Study Bava Batra folio 102A with parallel Hebrew-English text, traditional commentary, and modern study tools. Free access to Babylonian Talmud online.
If he found 3 corpses lying parallel to each other, then if there is between them, i.e., the outer two corpses, a distance of 4 to 8 cubits, then this is presumed to be a graveyard and the corpses may not be removed, and he must examine from that spot outward 20 cubits to discover whether there are
The Talmud analyzes that Mishnah. The Master said: If there is between them a distance of 4 to 8 cubits, then it is presumed to be a graveyard. The reason is that corpses buried in this manner are indicative of the standard layout of a burial chamber. The fact that this is said only when the distan
The Talmud answers: Actually this Mishnah is in accordance with the opinion of R' Shimon, and it is in accordance with another version of R' Shimon’s opinion, which is cited by this tanna, as it is taught in a baraita: If one found 3 corpses lying in close succession, and there is not a distance of
The Talmud asks: In accordance with which opinion did you interpret the Mishnah? If it is in accordance with the opinion of R' Shimon, then say the latter clause of that Mishnah: If he finds an area of graves, he must examine from there outward 20 cubits to discover whether there are other corpses
The Talmud answers: Actually, the Mishnah is in accordance with the opinion of the Rabbis, and it is necessary to examine 20 cubits in a case where he examined along the diagonal of the catacomb, which is longer than its length.