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Yevamot 58a

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Babylonian Talmud · folio map

Yevamot 58a

Yevamot 58a. The full printed text of this folio side — 16 numbered segments, about 335 words — with the classic commentaries printed on the page.

Original text

Segment 1

לְרַבִּי מֵאִיר, דְּאָמַר קִדּוּשִׁין פָּסְלִי — חוּפָּה נָמֵי פָּסְלָה. לְרַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר וְרַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן, דְּאָמְרִי קִדּוּשִׁין לָא פָּסְלִי — חוּפָּה נָמֵי לָא פָּסְלָה.

According to Rabbi Meir, who says that betrothal to a priest disqualifies a woman who is unfit to marry him from partaking of teruma even if she is the daughter of a priest, entering the wedding canopy with a priest also disqualifies her. Conversely, according to Rabbi Elazar and Rabbi Shimon, who say that betrothal does not disqualify her, entering the wedding canopy also does not disqualify her.

Segment 2

וּמִמַּאי? דִּלְמָא עַד כָּאן לָא קָאָמַר רַבִּי מֵאִיר הָתָם אֶלָּא בְּקִדּוּשִׁין, דְּקָנֵי לַהּ, אֲבָל חוּפָּה דְּלָא קָנֵי לַהּ — לָא.

The Gemara refutes this claim: And from where do we know that these tanna’im would apply their opinions with regard to betrothal to entering the wedding canopy? Perhaps Rabbi Meir only stated his opinion there, with regard to betrothal, which acquires her. However, in the case of a wedding canopy, which does not acquire her, no, she is not disqualified.

Segment 3

אִי נָמֵי: עַד כָּאן לָא קָאָמְרִי רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר וְרַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן הָתָם אֶלָּא בְּקִדּוּשִׁין, דְּלָא קְרִיבִי לְבִיאָה, אֲבָל חוּפָּה דִּקְרִיבָא לְבִיאָה — הָכִי נָמֵי דְּפָסְלָה.

Alternatively, perhaps Rabbi Elazar and Rabbi Shimon stated their opinion only there, with regard to betrothal, as it is not close to an act of sexual intercourse. However, with regard to entering the wedding canopy, which is close to an act of sexual intercourse, as it is the place where the bride and groom are secluded together and symbolizes the woman’s entrance into her husband’s home, it is possible that it also disqualifies her from partaking of teruma .

Segment 4

אֶלָּא אִי אִיכָּא לְמֵימַר, בִּפְלוּגְתָּא דְּהָנֵי תַּנָּאֵי, דְּתַנְיָא: נִישְּׂאוּ זוֹ וָזוֹ, כְּשֵׁרוֹת וּפְסוּלוֹת, אוֹ שֶׁנִּכְנְסוּ לְחוּפָּה וְלֹא נִבְעֲלוּ — אוֹכְלוֹת מִשֶּׁלּוֹ, וְאוֹכְלוֹת בִּתְרוּמָה.

Rather, if it can be said that this issue was already discussed by earlier Sages, it was in the dispute between these other tanna’im , as it is taught in a baraita : If they married one another, i.e., either a woman who is fit or a woman who is unfit married a priest, or they entered the wedding canopy and did not yet have intercourse with him, they are entitled to eat of his food and to partake of teruma .

Segment 5

נִכְנְסוּ, מִכְּלָל דְּ״נִישְּׂאוּ״ — נִישְּׂאוּ מַמָּשׁ?!

The Gemara interrupts its presentation of the baraita to examine its wording. The fact that the baraita mentions a case where they entered the wedding canopy but did not yet have intercourse proves by inference that the earlier case, where they married, is referring to actual marriage. However, this is difficult because if they were actually married and had engaged in intercourse, the woman who was unfit to marry a priest is certainly disqualified from partaking of teruma due to the prohibited act of intercourse.

Segment 6

אֶלָּא לָאו: כְּגוֹן שֶׁנִּכְנְסוּ לְחוּפָּה וְלֹא נִבְעֲלוּ. וְקָתָנֵי: אוֹכְלוֹת מִשֶּׁלּוֹ וְאוֹכְלוֹת בִּתְרוּמָה.

Rather, is it not that the baraita is referring to a single case: Where they were married, and they entered the canopy, and had not had intercourse? And it is taught in the baraita that they are entitled to partake of his food and to partake of teruma . This indicates that entrance into the wedding canopy does not disqualify a woman who is unfit to marry a priest from eating teruma , although the act of intercourse does.

Segment 7

רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל בְּנוֹ שֶׁל רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן בֶּן בְּרוֹקָה אוֹמֵר: כֹּל שֶׁבִּיאָתָהּ מַאֲכִילָתָהּ — חוּפָּתָהּ מַאֲכִילָתָהּ, וְכֹל שֶׁאֵין בִּיאָתָהּ מַאֲכִילָתָהּ — אֵין חוּפָּתָהּ מַאֲכִילָתָהּ.

The baraita continues: Conversely, Rabbi Yishmael, son of Rabbi Yoḥanan ben Beroka, says: Any woman whose act of intercourse entitles her to partake of teruma , her wedding canopy also entitles her to partake of teruma ; and any woman whose act of intercourse does not entitle her to partake of teruma , her wedding canopy also does not entitle her to partake of teruma . Consequently, it appears that the tanna’im cited in this baraita disagree over the very question of whether the entry of a priest and a woman unfit to marry him into the wedding canopy has legal significance.

Segment 8

מִמַּאי? דִּלְמָא רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל בְּנוֹ שֶׁל רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן בֶּן בְּרוֹקָה כְּרַבִּי מֵאִיר סְבִירָא לֵיהּ, דְּאָמַר קִדּוּשִׁין לָא אָכְלָה?

The Gemara refutes this claim: From where do we know that this is correct? Perhaps Rabbi Yishmael, son of Rabbi Yoḥanan ben Beroka, holds in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Meir, who said that in the case of the betrothal of a woman unfit for a priest she may not partake of teruma ?

Segment 9

הַאי ״כֹּל שֶׁאֵין בִּיאָתָהּ מַאֲכִילָתָהּ אֵין חוּפָּתָהּ מַאֲכִילָתָהּ״, ״כֹּל שֶׁאֵין בִּיאָתָהּ מַאֲכִילָתָהּ אֵין כַּסְפָּהּ מַאֲכִילָתָהּ״ מִיבְּעֵי לֵיהּ! דִּלְמָא, אַיְּידֵי דְּאָמַר תַּנָּא קַמָּא חוּפָּה, אָמַר אִיהוּ נָמֵי חוּפָּה.

The Gemara expresses surprise: According to this suggestion, this expression in the baraita is difficult: Any woman whose act of intercourse does not entitle her to partake of teruma , her wedding canopy also does not entitle her to partake of teruma . It should have said: Any woman whose act of intercourse does not entitle her to partake of teruma , her betrothal money also does not entitle her to partake of teruma , as it was the betrothal that disqualified her. The Gemara counters this argument: Perhaps it can be suggested that since the first tanna said his ruling with regard to a wedding canopy, Rabbi Yishmael, son of Rabbi Yoḥanan ben Beroka, also said his ruling with regard to a wedding canopy, even though he holds that she was already disqualified from the time of her betrothal.

Segment 10

אָמַר רַב עַמְרָם: הָא מִילְּתָא אֲמַר לַן רַב שֵׁשֶׁת, וְאַנְהֲרִינְהוּ לְעַיְינִין מִמַּתְנִיתִין: יֵשׁ חוּפָּה לִפְסוּלוֹת. וְתַנָּא תּוּנָא: אָמֵן שֶׁלֹּא שָׂטִיתִי אֲרוּסָה וּנְשׂוּאָה, שׁוֹמֶרֶת יָבָם וּכְנוּסָה.

§ Rav Amram said: This matter was said to us by Rav Sheshet, and he illuminated our eyes from the mishna, i.e., he demonstrated that the mishna serves as the basis for his opinion. Rav Sheshet’s statement was as follows: There is significance to a priest entering the wedding canopy with women who are unfit to marry a priest. And the tanna of the mishna also taught this halakha with regard to a sota ( Sota 18a–b): When a sota is brought to the Temple to drink the bitter waters, she affirms the oath imposed on her by a priest that she has not committed adultery. The mishna explains that when she says amen, it is as though she herself states that: I did not go astray while betrothed, or married, or as a widow waiting for her yavam , or as a fully married woman.

Segment 11

הַאי אֲרוּסָה הֵיכִי דָמֵי? אִילֵּימָא דְּקַנִּי לַהּ כְּשֶׁהִיא אֲרוּסָה וְקָא מַשְׁקֵה לַהּ כְּשֶׁהִיא אֲרוּסָה — אֲרוּסָה בַּת מִשְׁתְּיָא הִיא? וְהָא תְּנַן: אֲרוּסָה וְשׁוֹמֶרֶת יָבָם — לֹא שׁוֹתוֹת וְלֹא נוֹטְלוֹת כְּתוּבָה!

The Gemara inquires: This case of a betrothed woman, what are the circumstances? If we say that he was jealous of her and warned her not to seclude herself with a particular man when she was betrothed, and he also causes her to drink the waters when she is betrothed, is a betrothed woman fit to drink the waters of a sota ? Didn’t we learn in a mishna ( Sota 23b): A betrothed woman and a widow waiting for her yavam do not drink, as the halakha of the sota waters applies only to married women; and they do not collect their marriage contract if they secluded themselves after being warned, as they have acted in a licentious fashion?

Segment 12

אֶלָּא דְּקַנִּי לַהּ כְּשֶׁהִיא אֲרוּסָה וְאִיסְתְּתַר, וְקָמַשְׁקֵה לַהּ כְּשֶׁהִיא נְשׂוּאָה, מִי בָּדְקִי לַהּ מַיָּא? וְהָתַנְיָא: ״וְנִקָּה הָאִישׁ מֵעָוֹן״, בִּזְמַן שֶׁהָאִישׁ מְנוּקֶּה מֵעָוֹן — הַמַּיִם בּוֹדְקִין אֶת אִשְׁתּוֹ, אֵין הָאִישׁ מְנוּקֶּה מֵעָוֹן — אֵין הַמַּיִם בּוֹדְקִין אֶת אִשְׁתּוֹ.

Rather, the case in the first mishna cited above is that he was jealous of her and warned her not to seclude herself with a particular man when she was betrothed, and she secluded herself with that man, and her husband causes her to drink when she is already married. However, in that case do the waters examine her? Isn’t it taught in a baraita with regard to the verse: “And the man shall be clear from iniquity, and that woman shall bear her iniquity” (Numbers 5:31), that when the man is clear of iniquity the waters examine his wife, but if the man is not clear of iniquity the waters do not examine his wife? By secluding herself with the other man when she was betrothed, the woman rendered herself forbidden to her husband. If he then married her, he cannot be described as clear of iniquity, and therefore the sota waters are ineffective.

Segment 13

אֶלָּא, דְּקַנִּי לָהּ כְּשֶׁהִיא אֲרוּסָה, וְאִיסְתְּתַר, וְנִכְנְסָה לְחוּפָּה וְלֹא נִבְעֲלָה — וּשְׁמַע מִינַּהּ יֵשׁ חוּפָּה לִפְסוּלוֹת.

Rather, it must be that he was jealous of her when she was betrothed, and she secluded herself with the other man anyway, and she had entered the wedding canopy but did not yet have intercourse with her husband when he brought her to the priest. Consequently, she is made to drink the sota waters as a married woman, and her husband has not committed a transgression, as he has not had intercourse with her. Learn from this that there is significance to a priest entering the wedding canopy with women who are unfit to marry a priest, as demonstrated by the fact that the sota waters will examine her in these circumstances.

Segment 14

אָמַר רָבָא: וְתִסְבְּרָא דְּהָא מְתָרַצְתָּא הִיא? וְהָא כִּי אֲתָא רַבִּי אַחָא בַּר חֲנִינָא מִדָּרוֹמָא, אֲתָא וְאַיְיתִי מַתְנִיתָא בִּידֵיהּ: ״מִבַּלְעֲדֵי אִישֵׁךְ״, מִי שֶׁקָּדְמָה שְׁכִיבַת בַּעַל לַבּוֹעֵל, וְלֹא שֶׁקָּדְמָה שְׁכִיבַת בּוֹעֵל לַבַּעַל.

Rava said: Do you hold that this baraita is sufficiently accurate to rely upon? But when Rabbi Aḥa bar Ḥanina came from the South, he came with this baraita in hand: The verse states with regard to the oath of the sota : “And some man has lain with you besides your husband” (Numbers 5:20), which indicates that it applies only when the cohabitation of the husband preceded that of the adulterer, but not when the cohabitation of the adulterer preceded that of the husband. Consequently, in the case under discussion, drinking the sota waters would not be effective.

Segment 15

אָמַר רָמֵי בַּר חָמָא: מַשְׁכַּחַתְּ לַהּ כְּגוֹן שֶׁבָּא עָלֶיהָ אֲרוּסָהּ בְּבֵית אָבִיהָ.

Rami bar Ḥama said: You find it in a case such as where her betrothed had intercourse with her licentiously when she was a betrothed woman in her father’s house. Since the act of intercourse was committed licentiously rather than for the purpose of consummating the marriage, the woman is still considered betrothed. Subsequently, her betrothed warned her not to seclude herself with a particular man, and she disobeyed. Then, they entered the wedding canopy together, despite the fact that they are forbidden to one another. Once they entered the wedding canopy, the woman can be made to drink the bitter waters. This proves that there is significance to entering the wedding canopy with a woman that is unfit for one to marry.

Segment 16

דִּכְווֹתַהּ גַּבֵּי שׁוֹמֶרֶת יָבָם — שֶׁבָּא עָלֶיהָ יָבָם בְּבֵית חָמִיהָ,

The Gemara asks: If so, in the corresponding case with regard to a widow waiting for her yavam , in which the yavam had licentious intercourse with her in her father-in-law’s house,

Yevamot 58a

Yevamot 58a

Rashi

Tosafot

Rashba

Ritva

Meiri

Maharsha (Chidushei Halachot)

Maharam

Chiddushei Rabbi Akiva Eiger

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