Commentary for Kiddushin 150:9

ורבי עקיבא סבר כותים גירי אמת הן וכהנים שנטמעו בהן כהנים כשרים היו שנאמר ויעשו להם מקצותם כהני במות ואמר רבה בר בר חנה אמר רבי יוחנן מן הבחירים שבעם ואלא מפני מה אסרום מפני שהיו מייבמים את הארוסות

whereon Rabbah B'Bar Hanah commented: from the most unworthy<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'thorns', Heb. kozim: i.e.,the unfit priests.');">¹¹</span> of the people [sc. priests], and on that account they were disqualified. [ii] R'Akiba holds: Cutheans are true proselytes, and the priests who became mixed up in them were fit priests, as it is said: 'and they made unto them from among themselves priests of the high places,' which Rabbah B'Bar Hanah interpreted:<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' On R. Akiba's view.');">¹²</span> from the choicest<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Var. lec.: 'nobles', Heb. kezinim, which shews the connection with kezotham.');">¹³</span> of the people. Yet why did they interdict them? - Because they subjected arusoth to yibum,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. Glos.');">¹⁴</span>

Explore commentary for Kiddushin 150:9. In-depth commentary and analysis from classical Jewish sources.