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Sotah 18b

סוטה י״ח ע״ב

Learn Sotah 18b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

The scope of the סוטה's oath (which marriages and time periods it covers, and רבי מאיר's future oath), and whether a woman can drink the סוטה water twice.

Overview

This amud finishes the משנה about the oath the סוטה answers with "אמן אמן." Her oath covers every stage when she was bound to this man, including while waiting for a יבם and after ייבום. רבי מאיר adds that the oath also covers the future. Everyone agrees the oath cannot include the time before אירוסין or after a divorce. The rule is that the husband may include only a time when sinning would forbid her to him. In the גמרא, רב המנונא uses this to prove that a שומרת יבם who sinned is forbidden to her יבם, but the scholars of ארץ ישראל reject this and explain that the משנה follows רבי עקיבא. Next, the גמרא rules that the oath may cover an earlier marriage (רבי ירמיה) and even a future remarriage (רב אשי). A ברייתא explains that for רבי מאיר, the water acts against her only if she later sins. Finally, a ברייתא brings three views on whether a woman can drink the water twice, and רבא begins to reconcile them with the פסוק. His answer continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

וְשׁוֹמֶרֶת יָבָם, וּכְנוּסָה.

nor as a woman waiting for the yavam, nor when married to him.

אָמֵן שֶׁלֹּא נִטְמֵאתִי,

Amen that I did not become defiled,

וְאִם נִטְמֵאתִי — יָבוֹאוּ בִּי.

and if I did become defiled, may they come upon me.

רַבִּי מֵאִיר אוֹמֵר:

Rabbi Meir says:

The steps (22)

  1. StatementThe oath also covers her time as a שומרת יבם and after ייבום
  2. Statementרבי מאיר: the second אמן covers the future
  3. StatementEveryone agrees: no conditions about before אירוסין or after divorce
  4. StatementDefiled while divorced and later remarried: not included
  5. StatementThe general rule for what the oath can cover
  6. Statementרב המנונא: a שומרת יבם who sinned is forbidden to her יבם
  7. ProofProof from the משנה's rule
  8. ConclusionIn ארץ ישראל: the הלכה does not follow רב המנונא
  9. ChallengeWhose view is the משנה's mention of a שומרת יבם?
  10. ResolutionThe משנה follows רבי עקיבא
  11. QuestionCan the oath cover an earlier marriage?
  12. ResponseThe משנה's rule answers: yes, he may
  13. StatementHow רבי מאיר's oath about the future works
  14. QuestionCan the oath cover a future remarriage?
  15. ProofQuoting the משנה about the oath's limits
  16. ConclusionYes, the oath can cover a future remarriage
  17. StatementA woman can drink the water more than once
  18. Statementרבי יהודה: she does not drink twice
  19. Statementנחוניא's testimony: twice only with two husbands
  20. StatementThe חכמים: she never drinks twice
  21. ChallengeHow does each side handle the word that goes against it?
  22. Resolutionרבא begins: one husband, one suspected man