That is by Rabbinical law [only]. (1) IF AN EARTHEN VESSEL WAS CARRIED OUTSIDE, etc. But the Divine Law spoke of a ‘vessel’, and this is not a vessel? — The hole is only large enough for a little root. (2) IF A BRAZEN VESSEL... IT MUST BE BROKEN THROUGH, etc. But then it is not a vessel? — He hammers [the hole] together. (3) Resh Lakish said: If the [priest's] robe became unclean, (4) one must take it in less than three [fingerbreadths] square at a time, and wash it, because it is said, That it [the robe] be not rent. (5) R. Adda b. Ahabah objected: Thick [garments] and soft [unwoven garments] are not subject to the law of three [fingerbreadths] square? (6) -They count, because of the parent [piece]. (7) But surely it requires seven substances, for R. Nahman said in Rabbah b. Abbuha's name: The blood of the sin-offering and the appearance of leprosy require seven substances; whereas it was taught: But that urine may not be taken into the Temple? (8)

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(1). ↑ As a preventive measure, lest one does not tear the greater part of it. but Scripturally it is clean, and here the Rabbis waived this measure in order that the precept of washing may be fulfilled.
(2). ↑ Of a plant to push through. That suffices to make it clean, but not deprive it of the status of a vessel.
(3). ↑ Having broken it through, whereby it became clean, he then hammers the hole together, which makes it a vessel again.
(4). ↑ Outside the Temple court.
(5). ↑ Ex. XXVIII, 32. Hence it cannot be torn, as the Mishnah states. Therefore less than three fingerbreadths square of it must be insinuated into the Temple court at a time, as then it does not count as an unclean garment.
(6). ↑ They cannot be unclean unless they are three handbreadths square. Now, the robe was of thick cloth; why then cannot one take in three handbreadths square at a time?
(7). ↑ As they are not separate pieces, but part of the whole robe, even three finger-breadths square counts technically as a garment.
(8). ↑ This is a difficulty according to the Mishnah: A garment on which the blood of a sin-offering spurted, as well as a garment which showed symptoms of leprosy, which must also be washed, needs the application of seven substances to cleanse it, viz., tasteless saliva, the liquid exuded by crushed beans, urine, natron, lye, Cimolean earth, and ashleg (v. Sanh. Sonc. ed. p. 330). How then can it be washed in the Temple Court, seeing that urine must not be brought there?