MISHNA: A man may break open a cask, to eat dry figs therefrom; provided, he does not intend using the cask afterwards as a vessel. He must not pierce the bunghole of a cask, such is the decree of R. Jehudah (or R. Jose); the sages permit this to be done. And one must not bore a hole in the side of it; but if it was already perforated, he must not fill it up with wax, because he would smoothen the wax thereby. Said R. Jehudah: "Such a case was brought before R. Johanan ben Sachai, at Arab, and he observed: 'I doubt whether that act does not involve liability to bring a sin-offering.'"

GEMARA: Said R. Oshea: "This [that a man may hold a dirk to open a cask of figs] was only learnt when the figs are very tightly packed [for then he would have to use a knife or a dirk to get the figs out]; but if they were packed loose he must not [use a knife to open the cask]."

An objection was raised: [We have learned:] R. Simeon ben Gamaliel said: "A man may bring in a cask of wine, cut off the bung-head with a knife, and serve it to the guests with impunity." This [Boraitha] is [in accordance with the opinion of] the sages, [while] our Mishna is [in accordance with the decree of] R. Nehemiah [who holds that no vessel may be used for any other purpose but that for which it was originally intended]. And what impelled R. Oshea to make the [entire] Mishna conform with [the dictum of] R. Nehemiah? Let him say that [the cask may be opened with a knife even if] they [the figs] are loose, and [thus be in accord with] the sages? Answered Rabha: "He [R. Oshea] could not comprehend the Mishna: Why did [the Mishna] specify figs: it could have said fruit, and on that account he reasoned as stated."

In one [Boraitha] we have learned: Palm-leaf baskets containing dried figs and dates may be untied, taken apart, or cut; and in another [Boraitha] we were taught: They may be untied, but not taken apart or tied. This presents no difficulty; for one [Boraitha] is [in accordance with the opinion of] the sages, [and] the other is [in accord with] R. Nehemiah.

A question was asked of R. Shesheth: "May a cask be bored with an auger on the Sabbath? [Shall we assume that] one intended to make an opening [in the cask] and [hence] it is prohibited, or [that] he intended [merely] to make a larger space [for the flow of the wine] and it is [therefore] permitted?" He answered them: "The intention was to make an opening, and it is prohibited." An objection was raised: "R. Simeon ben Gamaliel said: 'And a man may bring in a cask of wine and cut off the bung-head with a knife.'" [The answer was:] "There the intention certainly was to make the space larger, [while] here, [it is obvious that the intention was to make an opening; for] if intention was to make the space larger, he would have broken open [the cask with a knife]."

"One must not pierce the bunghole of a cask, etc."

Said R. Huna: "They differ [only] in reference to the top [of a bunghole of a cask]; but [as] for the side, all agree that it is not allowed, and this is carried out by the [later] clause in the Mishna; viz.: 'he must not bore a hole in the side of it.'" And R. Hisda said: "They differ [only as far as boring a hole] in the side [of the bunghole is concerned] but as for the top, all agree that it is permitted; and the [later] clause of the Mishna means to state that one must not bore a hole in the side of the cask itself."

The rabbis taught: One must not bore a new hole on Sabbath, but if it was already made he may enlarge it; and others say, that he must not enlarge it; but all agree, that if the hole was merely stopped it may be reopened. The first Tana prohibits the boring of a new hole, because thereby an opening is made. Does not enlarging a hole improve the opening? Said Rabba: According to biblical law, an opening through which one cannot enter or go out is not considered a door, but the rabbis made this a precaution on account of chicken-coops, the holes of which are made for the purpose of admitting fresh air and emitting the foul. (Therefore making a hole in a coop is equivalent to making a whole coop, for without holes it is of no value.) Enlarging a hole, however, is permitted,