Commentary for Yevamot 131:12

אמר רבינא קנין אוכל קאמר קנין אוכל מאכיל שאינו אוכל אינו מאכיל

may in fact eat <i>terumah</i>; but it is the Rabbis who instituted the prohibition in order that the woman might complain, 'I am not allowed to eat; my slaves are not allowed to eat; I am only his mistress!', in consequence of which he would be likely to divorce her. R. Ashi stated:<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' In explaining the reason why MELOG SLAVES MAY NOT EAT TERUMAH. ');">²⁴</span> The prohibition is a preventive measure against the possibility of her feeding them<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The melog slaves. ');">²⁵</span> with <i>terumah</i> after the death [of her husband].<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Believing that, as she was allowed to feed them with terumah during the lifetime of her husband though they were her property, she may continue to do so even after his death. In the case of zon barzel slaves, however, no such error need be feared since the slaves are not hers, but his absolute property until the moment when it is surrendered to her by her husband or heir, v. infra. ');">²⁶</span>

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