Kesubos 63b

כתובות ס״ג ע״ב

Ketubot 63b

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Topic

The מוֹרֶדֶת (a wife who rebels against her husband): what counts as rebellion, and how the court handles it

Overview

The גמרא first settles the argument about what makes a wife a מורדת: everyone agrees that refusing תשמיש counts, and the only dispute is about refusing household work. It then studies the ברייתא about the מורדת. The original penalty was a weekly cut from her כתובה. Later, רבותינו enacted four weeks of public announcements, after which she loses her whole כתובה. The ברייתא also says this applies even to a נדה, and שמואל explains why with the parable of bread in the basket. רמי בר חמא adds that the announcements are made in shuls and study halls, and that the court warns her twice. רב נחמן בר רב חסדא rules like רבותינו, and רבא objects, following רב ששת and the weekly cut. אמימר and מר זוטרא then argue whether we force a woman who says her husband disgusts her. The amud ends with a real case of רב זביד's daughter-in-law and whether a מורדת loses her worn clothes, and רב גמדא's reply continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (24)

1. ChallengeHow can an ill woman be a rebel against work?
2. ResolutionReframing the dispute: everyone agrees about refusing relations
3. StatementThe original fine: a weekly reduction of the כתובה
4. StatementThe later enactment: four weeks of announcements, then she loses everything
5. StatementWho the rule applies to
6. ChallengeCan a נדה really refuse relations?
7. ResolutionBread in the basket
8. StatementAnnouncements only in shuls and study halls
9. Proofרבא supports this from the word 'שבתות'
10. StatementTwo warnings from the court
11. Statementרב נחמן בר רב חסדא rules like רבותינו
12. Challengeרבא calls the ruling absurd
13. Resolutionרב נחמן בר יצחק defends the ruling with a great authority
14. QuestionWhose view does רבא follow?
15. Responseרבא follows רב ששת's rulings
16. QuestionWhat exactly is a מורדת?
17. Responseאמימר: a מורדת wants him but is hurting him
18. Statementמר זוטרא: we force her even if she says he disgusts her
19. ProofA story: מר זוטרא forced a woman and a great sage was born
20. RejectionRejected: that outcome was special help from Heaven
21. StatementA real case: רב זביד's daughter-in-law rebels
22. StatementThe sages rule she loses her worn clothes
23. Challengeרב גמדא objects: are you flattering רב זביד?
24. StatementSecond version: the sages ruled she does not lose them