_M._ Ten kinds of families left Babylon for Palestine after the edict of Cyrus went forth in B.C. 538 permitting the nation to return. These were as follows: 1. Priests. 2. Levites. 3. Israelites. 4. Degraded Priests (lit. profaned ones). 5. Proselytes (19). 6. Freedmen. 7. Bastards. 8. Netinim. 9. Those of unknown lineage. 10. Foundlings. The three first are allowed to intermarry: the last six may also intermarry. All those whose mother is known but not their father are said to be of unknown lineage. A foundling is one picked up in the streets whose parents are both unknown. The Evil of Idolatry. _G_. The worship of idols is so grave a sin that he who renounces or disavows it does as much as if he confessed his belief in the whole law. Sons More Desirable than Daughters. _G_. The world cannot exist without males and females, yet blessed is he whose children are boys, and unlucky he whose children are girls. Cf. Baba Bathra, p. 113, col. I:--"Whoever does not leave a son to be heir, God will heap wrath upon him." _IV.--CONCERNING PENALTIES_ (NEZIKIN) [In this division the principal part of the civil and criminal court of the Hebrews is included. See especially the treatise "Sanhedrin."] 1. TREATISE CALLED LIT. Chap. I, or THE FIRST GATE. (20)(Heb. _Baba Qama_.) Damages to be made good by those responsible for them. _M_. There are four principal causes of damage to life and property. I. The Ox. 2. The Uncovered Pit. 3. The Man who sets fire to anything. 4. The Fire which starts of its own accord through neglect. Whenever damage is done in any of these four ways the one that is responsible for it must make the loss good. _G_. The Rabbis teach that there are many specific forms of the above four kinds of injuries, _i.e._, the ox can do an injury with his horns, his teeth, or his feet. Accident through falling over a jug or barrel. _M_. If anyone places a jug on a public road and another person stumbles over it and breaks it, the latter is not liable for the breakage. But if he is injured by the fall, the owner of the barrel is liable for the damage. _G_. The Mishnah uses "jug" in the first clause and "barrel" in the second. Rabbi Papa said that the same thing is meant in both cases. On breaking a jug full of water on a public road. _M_. If a jug full of water breaks on a public road and its contents cause a person to slip, or if in any way one is injured by the pieces, he who carries the jug is liable for any injury. Rabbi Jehuda, however, says he is only liable if he breaks it intentionally. 2. TREATISE CALLED THE MIDDLE CHAPTER (Heb. _Baba Metsia_). 2nd in order.