On the way back from the sea it occurred to me to ask what I think should be simple to answer but I really do not know what could be the answer. in Bava Batra page 17 Abaye says the Mishna should read: “One must keep his pit three handbreadths from the wall of the pit of his neighbor,” not "from the pit of his neighbor." This seems like a direct proof of Rava that one should keep an object that can cause damage three handbreadths from the border line, even when there is nothing yet on the other side. How could Abaye understand his own statement according to his ruling that one can put that which causes damage next to the border of his neighbor until the neighbor put there something that can be damaged? (Rava said that one must keep one's object three handbreadths from the border, and this statement of Abayee help him directly.) However, later in the gemara, Rava explains the Mishna according to R. Jose to mean that the digging itself causes damage. I do not how that helps Abayee. If he means the wall itself is considered part of the pit that causes damage then he should say he can put it next to the border, and the other neighbor then has to keep his pit 6 handbreadths from the border. If on the other hand, he means only the hollow of the pit is what causes damage, then the way he reads the Mishna is his direct refutation. He said he can put something that causes damage next to the border. Not three handbreadths from the border. Furthermore, how can any of this relate to the Gemara later in the approach of Rabainu Ihzhak that holds if one did something slightly wrong by putting his object next to the border, then the other can do the same. Does that mean the wall does the damage? Then that is like what he said. But if he means the hollow of the pit, then the two pits would be joined into one pit. But this was already answered by Rava that it is the digging that causes the damage. But still, I do not see how that helps Abayee. ______________________________________________________________________________________ On the way back from the sea it occurred to me to ask what I think should be simple to answer but I really do not know what could be the answer. In בבא בתרא י''ז אביי says the משנה should read: “One must keep his pit three טפחים from the wall of the pit of his neighbor,” not "from the pit of his neighbor." This seems like a direct proof of רבא that one should keep an object that can cause damage three טפחים from the border line, even when there is nothing yet on the other side. How could אביי understand his own statement according to his ruling that one can put that which causes damage next to the border of his neighbor until the neighbor put there something that can be damaged? However, later in the ,גמרא רבא explains the משנה according to ר' יוסי to mean that the digging itself causes damage. I do not how that helps אביי. If he means the wall itself is considered part of the pit that causes damage then he should say he can put it next to the border, and the other neighbor then has to keep his pit 6 handbreadths from the border. If on the other hand, he means only the hollow of the pit is what causes damage, then the way he reads the משנה is his direct refutation. He said he can put something that causes damage next to the border. Not three handbreadths from the border. Furthermore, how can any of this relate to the גמרא later in the approach of רבינו יצחקthat holds if one did something slightly wrong by putting his object next to the border, then the other can do the same. Does that mean the wall does the damage? Then that is like what he said. But if he means the hollow of the pit, then the two pits would be joined into one pit. But this was already answered by רבא that it is the digging that causes the damage. But still, I do not see how that helps אביי.