We learn that an object can be ritually impure without transmitting ritual impurity to other people or things. Any object over a grave becomes impure. We are told that when a farmer passes and his ox goad was on his shoulder causing one side of the ox goad to cover the grave, the Sages deemed the ox goad to be impure due to the impurity of vessels that cover a corpse.
Another of the eighteen decrees that we have been discussing regards one who harvests grapes to take them to the press. Shammai says that they become susceptible, and Hillel says that they have not, arguing that grapes would not be harvested using ritually pure vessels if they were susceptible to ritual impurity just by dripping juice. And we can look to olives for similar rulings. Shammai says "If you provoke me... I will decree impurity on the gathering of olives as well". The argument became so heated that a sword was stuck in the ground and no-one was allowed to enter or exit without a vote. This was said to be as difficult as day as the day that the golden calf was made. Hillel was the Nasi but he was forced to sit before Shammai and Beit Shammai's vote carried. The people did not accept the ruling from Hillel and Shammai but did accept it from their students.
Tavi the bird hunter said that Shmuel said that the decree regarding the growths of teruma, produce grown from teruma that was planted in teh ground, the Sages also decreed that day. Why? Rabbi Chanina said that a decree due to pure teruma i the hand of a non-priest Israelite. Thus it would not benefit a person to bury their teruma in an effort to hide it from the priests. More discussion ensues about the need to protect teruma for the priests.
Teh Gemara askes about another decree. Rabbi Chiyya bar Ami said in the name of Ulla that one who was carrying a purse with money in it on erev Shabbat - where it became dark while one was walking - Torah law permits one to continue carrying the purse in four cubit increments. The Sages added that it is not permitted to carry in increments. Instead one should give one's purse to a Gentile accompanying him. This was issued that same day.
Another decree: The Sage Bali said that Avimi of Sanvata said that all decrees prohibiting their bread, oil, wine and daughters of Gentiles are combined to form one of the eighteen decrees. The rabbis disagree regarding how many decrees would be left to enumerate if this were the case. We learn that the rabbis forbid these things out of a fear of intermarriage between Jews and Gentile women, who might bring idol-worship into the Jewish community. Further, we are told that Jewish children should be separated from non-Gentile children to avoid becoming accustomed to homosexual relationships. There is no further commentary about this decree, other than noting that Gentile children are considered to be ritually impure from birth.
A new Mishna discusses whether or not we can begin an action on erev Shabbat if we know that it will last into Shabbat. Beit Shammai say that one may only soak dry ink in water and dry plants to produce dyes in water, and soak animal food to soften them in water if there is enough time for them to soak while it's still day and their soaking on Shabbat will have no effect. Beit Hillel permit doing so.
Beit Shammai say that one may place bundles of combed flax inside ovens on erev Shabbat if there is enough time to heat them before sundown. One may only place wool into the dyer's kettle if there is enough time fro the wool to absorb the dye before sundown. And Beit Hillel permit these actions.
Beit Shammai say that one may put out animal traps if there is enough time to trap them before sundown. Hillel permits this.
Beit Shammai say that one may only sell to a Gentile on erev Shabbat , load a burden on his donkey, lift a burdenn on him if there is enough time for the Gentile to arrive at his destination before sundown. Beit Hillel permit this.
Beit Shammai say that one may not give skins to a Gentile tanner nor clothes to a Gentile launderer unless there is enough time for them to be completed before Shabbat. Beit Hillel permit doing so.
Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel says that the dynasty of Nesi'im from the house of Hillel, his ancestors, would give white clothes to a Gentile launderer at least three days before Shabbat. Futher, both Beit Shammai and Beit Hillel agree that one may load the beam of the olive press onto the olives on erev Shabbat so that the squeezing of oil is done on Shabbat. As well, both agreed that it was permitted to load the circular wine press to allow wine to be in production on Shabbat.
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