the Bartenura appears to contradict what he writes here).

(b)'T'ris she'Mesachkin bo be'Kumpon' is - subject to Tum'as Meis (see Tos. Yom-Tov).

(c)The third shield is described as 'Ditzas ha'Arvi'yin' - which is a small toy shield used by Arab children.

(d)It is Tahor - it is only a toy, and serves no other purpose.

3)

(a)Now the Tana lists three kinds of wagons (which are subject to the same three statuses as those in the previous list), 'ke'Katedra, ke'Mitah, ve'shel Avanim' (see Tos. Yom-Tov). 'Agalah ha'Asuyah ...

1. ... ke'Katadra' - is a wagon in the shape of a woman's sedan-chair that is normally fitted into a wagon (as we learned in the first Perek).

2. ... ke'Mitah' is - a long wagon in which one normally transports goods ...

(b)... which is not Tamei Medras - because of the principle 'Amod ve'Na'aseh Melachteinu' (it is not made to sit or to lie in, and if someone does so he will be asked to get out, to allow the wagon to be used what it is made for.

(c)'Agalah shel Avanim' is - a wagon used to transport large stones.

(d)It is Tahor - because gaps between its bars are larger than the size of pomegranates.

4)

(a)And now the Tana lists three kinds of Areivah (large dish [with the same Halachic distinctions as the previous case]). The first two are both the same size, dishes that hold between two Lugin (half a Kav) and nine Kabin. The difference between them is - that one of them is split, whiulst the other one is complete.

(b)The complete one is not also Tamei Medras - because of the principle 'Amod ve'Na'aseh Melachteinu' (as we just explained).

(c)The kind of dish that is Tahor - is one that holds forty Sa'ah ...

(d)... because it is too large to move when it is full (and the Torah compares [wooden and] leather vessels to sacks, which can be transported both when they are empty and when they are full.

5)

(a)The Tana's next list resembles the previous one. The kind of (wooden) box that he places under the category of ...

1. ... Tamei Medras is - one whose opening is at the side (since someone who is sitting on it can remain seated even whilst the box is being used).

2. ... Tamei Meis is - one that whose opening is on top (and to whom one therefore says 'Amod ve'Na'aseh Melachteinu!').

3. ... Tehorah mi'K'lum is - one that holds more than forty Sa'ah.

(b)In the latter case, assuming it is made to sit or to lie on - the box will be subject to Tum'as Medras (irrespective of its size) and therefore to Tum'as Meis as well (as we explained earlier [see Tos. Yom-Tov]).

6)

(a)Now he presents a list of three Tarbusin (leather chests), of Saparin, to eat on and for olives. 'Saparin' in this case means - blood-letters.

(b)... and it is Tamei Medras - because it is fit to sit or to lie on it during the blood-letting procedure (Tos. Yom-Tov. See also Tiferes Yisrael).

(c)The one for eating is not Tamei Medras - because it is meant to place the food on exclusively (in which case, says the Tos. Yom-Tov, the principle 'Amod ve'Na'aseh Melachteinu' will apply here too).

(d)The third Tarbus is used - to squeezed olives on it. It is not Tamei - because it is not considered Tashmish Adam [see also Tos. Yom-Tov]).

7)

(a)The Tana's next list concerns three bases (vessels with a base, which sometimes has short walls [Tiferes Yisrael]). The base of a bed is obviously Tamei Medras, as is one that is in front of ...

1. ... Sofrim, which is Tamei Medras - because the client sits or lies in it whilst he is having his hair cut (Tiferes Yisrael).

2. ... Saparim (according to other texts - blood-letters [presumably, for the patient to sit or to lie on during the bloodletting procedure]).

(b)He concludes 'shel Dulfeki Teme'ah Tamei Meis, ve'shel Migdal Tahor mi'Kelum'.

1. 'D'luf'ki' is - a wooden container which holds jars of loaves and other items of food and drink.

2. 'Migdal' is - a cupboard ...

(c)... which is Tahor - because it is not a K'li (as its shape attests).

8)

(a)Now the Mishnah discusses three kinds of ledgers. The first is 'ha'Apipurin' (in which one writes in dust). It is subject to Tum'as Medras - because, due to its extremely large dimensions, the writer can sit in it (see also Tos. Yom-Tov & Mishnah Ach'ronah).

(b)The second is one that is (made of wood and that) has a 'Beis Kibul Sha'avah' (a receptacle for wax, which is subject to Tum'as Meis, not Tum'as Medras - because it is not large enough to sit on.

(c)The Mishnah defines the third ledger as 'Chalakah' - a smooth writing pad (made of wood), which has no receptacle, and on which one writes with pen and ink ...

(d)... which the Tana therefore rules is Tahor.

9)

(a)The next list comprises three beds. A regular bed that is made to lie on - is subject to Medras.

(b)A glassmaker's (professional) bed is - Tamei Meis.

(c)'ve'shel Saragin Tehorah mi'K'lum'. This refers either to wagon-makers - or to hair-net manufacturer ...

(d)... which are Tahor - because they serve the manufactured article and not the person.

10)

(a)The first of the three Mishpalos - (large crates to transport manure ... to the fields) is 'shel Zevel' and the second, 'shel Teven'.

(b)The first one is Tamei Medras and the second one only Tamei Meis - because whereas the former is fit to sit in (see also Tos. Yom-Tov), the latter is not.

(c)The third box is called 'Puchlatz shel Gamal' - which is a large network-like crate made of ropes with large holes.

(d)It is Tahor - because a. the holes are so large that it will not even hold straw, and b. the ropes are too hard to sit on (see Tos. Yom-Tov).

11)

(a)The Mishnah now lists three kinds of Mapatzim. - mats made of rushes, fibres from date-palms, reeds, rubber and suchlike.

(b)A Mapatz that is made to lie on is subject to Tum'as Medras (see Tos. Yom-Tov), one of dyers is subject to Tum'as Meis, and one of the winepress is Tahor. The latter two are used - for placing the garments (see Tos. R. Akiva Eiger and Tiferes Yisrael) and for covering the grapes and the olives, respectively (see Tos. Yom-Tov).

12)

(a)And now the Tana lists three kinds of Chamasos - flasks, and three kinds of Turm'lin - shepherds' satchels (both made of leather).

(b)They are both subject to Medras if they hold not less than the Shi'ur (mentioned in Perek 20). The Shi'ur of a Cheimes is seven Kabin - that of a Turmal, five.

(c)Either of the above that holds less than the Shi'ur (which are too small to sit on) - is subject to Tum'as Meis.

(d)And in order to be Tahor - it must be made of fish-skin (which, like all comes from the ocean, is not subject to Tum'ah, as we learned in the seventeenth Perek).

13)

(a)Two of the three skins listed by the Tana are a carpet - which is made to sit on, and Tachrich ha'Keilim - to wrap around Keilim (such as knives, scissors and needles) to protect them.

(b)The first is therefore subject to Tum'as Medras, the second, to Tum'as Meis.

(c)In order to be Tahor, a skin would need to be designated - to cut from it straps and shoes.

(d)It is not subject to Tum'ah - because the leather still requires shaping.

14)

(a)Sheets that are made to lie on, says the Mishnah, are Tamei Medras. In order to be Tamei Meis - a sheet be used as a curtain ...

(b)... because the Shamash sometimes wraps it round himself to keep warm (though he does sit on it).

(c)Whereas a sheet 'of pictures' - used as a sample copy to copy from, is Tahor.

15)

(a)The Mishnah lists three Mitp'chos - (cloths).

(b)Mitp'chos-Yad (hand-towels) are subject to Tum'as Medras - because one sometimes places them under the 'Keses' and sleeps on it.

(c)Mitp'chos Saparim (barber's cloths) - are subject to Tum'as Meis.

16)

(a)The third category of Mitpachas listed by the Tana was used by the B'nei Levi in the Beis-ha'Mikdash - to wrap round their instruments (on which they played during the Avodah).

(b)Other musicians protect their instruments (whilst they are not in use) - with leather holders ...

(c)... which are Tahor too (see Tos. Yom-Tov).

(d)Others have the text 'shel Tachrich ve'shel Nivlei B'nei Levi'. 'shel Tachrich' then means - shrouds (see Tos. Yom-Tov & Tiferes Yisrael).

17)

(a)According to the Mishnah, there are three kinds of gloves ('P'raklinin'). The first is large and is used whilst hunting wild birds and small, wild animals (Tiferes Yisrael) - and is used for the hunting-falcon to perch on as the hunter sets out to hunt.

(b)And it is then Tamei Medras - since the hunter uses it to sit on when the falcon is catching the prey.

(c)The second kind of glove is used to catch locusts, and is not large enough to sit on, nevertheless it is subject to Tum'as Meis - because one places the caught locusts inside it, giving it the Din of a receptacle.

(d)And the third is 'shel Kayatzin', which means that it is worn either whilst picking thorns - or whilst making dried figs or raisins in the field.

(e)Either way, it is Tahor - since it is only used for self-protection (Tiferes Yisrael).

18)

(a)The Mishnah discusses three different kinds of Sevachos - (a sort of shawl), that women wear to cover their hair.

(b)The Tana declares the Sevachah of a young woman - subject to Tum'as Medras, but that of an old woman - subject to Tum'as Meis (see Tos. Yom-Tov).

(c)The Tosefta switches the two rulings (see Tos. Yom-Tov) ...

(d)... because the Tana says, it is young women who are more particular about using their head-scarves for lying on, whereas the older ones are not.

19)

(a)The Sevachah of a Yotz'es la'Chutz is Tahor. If taken literally, it refers to the small head-covering that a woman who goes out into the street wears on top of her regular one (either for additional Tzeni'us or for ornamental purposes [Tiferes Yisrael]).

(b)It is is not subject to Medras because it is too small to sit on.

(c)It might also refer to the small head cover worn by a prostitute (since Unklus' translation of "Zonah" is 'Nafkas B'ra ['Yotz'as la'Chutz'] see also Tiferes Yisrael). Alternatively - it pertains, not to a woman who goes out, but to one hair sticks out (i.e. it is all torn and does not cover most of the woman's hair).

20)

(a)The Tana now presents three kinds of boxes which are all 'Mehuhah' (a term that is normally used in connection with clothes [see also Tos. Yom-Tov]) - meaning worn-out and full of holes.

(b)In the first case, the patches on one of the boxes take up a larger area than that which remains intact. In the second case, one box is larger than the other - and it speaks even where both boxes are either worn-out and holed or complete.

(c)The third case is - where the two boxes are both same size, and similar to the previous case, it speaks even where both boxes are either worn-out and holed or complete.

(d)This Mishnah differs from all the previous Mishnahs in the Perek - in that it is not concerned with the categories of Tum'ah.

21)

(a)The problem the Tana is now dealing with is - assuming one of the boxes is Tamei, does the other one become Tamei too?

(b)The areas that determines the status of the box in ...

1. ... the first case is - the one that is not patched.

2. ... the second case is - the larger of the two boxes.

3. ... the third case is - the inner box.

(c)The criterion that will render both boxes Tamei in the middle case is - if the larger box will let a pomegranate fall through (see Tos. Yom-Tov.

22)

(a)The Mishnah now cites R. Shimon, who discusses the rounded cup of a pair of scales which has been used to patch the base of a kettle. The problem is - that the patch, which is made of metal (see Tos. Yom-Tov & Mishnah Achronah at the beginning of the Mishnah), is Tamei and the Safek is whether it renders the kettle Tamei too.

(b)The criterion in fact, is whether the patch is fixed on the inside - in which case the kettle becomes Tamei, or on the outside - and the kettle remains Tahor.

(c)If the patch is fixed on the side however - then, either way, the kettle is Tahor.

(d)The Halachah is - like the Chachamim (see Tos. Yom-Tov).

23)

(a)Throughout the Perek, the Tana discussed Keilim, some of which were Tamei Medras. The only type of vessel that is not subject to Tum'as Medras is - K'lei Cheres.

(b)We learn this from the Pasuk in Metzora "ve'Ish Asher Yiga be'Mishkavo" - comparing the Mishkav to the Zav, who is subject to Taharah in a Mikvah, which an earthenware vessel is not.

(c)On the other hand, the Pasuk in Shemini "Kol ha'Mishkav ... " comes to incorporate - a Mapatz (a mat) in the Din of Medras, even though it is not really considered a K'li.

(d)A Mapatz becomes Tahor from Medras only - it its size is reduced to less than six by six Tefachim.

24)

(a)What the following have in common ...

1. ... vessels made of stone, dung (or marble), and earth is - that they are all not subject to Tum'ah, and the same applies to ...

2. ... wooden vessels that hold more than forty Sa'ah or which serve, not the owner, but other vessels that belong to him.

(b)An example of this is - a leather vessel onto which one squeezes the olives (or onto which they fall when they are shaken from the tree), a mat from the winepress and a sheet containing pictures.