מסכת כלים

פרק יח משנה ג

The bin (of less than 40 se'ahs or three cubic cubits),

and the box,

and the cabinet,

that had one of their legs was removed,

even though they can contain (they can still serve as a container)

they are tahor;

and that which cannot contain in their usual manner (this refers to a container that can hold more than 40 se'ahs, but not when standing upright),

Rabbi Yosi rules they are tamei.

And the poles of a bed (a pair of poles, one at the foot and the other at the head of the bed, from which a tent-like canopy or netting would be hung)

and the platform (a thick wooden board or blocks placed under the bed),

and the covering (decorative metal plating that overlay parts of the bed)

are tahor,

and nothing is tamei except the bed

and the malbein (some say that these were wooden blocks with sockets that the legs of the bed were inserted into, and they were tamei as they were permanently attached to the bed);

and the malbeins of the Levites (which were removeable, as the Levites were itinerant)

are tahor.

A malbein

that was placed on tongues (another small piece of wood that would go under the malbein)

Rabbi Meir and Rabbi Yehuda

rule (the tongues) are tamei,

Rabbi Yosi and Rabbi Shimon

rule they are tahor;

Rabbi Yosi said

what is different about this

than the malbeins of the Levites

that the malbeins of the Levites are tahor (as both would be removed on occassion)?