מסכת כלים

פרק יז משנה טז

A beam of a balance scale

and a leveler (this was a tool used with measuring vessels filled with dry goods; if would be slid along the top to remove any excess that was heaped above the rim of the vessel, making the contents level),

that have a receptacle in them for metal (this would be used to cheat customers, either by creating a hidden imbalance in the scale, or by causing the leveler to dig deeper into the dry goods than it should),

and the carrying pole (used by porters to carry goods on either end of the pole, which was placed over the shoulders)

that has in it a receptacle for money (this allowed wages to be hidden from an employer, allowing the porter to falsely claim that he had not been paid),

and a stick of a pauper

that has in it a receptacle for water (to inspire pity, the pauper would claim to be fasting, but would have this hidden supply of water to drink),

and a stick

that that has in it a receptacle

for a mezuzah and pearls (smugglers would hide peals in such a stick hidden under a mezuzah, which they would claim to be carrying for protection),

these are tamei;

and on all of them

Rabban Yochanan ben Zakkai said

woe is to me if I say it (as it may give people ideas)

woe is to me if I don't say it (as it may give people the idea that the Sages were unaware of these contrivances).

The base of the smiths (this wooden item was used by gold and silversmiths; it had a rim and they did their work upon it so that it would catch any scraps of metal)

is tamei;

and of blacksmiths

is tahor (as they did not really intend or care to catch all their scraps);

a sharpening board (a wooden board used to sharpen knives)

that has in it a receptacle for oil

is tamei

and one that does not (have such a receptacle)

is tahor (and we do not worry about confusion between the two types of boards);

a ledger

that has in it a receptacle for wax (this type of ledger had a hollowed-out face filled with wax, and a stylus was used to write in the wax)

is tamei

and one that does not (and was instead used by writing on it in ink)

is tahor (again, we are not concerned about confusion between the two types);

a straw mat (made for lying on)

and a straw tube,

Rabbi Akiva rules are tamei

and Rabbi Yochanan ben Nuri rules are tahor (they argue over whether they are durable enough to be considered utensils);

Rabbi Shimon says

also of colocynth (a gourd)

is like these (that is, Rabbi Akiva and Rabbi Yochanan ben Nuri have the same disagreement about a utensil made from a hollowed out colocynth);

A mat of reeds

and of sedge (a type of reed or grass-like plant)

are tahor (from the tumah of contact, but not the tumah of a seat or bed conveyed by a zav or zavvah resting their weight on it);

a reed tube

that was cut to be [used as] a receptacle

is tahor

until all of the pith is removed (as otherwise it is not considered finished).