(Mishnah - R. Meir): We give [room for] a Karfef to a city [before measuring the Techum];

Chachamim say, we give a Karfef only between two cities;

If when we give 70 Amos and a fraction to each city, these areas overlap, the cities are considered like one.

The same applies to three cities that are Meshulashim (this will be explained). If the outermost cities are less than 141 and a third Amos apart, the middle city makes them like one.

(Gemara - R. Chunah citing Rav): R. Meir and Chachamim expound the same verse;

R. Meir expounds "mi'Kir ha'Ir va'Chutzah'' - why does it say va'Chutzah? This teaches that we give a Karfef to a city;

Rabanan expound, it says "va'Chutzah'' - why does it say mi'Kir ha'Ir? This teaches that we do not give a Karfef to a city [by itself, only between two cities].

Inference: (The Seifa says that if when we give 70 Amos to each, they overlap, the cities are considered like one.) This shows that [Chachamim agree that] we give a Karfef to [each] city

Rebuttal (R. Yakov bar Acha citing R. Avunah citing R. Nachum citing Shmuel bar Aba): ["Mi'Kir ha'Ir'' teaches that we give a Karfef to a city] ends [Chachamim's words in] our Mishnah. (R. Meir taught "if when we give 70 to each...'' Chachamim hold that we give only one Karfef for both cities!)

(Mishnah): The same applies to three cities that are Meshulashim...

(Shmuel): The case is, they are in a line.

(Bar Kapara): The case is, they are like a tripod (equilateral triangle).

Question: Which is the middle [city]? Granted, according to the one who said that they are in a line [the second is the middle]. However, the one who said that they are like a tripod, which is the middle?

Answer (R. Shmuel, the brother of R. Berachiyah): (Indeed, it can be any of them.) If you measure from these [two], this (the third) is the middle. If you measure from these, this is the middle.

(R. Yakov bar Acha citing R. Yosa citing Chananyah): This is only if the middle [city] is not distanced [from the others] more than 2000 Amos.

Question (R. Yosah, to R. Yakov bar Acha - Mishnah): If there are 141 and a third Amos between the outermost cities, the middle city makes all three [like one. It did not limit how far the middle city can be!]

Answer (R. Yakov bar Acha): [Our Mishnah teaches that] to permit the outermost cities [we need only that less than 141 and a third Amos separate them. I teach that the middle city cannot be distanced from the others more than 2000 in order to make all three like one.]

Question: If there were two [pairs of] outermost cities [and one city is in the middle with respect to either pair], can it be judged for here and for here (to permit both pairs)?

What do we need [to ask about]? When two people walk [at once, and each wants to rely on the middle city to permit a different pair], but if one was walking, it is judged for here [when he walks here] and for here [when he walks here. We explained the entire Sugya like PNEI MEIR.]