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Kesubos 3b

כתובות ג׳ ע״ב

Ketubot 3b

Learn Kesubos 3b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Kesubos 3b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Which day a בתולה marries on, and when danger or אונס allows a different day

Overview

The גמרא explains the phrase 'שקדו' with a ברייתא. A בתולה marries on Wednesday so the husband can bring a טענת בתולים to בית דין the next morning, and so he has three days to prepare the feast. The ברייתא adds three more rules: in a time of סכנה people married on Tuesday, Monday is allowed only because of אונס, and the first union is not on Friday night because of חבורה. רבה explains the 'danger': the government decreed that a Wednesday bride would first be violated by the הגמון, and modest women would rather die than submit. The גמרא explains why the חכמים did not simply teach that אונס is permitted, and why they did not cancel the Wednesday rule. A persecution is temporary, and the ruler will not bother over an uncertain Tuesday wedding. רבא explains the Monday 'אונס' as an army general coming to settle in the city, whose advance troops arrive on Tuesday. The גמרא then offers a second explanation: a death in the family after the wedding feast is already prepared.

Opening lines

מַאי ״שָׁקְדוּ״?

What is 'they were diligent'?

דְּתַנְיָא: מִפְּנֵי מָה אָמְרוּ

As it was taught: For what reason did they say

בְּתוּלָה נִשֵּׂאת לַיּוֹם הָרְבִיעִי?

that a virgin is married on the fourth day (Wednesday)?

שֶׁאִם הָיָה לוֹ טַעֲנַת בְּתוּלִים,

So that if he had a claim about her virginity,

The steps (28)

  1. QuestionWhat does 'they were diligent' mean?
  2. ResponseThe ברייתא's first reason for Wednesday weddings
  3. ChallengeWhy not marry on Sunday instead?
  4. ResolutionThree days to prepare the wedding feast
  5. StatementIn a time of danger, people married on Tuesday
  6. StatementMonday is not allowed, unless forced
  7. StatementNo first relations on Friday night
  8. QuestionWhat was the danger?
  9. RejectionIt cannot mean a death decree
  10. Responseרבה: the הגמון decree
  11. ChallengeIs that danger, or coercion?
  12. ResolutionModest women would risk their lives
  13. ChallengeWhy not tell the women that being forced is permitted?
  14. ResolutionSome women would misuse it, and some are married to כהנים
  15. ChallengeWhy not cancel the Wednesday rule completely?
  16. ResolutionPersecution is temporary, so the rule stays
  17. ChallengeWon't the ruler just come on Tuesday too?
  18. ResolutionHe won't bother for an uncertain case
  19. StatementThe ברייתא continues: Monday weddings
  20. QuestionWhat is the אונס here?
  21. RejectionIt can't be the same case as the ruler's decree
  22. Responseרבא: an army general is coming
  23. ChallengeIf he is just passing through, wait
  24. ResolutionHe comes to stay
  25. ChallengeThen why not marry on Tuesday?
  26. ResolutionHis advance troops arrive on Tuesday
  27. ResponseA second way to explain the forced situation
  28. ProofA death in the family when the feast is already prepared