The base of smiths is tamei. But that of a blacksmith is tahor. A sharpening board that has a receptacle for [holding] oil is tamei. But [a sharpening board] that does not have [a receptacle] is tahor. A ledger that has a receptacle for [holding] wax is tamei. But [a ledger] that does not have [a receptacle] is tahor. [Regarding] a straw mat or a straw tube, R’ Akiva rules it tamei, but R’ Yochanan ben Nuri rules it tahor. R’ Shimon says: The same applies to colocynth. A mat of reeds or of sedge is tahor. A reed tube that was cut for the purpose of being used as a receptacle is tahor until one removes all of the pith.

[Regarding] a bin, Beis Shammai say: It is measured from its interior. But Beis Hillel say: It is measured from its exterior. Both agree that the thickness of the legs and the thickness of the rims are not measured. R’ Yose says: They agree that the thickness of the legs and the thickness of the rims are measured, but [the area] between [the legs] is not measured. R’ Shimon Shezuri says: If the legs were one handbreadth high, [then the area] between them is not measured. But if not, [the area] between them is measured.

[Regarding] its wheel, when it is removable, it is not [considered] connected to [the bin], it is not measured together with [the bin], it does not protect [against tumah] together with [the bin] when [they] are an ohel over a corpse, and we may not drag it on the Sabbath when there is money inside it. But if [the wheel] is not removable, it is [considered] connected to [the bin], it is measured together with [the bin], it protects [against tumah] together with [the bin] when [they] are an ohel over a corpse, and we may drag it on the Sabbath even though there is money inside it. [Regarding] its cover, when it is [permanently] set, it is [considered] connected to [the bin], and it is measured together with [the bin]. But if it is not [permanently] set, it is not [considered] connected to [the bin], and it is not measured together with [the bin]. How is it measured? [By drawing] a diagonal line. R’ Yehudah says: If [the bin] cannot stand by itself, it is

A bin, a chest, and a closet that [have had] one of their legs broken off, even though they [can still] contain, are tahor. And if they cannot contain in their usual manner, R’ Yose rules [them] tamei. The poles of a bed, [its] platform, and [its] covering are tahor. The only tamei [parts of a bed] are the bed [itself] and the malbein. But the malbeins of the Levites are tahor.

[Regarding any] malbein that was placed upon tongues, R’ Meir and R’ Yehudah rule [them] tamei, [but] R’ Yose and R’ Shimon rule [them] tahor. R’ Yose says: Why is this different than the malbeins of the Levites? [These should be tahor,] for the malbeins of the Levites are tahor.

[Regarding] a bed that was tamei midras, [if] a short board is removed along with two legs, it is tamei. [If] a long board [is removed] along with two legs, it is tahor. R’ Nechemiah rules [it] tamei . If one broke off two diagonally [positioned] tongues, or he broke off two diagonally [positioned] legs ([breaking off] a handbreadth [from one,] and a handbreadth [from the other]), or he lowered [the bed to a height of] less than a handbreadth, [the bed is] tahor.

[Regarding] a bed that was tamei midras, [if one] long board broke and [the owner] repaired it, it is [still] tamei midras. [If] the second [long board then] broke and he repaired it, [the bed] is tahor from midras [tumah], but it is tamei [due to] contact with a midras [hazav]. If he did not manage to repair the first [board] before the second [board] broke, [the bed is] tahor.

[Regarding] a leg [of a bed] that was tamei midras and one connected it to a bed, (the entire) [bed] becomes tamei midras. [If the leg is] removed, it is tamei midras, and the bed is [tamei due to] contact with a midras [hazav]. [If the leg] was tamei with seven-day tumah and one connected it to a bed, the entire bed becomes tamei with seven-day tumah. [If the leg is] removed, it is tamei with seven-day tumah, and the bed is tamei with evening-tumah. [If the leg] was tamei with evening-tumah and one connected it to a bed, the entire bed becomes tamei with evening-tumah. [If the leg is] removed, it is tamei with evening-tumah, and the bed is tahor. The same [rulings apply to] the prong of a pitchfork.

[Regarding] a tefillin [consisting of of] four utensils: [If] one separated the first compartment and [then] repaired it, it is tamei with corpse-tumah, and the same applies to the second [compartment], and the same applies to the third [compartment]. If he separated the fourth one, [the tefillin] is tahor from corpse-tumah, but it is tamei with tumah [due to] contact with a t’mei meis. If he went back to the first [compartment] and separated it and then repaired it, it is tamei due to contact, and the same applies to the second [compartment]. If he separated the third [compartment], [the entire tefillin] is tahor, because the fourth one is [only tamei] as a result of contact, and [an object contaminated through] contact [with an av hatumah] cannot create [tumah through] contact [with a utensil].

A bed of which half was stolen, or half was lost, or which was divided by brothers, or [divided by] partners, is tahor. If they put it back together, it is susceptible to tumah from now on. [The components of] a bed can contract tumah as a unit, and [they] can be purified as a unit, [these are] the words of R’ Eliezer. But the Sages say: [They] can contract tumah [only as individual] parts, and can be purified [only as individual] parts.

One who disassembles a bed in order to immerse it, and one who touches its ropes, are tahor. At what point is the rope [considered] connected to the bed? From when three battim are woven into [the bed]. And one who touches [the rope] from the knot and inward is tamei. [If he touches the rope] from the knot and outward, [he is] tahor. [Regarding] the strands of the knot, one who touches the [part] necessary [for the knot] is tamei. And how much [of the strand] is necessary [for the knot]? R’ Yehudah says: Three fingerwidths.

[R egarding] the rope that extends from the bed, until five handbreadths, it is tahor. From five until ten [handbreadths], it is tamei. From ten [handbreadths] and beyond, it is tahor, for with [this rope], they would tie the pesach-offering [to the beds], and would lower the beds.

The [part of the] mizran that extends from the bed [is susceptible to tumah] whatever its [length] may be, these are the words of R’ Meir. R’ Yose says: [Only] until ten handbreadths. The [minimum length of the] remnants of a mizran [is] seven handbreadths, [which is] sufficient to make it a flap for a donkey.