Protecting Orphans and Levite City Boundaries

"And one prince." Rav Giddel said in the name of Rav: From where do we derive that orphans who come to divide their father's estate, the court appoints a trustee for them to represent their interest in the matter? It is derived from the verse that states, "And one prince from each tribe." "And their fields shall be for their livestock." The water source of the city belongs to its residents; their livelihood and the livelihood of others take precedence over the livelihood of others. The livestock of the residents take precedence over the livestock of others. Their laundry and the laundry of others, their laundry takes precedence. The livelihood of others and their laundry, the livelihood of others takes precedence. Rabbi Yossi says: Their laundry takes precedence over the livelihood of others. How do we know this? It is derived from the verse: "And their fields shall be for their livestock and for their possessions and for all their animals." What does "all their animals" include? If we say it includes all living creatures, isn't a living creature already included in the category of livestock? Rather, what does "all their animals" mean? It refers specifically to their actual livelihood. However, is it not because of the distress caused by the shortage of laundry that they vigorously compete for it? Rav Abahu said: Cities of refuge were not designated for burial, as the verse states: "And for all their animals, they have been given for life, and not for burial." The Gemara raises an objection: But regarding the city of refuge, it is stated: "His place shall be there, and his death shall be there, and his burial shall be there." Why is the verse not concerned about causing distress to the killer? The Gemara answers: From the phrase "from the wall of the city and outward," the Torah teaches that it must be given a rooftop enclosure. From where are these matters derived? Rava said: Since the verse says "from the wall of the city and outward," the Torah is saying: First give it an enclosure, and afterward measure its boundaries. It was taught in a baraita: Rabbi Eliezer, son of Rabbi Yossi HaGelili, says: The depth of the cities of the Levites is two thousand cubits. Go out from them one thousand cubits, and there is a designated area that is a quarter of that size for fields and vineyards. From where are these matters derived? Rava said: Since the verse says "from the wall of the city and outward" by one thousand cubits all around, the Torah is saying: Surround the city with one thousand cubits, and a quarter will be the designated area. Rava bar Adda said: I found it explained in the town where there were two thousand cubits between each pair of towns. How many boundaries were there? Sixteen. How many corners were there? Sixteen. Because eight of the boundaries and four of the corners come from the eight boundaries and four corners of the surrounding towns, the designated area is a quarter larger than the surrounding area. If you add four more corners, it becomes a third larger. If you add another corner, it becomes a quarter larger than that. Abaye said: I also found it explained in the town where there were one thousand by one thousand cubits. How many boundaries were there? Eight. How many corners were there? Sixteen. How many corners were there for the boundaries and how many corners were there for the corners? Eight for the boundaries and four for the corners, totaling twelve. Rabina said: What is the meaning of "a quarter"? A quarter of what? Rav Ashi said: A quarter of the boundaries. The Sages said to Rabina: Rav Ashi, but it is written "around." What does "around" refer to? If you don't say this about the corners, then with regard to the elevation, as it is written, "And they shall throw the blood against the altar all around," "around" should also mean literally around. Rather, what does "around" refer to? It refers to the corners of the altar. So here too, "around" refers to the corners of the city. Rav Abba said to Rav Ashi: But there is the horn of the corner in the town, making it a rounded shape. And I need a square shape. He said to him: Say that we say: He should see it as if it were squared. Rav Abba said to Rav Ashi: Since how much is a square larger than a circle? It is a quarter. These eight, sixty-two, and seventy-seven cubits are a third larger. Rav Ashi said: This is true when it is a perfect square, but when it is a diagonal line, we need more, as every cubit in a square is like two fifths in a diagonal line. On that day, Rabbi Akiva expounded on two verses. One verse states, "And their measurements shall be from outside the city, one thousand cubits," and another verse states, "From the wall of the city and outward, one thousand cubits around." It is impossible to say "one thousand" twice, as it is already stated as "one thousand." How, then, do we understand it? One thousand cubits is the boundary for the fields, and one thousand cubits is the boundary for the Sabbath limit. Rabbi Elazar, son of Rabbi Yosei HaGalili, says, "One thousand cubits is the boundary for the fields and vineyards." And regarding them, forty-two cities were given, which served as cities of refuge for the Levites. These are the words of Rabbi Meir. Rabbi Yehuda says, "They did not receive any reward for them." Rav Kohana said, "There is a dispute about the forty-two cities. One opinion holds that they were given for the reception of refugees, and the other opinion holds that they were given for the priests." The one who holds that they were given for the reception of refugees argues from the fact that it is written, "For yourselves and for all your needs," meaning that these cities are for all your needs. However, regarding the six cities of refuge, everyone agrees that they did not receive any reward for them.