[In the case of] wooden tablets, a handbreadth above the ground, that touch one another at their corners and there is tumah underneath one [tablet], someone who touches the other [tablet] becomes tamei for seven days. Utensils underneath the first tablet become tamei, whereas those under the second remain tahor. A tabletop does not spread tumah unless [it extends beyond] its base by a handbreadth.

[In the case of] barrels that are outdoors, standing upright or lying on their sides, which touch one another by a square handbreadth, [if there is] tumah underneath one [barrel], tumah penetrates directly up and directly down. In what case does this apply? When [the barrels] are tahor. However, if they are tamei, or a handbreadth above the ground, and there is tumah under one of them, [the area] beneath all of them becomes tamei.