Halakhah for Sotah 41:17

אלא כהלל ושבנא דכי אתא רב דימי אמר הלל ושבנא אחי הוו הלל עסק בתורה שבנא עבד עיסקא לסוף א"ל תא נערוב וליפלוג יצתה בת קול ואמרה (שיר השירים ח, ז) אם יתן איש את כל הון ביתו וגו'

Rabina said: It is certainly merit of [the study of] Torah [which causes the water to suspend its effect]; and when you argue that she is in the category of one who is not commanded and fulfils, [it can be answered] granted that women are not so commanded, still when they have their sons taught Scripture and Mishnah and wait for their husbands until they return from the Schools,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' These were often a distance from the home and involved a long absence. V. Ber. 17a. ');">¹⁵</span> should they not share [the merit] with them? What means 'the cross-roads' [in the parable related above]? — R. Hisda said: It alludes to a disciple of the Sages and the day of his death. R. Nahman b. Isaac said: It alludes to a disciple of the Sages and his fear of sin.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' His study of Torah imbues him with a fear of sin which withholds him from transgression. His clear conscience serves him well at the time of death. ');">¹⁶</span> Mar Zutra said: It alludes to a disciple of the Sages when the tradition cited by him is in accord with the <i>halachah</i>.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' This is proof that he had studied correctly and the consciousness of this also calms his mind at the end of his life. ');">¹⁷</span> Another explanation is: A transgression nullifies [the merit of] a commandment but not of [study of] Torah. R. Joseph said: R. Menahem son of R. Jose expounded that verse<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Viz., Prov. VI, 23. ');">¹⁸</span> as though [it were Interpreted] from Sinai, and had Doeg and Ahitophel expounded it [similarly], they would not have pursued David, as it is written, saying: God hath forsaken him, etc.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ps. LXXI, 11, i.e., David because of his sin with Bathsheba, and so they imagined they could pursue him with impunity. ');">¹⁹</span> What verse did they expound?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' To support them in their view. ');">²⁰</span> — That he see no unclean thing in thee etc.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Deut. XXIII, 15, E.V. 14. The continuation is: and turn away from thee. Now the phrase 'unclean thing' usually means an immoral act, and it was so understood by Doeg and Ahitophel. ');">²¹</span> They did not know, however, that a transgression nullifies [the merit of] a commandment but not of [study of] Torah.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' And David was still protected by his zeal in Torah-study. This is the exposition of R. Menahem son of R. Jose. ');">²²</span> What means He would utterly be contemned?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Cant. VIII, 7. ');">²³</span> — 'Ulla said: Not like Simeon the brother of Azariah nor like R. Johanan of the Prince's house<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Simeon studied while supported by his brother, and R. Johanan was subsidised by R. Judah II, the Prince. Each, therefore, forfeited some of the merit which accrued from his study. ');">²⁴</span> but like Hillel<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Who studied in the direst poverty; v. Yoma 35b. ');">²⁵</span> and Shebna. When R. Dimi came<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' From Palestine to Babylon. ');">²⁶</span> he related that Hillel and Shebna were brothers; Hillel engaged in [study of] Torah and Shebna was occupied in business. Eventually [Shebna] said to him, 'Come, let us become partners and divide [the profits]'. A <i>Bath Kol</i><span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. Glos. ');">²⁷</span> issued forth and proclaimed. If a man would give all the substance of his house etc.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Cant. VIII, 7. Hillel, unlike the others named, declined to barter the merit he earned by devotion to Torah. ');">²⁸</span>

Explore halakhah for Sotah 41:17. In-depth commentary and analysis from classical Jewish sources.