Sotah 4a

סוטה ד׳ ע״א

Learn Sotah 4a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

How long the seclusion (סתירה) of a סוטה must last: the ברייתא's definition, why it uses three terms, and how the גמרא settles the two ברייתות that quote the תנאים differently

Overview

A woman becomes a סוטה only if she is secluded (סתירה) with the man her husband warned her about, and a ברייתא asks how long that seclusion must last. The answer is the time of טומאה, which is ביאה, which is just העראה, the very beginning of the act. Many תנאים then picture that short time with everyday actions: circling a palm tree, mixing or drinking a cup, roasting or swallowing an egg, a weaver tying a thread, or taking a loaf from a basket. פלימו adds a hint from a פסוק in משלי. The גמרא explains why the ברייתא needs all three words, טומאה, ביאה and העראה. It then brings a second ברייתא that quotes the same תנאים with different measures, and settles each contradiction. In some cases it says two measures are equal, in others it rereads the words, and once it says a תנא was speaking according to someone else's view. Finally, רב אשי asks exactly how to picture several of these measures, and most of his questions end in תיקו.

Opening lines

The steps (37)

1. QuestionHow long must the seclusion last?
2. ResponseEnough time for the beginning of intercourse
3. StatementPalm tree and a cup of wine
4. StatementEggs and a weaver's knot
5. StatementA wood chip and a loaf of bread
6. ProofA hint from משלי for the loaf of bread
7. QuestionWhy does the ברייתא need all three descriptions?
8. ResponseWhy 'ביאה' is needed after 'טומאה'
9. ResponseWhy 'העראה' is needed after 'ביאה'
10. ResponseWhy 'טומאה' is still needed after 'העראה'
11. StatementBack to the ברייתא: as long as walking around a palm tree
12. ChallengeA second ברייתא: רבי אליעזר says the time is a palm tree's 'returning'
13. StatementFour more opinions on how long seclusion must last
14. Challengeרבי אליעזר seems to contradict himself about the palm tree
15. Resolutionאביי: circling is by foot, returning is by the wind
16. QuestionHow long is a palm branch's return in the wind?
17. ConclusionThe question is left unresolved
18. Challengeרבי אליעזר's two different measures
19. ResolutionBoth take the same time
20. Challengeרבי יהושע's two different measures
21. ResolutionRead it as mixing and drinking
22. ChallengeWhy not just say they are equal?
23. ResolutionThen רבי יהושע would equal רבי אליעזר
24. Challengeבן עזאי's two different measures
25. ResolutionRoasting an egg and drinking a cup are equal
26. Challengeרבי עקיבא's two measures seem to contradict
27. ResolutionCombine both: roasting and swallowing
28. ChallengeWhy not say both take the same time?
29. ResolutionThen רבי עקיבא would just be repeating בן עזאי
30. Challengeרבי יהודה בן בתירא: three eggs or one?
31. ResolutionHe was speaking according to רבי עקיבא
32. Statementרבי אלעזר בן ירמיה: a weaver tying a thread
33. QuestionAre the thread ends far apart or close?
34. Statementחנין בן פנחס: removing a wood chip from her teeth
35. QuestionIs the wood chip stuck or loose?
36. Statementפלימו's measure: reaching into a basket for a loaf
37. Questionרב אשי asks what kind of loaf and basket are meant