מסכת כלים

פרק כד משנה ה

שלש ערבות הן

There are three types of troughs:

a trough [used for kneading dough]

[with a capacity] from two logs until nine kavs

that cracked

[is susceptible to] the tumah of midras (as people would turn it over and use it as a stool; a trough larger than the specified size would ordinarily be repaired, and not used as a stool, smaller was too small to sit on comfortably);

if whole,

it is [susceptible to the] tumah of a corpse;

and a very large one [with a capacity of over 40 se'ahs of liquid, or two kors of dry goods]

is tahor from anything (it must be usual for a container to be carried while full for it to be susceptible to tumah, which is not the case with such a large trough).

שלשה תרבוסין הן

There are three types of tarbusin (these were large containers; some say they are made from untreated animal hides):

That of barbers (some say this refers to bloodletters; in any event, this container opened from the side but was large so people would often sit on them)

[is susceptible to] the tumah of midras;

and that which is eaten upon (which could not be sat upon while dining)

it is [susceptible to the] tumah of a corpse;

and that of olives (which were placed upon this container it sometime during their processing)

is tahor from anything (as it lacked a receptacle and did not serve people directly).

שלש בסיסיות הן

There are three types of basisyos (which can be loosely translated as referring to bases):

that which is before a bed (some say this was a bedside stool, others that it was a base or pedestal that at bed was placed upon)

and that which is before scribes (again, some say this was a type of stool, others that it was a large platform that extended from under the scribe's work table, and which he could sit or stand upon while working)

and that of a delphica (the delphica was a small three-legged table used as a serving piece, akin to a sideboard; some say this basis was another serving piece that was placed next to the delphica; others that it was a base for the delphica; most agree that either way it had a receptacle of some sort)

and that of an armoire

is tahor from anything (it was designed merely to keep the furniture above it clear of the ground).