Talmud Bavli
Talmud Bavli

Commentary for Kiddushin 7:3

והאי (שמות כא, יא) ויצאה חנם להכי הוא דאתא הא מבעי ליה לכדתניא דתניא ויצאה חנם אלו ימי בגרות אין כסף אלו ימי נערות

Surely it is needed for what was taught, viz. , 'And she shall go out for nothing' - this refers to the days of bagruth;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. Glos.');"><sup>4</sup></span> without money - to the days of na'aruth!<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. Glos. Thus the verse merely teaches that something else, not money, frees her, but implies no other exclusion. it h iht');"><sup>5</sup></span>

Daf Shevui to Kiddushin

This other midrash is more directly related to the verses of the Torah. The Torah specifies that a girl bought as a slave at a young age “goes out” if the master does not do certain things on her behalf (like marry her, or marry her off to his son). But there would seem to be the need for a time-limit. The rabbis invent such a time limit, and apply it here and elsewhere. A “ketanah” is a girl under 12. A girl between 12 and 12 ½ is called a “na’arah” and after that she becomes a “bogeret.” This midrash teaches that if the master has not done these things before she hits 12, she goes out free and need not pay any money for her manumission.
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