Commentary for Kiddushin 138:7
אלא למאן דאמר העלום הא מיזהר זהירי נהי דאיזהור בפסולים בכשירים לא איזדהור
- Granted that they were known to that gener - ation, they were not known to another generation. On the view that they went up, it is well: hence it is written: And I gathered them together to the river that runneth to Ahava; and there we encamped three days; and I viewed [i.e., scrutinized] the people, and the priests, and found there none of the sons of Levi.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ezra VIII, 15. He had to scrutinize them, since those of inferior descent voluntarily joined them.');"><sup>9</sup></span>
Daf Shevui to Kiddushin
According to Abaye, after leaving for Eretz Yisrael, Moshe still had to clarify people’s lineages, as we see in the verse. But according to Rava, he should have sorted them all out from the beginning.
The answer is that Ezra was careful to sort out those unfit to marry into Israel. He knew who the mamzerim and netinim were. But he did not know who were priests, Levites and Israelites. He was less cautious with these groups because they can all marry each other. Therefore, he had to figure this out at a later stage.
The answer is that Ezra was careful to sort out those unfit to marry into Israel. He knew who the mamzerim and netinim were. But he did not know who were priests, Levites and Israelites. He was less cautious with these groups because they can all marry each other. Therefore, he had to figure this out at a later stage.
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