Sotah 10b

סוטה י׳ ע״ב

Learn Sotah 10b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Sotah 10b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

תמר's modesty and her refusal to shame יהודה, יהודה's public admission and its rewards, and אבשלום's pride in his hair and his punishment through it.

Overview

The amud opens by finishing a דרשה about אברהם אבינו: he got every guest to thank and bless הקב"ה after eating. The גמרא then works through the story of יהודה and תמר. רבי אלעזר explains that תמר always covered her face in יהודה's house, which is why he did not recognize her on the road. From her modesty we learn that a modest daughter-in-law merits kings and prophets, like דוד and ישעיהו. The גמרא explains the odd words of the story: סמאל and גבריאל moved her proof-items, she became like a mute dove, and the word מכתם is read three ways as praise of דוד. תמר only hinted to יהודה rather than naming him, which teaches that it is better to be thrown into a fiery furnace than to shame someone in public. יהודה's open admission earned him the whole name of ה׳ inside his own name, and also the rescue of חנניה, מישאל and עזריה from the fire. Next the גמרא turns to אבשלום, who sinned through pride in his hair and was hung by his hair. דוד's eight cries of 'my son' raised him out of גיהנם. The amud ends in the middle of a דרשה on the monument אבשלום set up for himself, which continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (44)

1. Statementאברהם got others to call out God's name
2. QuestionHow did he do it?
3. Responseאברהם told his guests to bless God
4. ChallengeWhy would a covered face suggest a prostitute?
5. ResolutionShe always covered her face at home
6. StatementA modest daughter-in-law merits kings and prophets
7. QuestionWhere do we learn this?
8. ResponseFrom תמר: ישעיהו and דוד
9. Proofישעיהו's father was a king's brother
10. ChallengeWhy the odd word מוצאת?
11. ResolutionThe angels moved her proof-items
12. ProofA Psalm hints at תמר becoming like a silent dove
13. StatementFirst meaning of מכתם: דוד was humble and wholesome
14. StatementSecond meaning of מכתם: דוד was born circumcised
15. StatementThird meaning of מכתם: דוד stayed humble even as king
16. ChallengeWhy did תמר only hint instead of naming יהודה?
17. ResolutionBetter to be thrown into a fire than to shame someone in public
18. ProofThe source for this rule is תמר
19. Statementיהודה was told with the same word he once used: הכר
20. ProofThe two פסוקים that both use הכר
21. Statementנא means 'please': תמר begged יהודה not to look away
22. Statementיוסף sanctified ה׳'s name in private and gained one letter
23. Statementיהודה sanctified ה׳'s name in public and his whole name carries it
24. StatementA בת קול promises to save three of יהודה's descendants from fire
25. QuestionWho are the three descendants?
26. Responseחנניה, מישאל and עזריה
27. QuestionHow did יהודה know the child was his?
28. ResponseA heavenly voice said: these hidden things came from Me
29. StatementOnce he knew her, יהודה never separated from her
30. ProofProof from the great voice at Sinai that did not stop
31. Statementאבשלום sinned through his hair
32. ProofThe פסוק about אבשלום's beautiful, heavy hair
33. StatementWhat the 'king's stone' was
34. StatementSo he was hung by his hair
35. ProofThe פסוק of אבשלום caught in the tree
36. Statementאבשלום tried to cut his hair
37. StatementThe underworld opened beneath him
38. Statementדוד cries 'my son' over אבשלום
39. QuestionWhy eight times 'my son'?
40. ResponseSeven to raise him from גיהנם
41. ResponseTwo views on the eighth 'my son'
42. QuestionWhat did אבשלום 'take'?
43. Responseריש לקיש: he made a bad deal
44. StatementThe 'King's Valley' as ה׳'s deep plan