The Sociology of Carrying on Shabbat - Mishnah Shabbat 1:1

The cases of carrying on Shabbat:

two that are four inside,

and two that are four outside.

How so? A poor person stands outside, and the homeowner is inside.

The poor person stretches his hand inside, and places something into the hand of the homeowner. Or, he takes something from his hand and carries it out - then the

the poor person is liable and the homeowner is exempt.

The homeowner stretches his hand outside, and places something into the hand of the poor person. Or, he takes something from his hand and carries it in - then the homeowner is liable and the poor person is exempt.

If the poor person extends his hand inside and the homeowner either takes something from his hand, or places something into his hand, and the poor person carries it out - then both of them are exempt.

If the homeowner extends his hand outside and, either the poor person takes something from his hand or places something into his hand, and the homeowner carries it in - then both of them are exempt.

(25) Then Moses said, “Eat it today, for today is a sabbath of the Eternal; you will not find it today on the plain. (26) Six days you shall gather it; on the seventh day, the sabbath, there will be none.” (27) Yet some of the people went out on the seventh day to gather, but they found nothing.

(28) And the Eternal said to Moses, “How long will you refuse to obey My commandments and My teachings? (29) Mark that the Eternal has given you the sabbath, and therefore gives you two days’ food on the sixth day. Let everyone remain where he is: let no one leave his place on the seventh day.” (30) So the people remained inactive on the seventh day.

(32) Once, when the Israelites were in the wilderness, they came upon a man gathering wood on the sabbath day. (33) Those who found him as he was gathering wood brought him before Moses, Aaron, and the whole community. (34) He was placed in custody, for it had not been specified what should be done to him.

(35) Then the Eternal said to Moses, “The man shall be put to death: the whole community shall pelt him with stones outside the camp.” (36) So the whole community took him outside the camp and stoned him to death—as the Eternal had commanded Moses.

(21) Thus said the Eternal: Guard yourselves for your own sake against carrying burdens on the sabbath day, and bringing them through the gates of Jerusalem. (22) Nor shall you carry out burdens from your houses on the sabbath day, or do any work, but you shall hallow the sabbath day, as I commanded your fathers. (23) (But they would not listen or turn their ear; they stiffened their necks and would not pay heed or accept discipline.) (24) If you obey Me—declares the Eternal—and do not bring in burdens through the gates of this city on the sabbath day, but hallow the sabbath day and do no work on it, (25) then through the gates of this city shall enter kings who sit upon the throne of David, with their officers—riding on chariots and horses, they and their officers—and the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. And this city shall be inhabited for all time.