Commentary for Kiddushin 154:19
אמר רב אשי הילכך כהן הבא על אחותו
stated by the Rabbis [that] a halalah is only from a priestly interdict? Because it was taught: Let a divorced woman not be stated in reference to a High Priest, and it could be inferred a minori from an ordinary priest; for I would argue, If she is forbidden to an ordinary priest, can there be a question of<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'is it necessary for?'');"><sup>22</sup></span> a High Priest? Why then is it stated? [To teach,] Just as a divorced woman is distinct from zonah and halalah in respect of an ordinary priest,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' If a divorced woman is also a zonah, the priest is doubly punished.');"><sup>23</sup></span> so is she distinct in reference to a High Priest. [But] that is obvious: is it [the sanctity of a High Priest] in any way diminished?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Surely it is not less than that of an ordinary priest!');"><sup>24</sup></span> But [it is rather t teach] just as a divorced woman is distinct from zonah and a halalah in respect of an ordinary priest,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' If a divorced woman is also a zonah, the priest is doubly punished.');"><sup>23</sup></span> so is a widow distinct from a divorced woman, a halalah and a zonah in respect of a High Priest.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' If a widow is also one or all of these, he is punished on each score.');"><sup>25</sup></span> Why is halalah stated?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' In reference to a High Priest, seeing that she is prohibited to the ordinary priest.');"><sup>26</sup></span> [To shew that] halalah results from a priestly interdict only.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Because 'halalah' is superfluous. Rashi observes: this may be deduced from the Scriptural order, which places 'halalah' after 'divorced woman' and 'widow' who are forbidden to priests only, but not after zonah, a type of prohibition forbidden also to an Israelite, v. supra p. 398, n. 2, which shews that halalah results from an interdict confined to priests.');"><sup>27</sup></span> Why is zonah stated?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' In reference to a High Priest, seeing that she is prohibited to the ordinary priest.');"><sup>26</sup></span> - Zonah is stated here;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Viz., in respect of a High Priest.');"><sup>28</sup></span> and it is also stated there:<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' In respect of an ordinary priest.');"><sup>29</sup></span> just as here, his seed is profaned,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' As it is written, he shall not profane his seed.');"><sup>30</sup></span> so there too, his seed is profaned. Said R'Ashi: Therefore if a priest has intercourse with his sister,
Explore commentary for Kiddushin 154:19. In-depth commentary and analysis from classical Jewish sources.