Commentary for Sotah 48:2

אלא טעמא דכתיבי הני קראי הא לאו הכי הוה אמינא ארוסה שתיא והא כי אתא רבי אחא בר חנינא מדרומא אתא ואייתי מתניתא בידיה (במדבר ה, כ) מבלעדי אישך משקדמה שכיבת בעל לבועל ולא שקדמה שכיבת בועל לבעל

Now the reason [given why a betrothed maiden is excluded] is because these Scriptural texts occur, otherwise I would have said that a betrothed maiden must drink; but when R. Aha b. Hanina came from the South he brought this teaching with him: Besides thine husband<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Num. V, 20. ');">³</span> — i.e., when intercourse with a husband had preceded intercourse with a paramour and not when intercourse with a paramour had preceded intercourse with a husband!<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Consequently a betrothed maiden is excluded from the law. ');">⁴</span>

Explore commentary for Sotah 48:2. In-depth commentary and analysis from classical Jewish sources.