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Based on this Tosafot in Bava Metzia 28a (D"H Chamisha Asar Yom), Eretz Israel is a square (400 sq. Parsah), and the distance between Jerusalem and the Jordan river is 1/39th the distance between Jerusalem and the Mediterranean Sea (or maybe another border). Based on our maps I can't seem to figure it out. Is there any angle to look at the map that all this works out?

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Don't leave out the possibility that it's simply geographical misunderstanding by people who never got anywhere near E"Y. – Isaac Moses Feb 6 '12 at 4:00
@IsaacMoses I've considered that but a) That doesn't always go over so smoothly around certain people and b) he bases it on gemarot – Baal Shemot Tovot Feb 6 '12 at 4:02
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I don't see that he must be interpreted as saying EY was a square: he could mean only that its north-south extremes are 400 parsa apart, and the same for its east-west extremes. – msh210♦ Feb 6 '12 at 4:06
@Vram, A rishon who saw E"Y or who knew people who had would probably read geographical gemarot very differently from one who didn't. I realize that this is a controversial idea, but without it, it's very difficult to understand certain statements in Rashi and Tosafot. – Isaac Moses Feb 6 '12 at 4:06
@Vram b) gemarot can be metaphorical. a) those certain people probably won't believe the maps anyway as the maps are based on a geocentric universe. – Double AA♦ Feb 6 '12 at 4:09
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