[R egarding] a pot that is placed in an oven, [if] a sheretz is in the oven, the pot is tahor, for an earthenware utensil does not render utensils tamei. If there was in [the pot] beverage sufficient to moisten, [the beverage] became tamei and transmitted tumah. Thus, this [pot] says: “That which made you tamei did not make me tamei, and [yet] you have made me tamei.”

[Regarding] a chicken that swallowed a sheretz and [then] fell into the airspace of an oven, [the oven] is tahor. But if [the chicken] died, [the oven] is tamei. [If] a sheretz was found in an oven, the bread that is in [the oven becomes] a sheni [l’tumah], for the oven is a starting [level of tumah].

[Regarding] a leaven container [that is] surrounded by a sealed cover and placed into an oven, [if] leaven and a sheretz are in it and the dividing wall is between them, the oven is tamei, but the leaven is tahor. And if there was an olive’s volume [piece] from a corpse, the oven and [everything in] the house are tamei, but the leaven is tahor. But if there is an opening of one tefach, everything is tamei.

[Regarding] a sheretz that is found in the eye of an oven, [or] in the eye of a stove, [or] in the eye of a kupach, from the inner edge and outward, [the oven] is tahor. And if it was in the air, even [if] an olive’s volume of a corpse [was in the eye, the oven] is tahor. And if there is an opening of a tefach [in the eye], everything is tamei.

[If a sheretz] was found in the place for laying the wood, R’ Yehudah says: From the outer edge and inward, [the stove] is tamei. But the Sages say: From the inner edge and outward, [the stove] is tahor. R’ Yose says: From [the point] opposite [where] the pot is set and inward, [the stove] is tamei, from [the point] opposite [where] the pot is set and outward, [the stove] is tahor. [If a sheretz] was found in the place where the bathhouse attendant sits, [or] the place where the dyer sits, [or] the place where those who cook olives sit, [the stove is] tahor. It is tamei only [if the sheretz was found] from the [place where the pot] covers [up the opening] and inward.

A pit that has a place in it for a pot to be set is tamei. And [a pit] of glassmakers, if it has in it a place for a pot to be set, it is tamei. A furnace of lime manufacturers, or [a furnace] of glassware manufacturers, or [a furnace] of potters, is tahor. A purnah, if it has a rim, it is tamei. R’ Yehudah says: If it has istigios [it is tamei]. Rabban Gamliel says: If it has a thin lip [it is tamei].

[Regarding] one whom a t’mei meis touched, who had foods and beverages in his mouth, [if] he inserted his head into a tahor oven, they render it tamei. And a tahor person who had foods or beverages in his mouth, and he inserted his head into the airspace of a tamei [earthenware] oven, they are rendered tamei. [If one] was eating a pressed fig with soiled hands, [and] he inserted his hand into his mouth to remove a pebble, R’ Meir rules [it] tamei, but R’ Yehudah rules [it] tahor. R’ Yose says: If he turned [it] over, it is tamei. [But] if he did not turn [it] over, it is tahor. [If] there was a pundyon in his mouth, R’ Yose says: If [it was] to [relieve] his thirst, it is tamei.

[Regarding] a woman from whose breasts milk dripped and [the milk] fell into the airspace of an oven, [it is] tamei, for a beverage can transmit tumah whether one was pleased or was not pleased. If she was shovel- ing ashes out of [the oven], and a thorn hit her and she bled, or she was burned, and put her finger into her mouth, [the oven] becomes tamei.

[Regarding] a needle or a ring that were found in the floor of an oven, visible but not protruding [into the oven], if one bakes dough, and it touches [the ring or needle, the oven] is tamei. With regard to which [kind of] dough did they state [this]? Intermediate dough. [If] they were found in the coating of an oven surrounded by a sealed cover, if [they are] in a tamei [oven] they are tamei, and if [they are] in a tahor [oven] they are tahor. [If] they were found in the stopper of a barrel in its side, they are tamei. Opposite its mouth, they are tahor. [If] they are visible from within it but [do] not [protrude] into its airspace, they are tahor. [If they were] sunken into it and under them was like a garlic peel, they are tahor.

[Regarding] a barrel that is full of tahor beverages and a siphon is in it, [which is] surrounded by a sealed cover and placed under the same roof as a corpse, Beis Shammai say: The barrel and the beverages are tahor, but the siphon is tamei. And Beis Hillel say: Even the siphon is tahor. [Subsequently,] Beis Hillel reversed [themselves] to rule in accordance with the view of Beis Shammai.

[Regarding] a sheretz that was found beneath the floor of an oven, [the oven is] tahor, for I say: It fell while alive and [only] now did it die. [Regarding] a needle or ring that was found beneath the floor of an oven, [the oven is] tahor, for I say: They were there before the oven arrived. [If] they were found in the ashes, [the oven is] tamei, for there is nothing to which it can be attributed.

[Regarding] a sponge that absorbed tamei beverages and was dry on the outside and it fell into the airspace of an oven, [the oven is] tamei, because the beverage will eventually emerge. And similarly a piece of turnip or of reed-grass. R’ Shimon rules tahor in these two [cases].

[Regarding] shards of earthenware that were used for tamei beverages, and they fell into the airspace of an oven, [if] the oven was heated, it is tamei, because the beverage will eventually emerge. And similarly with new marc, but in [the case of] old [marc, the oven is] tahor. And if it is known that beverage comes out of it, even after three years, [the oven] becomes tamei.