Sanhedrin 138

ואמאי אימא איילונית היא ואדעתא דהכי לא קדיש אלא לאו דאמרינן זיל בתר רובא ורוב נשים לאו איילונית נינהו

But why so: may she not prove<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. supra 55b. ');">¹</span> to be barren, her husband not having married her on such a condition?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' In which case the marriage is null. ');">²</span>

לא מאי חייב עליה דקתני קרבן

Hence it must be that we take into account only the majority, and the majority of women are not constitutionally barren! No. The penalty incurred on her account is a sacrifice, [but not death]. But it is explicitly stated, 'They are executed on her account?' — That refers to incest by her father. But the statement is, If any of the forbidden degrees had intercourse with her?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' This includes the violation of the marriage bond. ');">³</span> — Hence this &nbsp; &nbsp; [Mishnah] refers to a husband who explicitly accepted her under all conditions.

והא מומתין על ידה קתני בבא עליה אביה

Our Rabbis taught: <font>If a woman sported lewdly with her young son [a minor], and he committed the first stage of cohabitation with her, — Beth Shammai say, he thereby renders her unfit to the priesthood.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., she becomes a harlot, whom a priest may not marry (Lev. XXI, 7). ');">⁴</span></font> Beth Hillel declare her fit. R. Hiyya the son of Rabbah b. Nahmani said in R. Hisda's name; others state, R. Hisda said in Ze'iri's name: <font>All agree that the connection of a boy aged nine years and a day is a real connection; whilst that of one less than eight years is not:<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' So that if he was nine years and a day or more, Beth Hillel agree that she is invalidated from the priesthood; whilst if he was less that eight, Beth Shammai agree that she is not. ');">⁵</span></font>

והא אם בא עליה אחד מכל העריות קתני אלא הכא במאי עסקינן דקבלה עילויה

their dispute refers only to one who is eight years old, Beth Shammai maintaining, We must base our ruling on the earlier generations, but<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' When a boy of that age could cause conception. ');">⁶</span> Beth Hillel hold that we do not.

ת"ר המסוללת בבנה קטן והערה בה בית שמאי אומרים פסלה מן הכהונה ובית הלל מכשירין

Now, whence do we know that in the earlier generations [a boy of eight years] could beget children? Shall we say since it is written: [i] [And David sent and inquired after the woman, And one said:] Is not this Bath Sheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' II Sam. XI, 3. ');">⁷</span> And it is written, [ii] Eliam, the son of Ahitophel the Gilonite;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ibid. XXIII, 34. ');">⁸</span>

אמר רבי חייא בריה דרבה בר נחמני אמר רב חסדא ואמרי לה אמר רב חסדא אמר זעירי הכל מודים בבן תשע שנים ויום אחד שביאתו ביאה פחות מבן שמנה שאין ביאתו ביאה לא נחלקו אלא בבן שמנה דב"ש סברי גמרינן מדורות הראשונים ובית הלל סברי לא גמרינן מדורות הראשונים

and it is written, [iii] And he sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet; and he called his name Jedidiah [afterwards Solomon] because of the Lord;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ibid. XII, 25. ');">⁹</span> and it is written, [iv] And it came to pass, after two full years [after Solomon's birth], that Absalom had sheepshearers;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ibid. XIII, 23. ');">¹⁰</span>

ודורות הראשונים מנלן דאוליד אילימא מדכתיב (שמואל ב יא, ג) הלא זאת בת שבע בת אליעם אשת אוריה החתי וכתיב ((שמואל ב כג, לד) (ו)אליעם בן אחיתופל הגילוני וכתיב (שמואל ב יב, כה) וישלח ביד נתן הנביא ויקרא את שמו ידידיה

and it is written, [v] So Absalom fled and went to Geshur and was there three years;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ibid. 38. ');">¹¹</span> and it is written [vi] So Absalom dwelt two full years in Jerusalem, and saw not the king's face;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ibid. XIV, 28. ');">¹²</span>

בעבור (כי) ה' (אהבו) וכתיב (שמואל ב יג, כג) ויהי לשנתים ימים ויהיו גוזזים לאבשלום וכתיב (שמואל ב יג, לח) ואבשלום ברח וילך גשורה

and it is written, [vii] And it came to pass after forty years, that Absalom said unto the king, I pray thee, let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed unto the Lord in Hebron; and it is written,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ibid. XV, 7. ');">¹³</span> [viii] And when Ahitophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his ass, and arose, and got him home to his house, to his city and put his household in order, and hanged himself;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ibid. XVII, 23. ');">¹⁴</span>

ויהי שם שלש שנים וכתיב (שמואל ב יד, כח) וישב אבשלום בירושלים שנתים ימים ופני המלך לא ראה וכתיב (שמואל ב טו, ז) ויהי מקץ ארבעים שנה ויאמר אבשלום אל המלך אלכה נא (ואשלמה) את נדרי אשר נדרתי לה' בחברון וכתיב (שמואל ב יז, כג) ואחיתופל ראה כי לא נעשתה עצתו ויחבש את החמור ויקם וילך אל ביתו (ו)אל עירו

and it is written, [ix] Bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ps. LV, 24. This is quoted in support of the next statement that Ahitopel did not reach thirty-five, half the normal span. ');">¹⁵</span> And it has been taught: Doeg lived but thirty-four years, and Ahitophel thirty-three. Hence deduct seven years, Solomon's age when [Ahitophel] committed suicide,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' This is arrived at by comparing verses iv, v and vi: Absalom slew Amnon two years after Solomon's birth (iv); he was exiled for three years (v); he then lived two years in Jerusalem before his rebellion (vi), in consequence of which Ahitophel hanged himself soon after (viii). Hence, Solomon was seven years old at the time. ');">¹⁶</span>

ויצו אל ביתו ויחנק וכתיב (תהלים נה, כד) אנשי דמים ומרמה לא יחצו ימיהם ותניא כל שנותיו של דואג אינן אלא שלשים וארבע ושל אחיתופל אינן אלא שלשים ושלש כמה הויא להו תלתין ותלת דל שבע דהוה שלמה פש להו עשרים ושית דל תרתי שני לתלתא עבורי אשתכח דכל חד וחד בתמני אוליד

which leaves [Ahitophel] twenty-six years old at his birth. Now deduct two years for the three pregnancies, leaving each eight years old when he begot a child.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' For Ahitopel begat Eliam (ii), Eliam begat Bath Sheba (i), and Bath Sheba begat Jedidiah, i.e., Solomon (iii). Now even allowing only seven months for each pregnancy, these three must have taken nearly two years (Rashi tries to prove that it would take exactly two years, by allowing an additional month in each case for pre-conception menstruation and purification; but this is difficult, and it is preferable to assume with Tosaf. that the two years are approximate). Thus twenty four years are left for the three generations, giving eight years for each: Ahitopel must have been eight years at the conception of Eliam; Eliam eight years at the conception of Bath Sheba; Bath Sheba eight years at the conception of Solomon. ');">¹⁷</span> But why so? Perhaps both [Ahitophel and Eliam] were nine years old [at conception], Bath Sheba being only six years when she conceived, because a woman has more [generative] vitality; the proof being that she bore a child before Solomon?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' So that in any ease we are bound to assume a lower age for her conception. ');">¹⁸</span>

ממאי דלמא תרוייהו בתשע אוליד ובת שבע אולידא בשית משום דאתתא בריא תדע דהא הוי לה ולד מעיקרא

— But it is deduced from the following: Now these are the generations of Terah: Terah begat Abram, Nahor and Haran.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Gen. XI, 27. ');">¹⁹</span> Now Abraham must have been [at least] one year older than Nahor, and Nahor one year older than Haran;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' On the assumption that they are stated according to seniority. ');">²⁰</span>

אלא מהכא (בראשית יא, כז) אלה תולדות תרח תרח הוליד את אברם את נחור ואת הרן ואברהם גדול מנחור שנה ונחור גדול מהרן שנה נמצא אברהם גדול שתי שנים מהרן וכתיב (בראשית יא, כט) ויקח אברם ונחור להם נשים וגו'

hence Abraham was two years older that Haran. And it is written, And Abram and Nahor took them wives: the name of Abram's wife was Sarai,' and the name of Nahor's wife Milcah, the daughter of Horan, the father of Milcah, and the father of Iscah.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ibid. 29. ');">²¹</span> Whereon R. Isaac observed: Iscah was Sarai, and why was she called Iscah? Because she foresaw [the future] by holy inspiration;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' [H] is derived from the Aramaic root [H] to gaze, to look.] ');">²²</span>

ואמר רבי יצחק יסכה זו שרה ולמה נקרא שמה יסכה שסוכה ברוח הקדש והיינו דכתיב (בראשית כא, יב) כל אשר תאמר אליך שרה שמע בקולה דבר אחר יסכה שהכל סכים ביופיה וכתיב (בראשית יז, יז) ויפל על פניו ויצחק ויאמר בלבו וגו' כמה קשיש אברהם משרה עשר שנין וקשיש מאבוה תרתין שנין אשתכח כי אולדה הרן לשרה בתמני אולידה

hence it is written, In all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ibid XXI, 12. ');">²³</span> Another reason is, that all gazed at her beauty. It is also written. Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed and said in his heart, shall a child be born unto him that is on hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old bear?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ibid. XVII, 17. ');">²⁴</span>

ממאי דלמא אברהם זוטא דאחוה הוה ודרך חכמתן קא חשיב להו

Hence, Abraham was ten years older than Sarah, and two years older than her father [Haran]. Therefore, Sarah must have been born when Haran was eight years old. But why so: perhaps Abram was the youngest of the brethren, the Writ giving them in order of wisdom? In proof of this contention, it is written, And Noah was five hundred years old, and Noah begat Shem, Ham and Japheth; hence [if the order is according to age], Shem was at least a year older than Ham, and Ham a year older than Japheth, so that Shem was two years older than Japheth. Now, it is written, And Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of water was upon the earth;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ibid. VII, 6. ');">²⁵</span> and it is written, These are the generations of Shem. Shem was a hundred years old, and begat Arphaxad two years after the flood.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ibid. XI, 10. ');">²⁶</span>

תדע דקא חשיב להו קרא דרך חכמתן דכתיב (בראשית ה, לב) ויהי נח בן חמש מאות שנה ויולד נח את שם את חם ואת יפת שם גדול מחם שנה וחם גדול מיפת שנה נמצא שם גדול מיפת שתי שנים וכתיב (בראשית ז, ו) ונח בן שש מאות שנה והמבול היה מים על הארץ וכתיב (בראשית יא, י) (ו)אלה תולדות שם שם בן מאת שנה ויולד את ארפכשד שנתים אחר המבול בן מאה שנה בר מאה ותרתין שנין הוה

But was he a hundred years old? He must have been a hundred and two years old?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Since Noah was five hundred years old when Shem was born, and six hundred when the flood commenced, Shem must have been a hundred then. Consequently, two years later he was a hundred and two years old. ');">²⁷</span> Hence thou must say that they are enumerated in order of wisdom [not age];<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' So that Shem as the youngest, not the eldest. ');">²⁸</span>

אלא דרך חכמתן קא חשיב להו הכא נמי דרך חכמתן קא חשיב להו

then here too [in the case of Terah's sons], they are stated in order of wisdom. R. Kahana said: I repeated this discussion before R. Zebid of Nahardea. Thereupon he said to me: You deduce [that the order is according to wisdom] from these verses, but we deduce it from the following: Unto Shem also, the father of all the children of Eber, the brother of Japheth the elder, even unto him were children born;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ibid. X, 21. ');">²⁹</span>

אמר רב כהנא אמריתה לשמעתא קמיה דרב זביד מנהרדעא אמר לי אתון מהכא מתניתו ואנן מהכא מתנינן לה (בראשית י, כא) ולשם יולד גם הוא אבי כל בני עבר אחי יפת הגדול יפת הגדול שבאחיו הוה

this means that he was the eldest of the brothers. Then [the difficulty remains,] whence do we know it?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' That in the earlier generations, a boy of eight could beget child. ');">³⁰</span>

אלא מנלן מהכא (שמות לח, כב) ובצלאל בן אורי בן חור למטה יהודה וכתיב (דברי הימים א ב, יט) ותמת עזובה (אשת כלב) ויקח לו כלב את אפרת ותלד לו את חור וכי עבד בצלאל משכן בר כמה הוי בר תליסר דכתיב (שמות לו, ד) איש איש ממלאכתו אשר המה עושים ותניא שנה ראשונה עשה משה משכן שניה הקים משכן ושלח מרגלים

— From this; [i] And Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ex. XXXVIII, 22. ');">³¹</span> and it is written, [ii] And when Azubah [Caleb's wife] was dead, Caleb took unto him Ephrath, which bore him Hur.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Chron. II, 19. ');">³²</span>

וכתיב (יהושע יד, ז) בן ארבעים שנה אנכי בשלח משה עבד ה' וגו' ועתה הנה אנכי היום בן חמש ושמנים שנה כמה הויא להו ארבעין דל ארביסר דהוה בצלאל פשא להו עשרים ושית דל תרתי שני דתלתא עיבורי אשתכח דכל חד וחד בתמני אוליד:

Now, how old was Bezaleel when he made the Tabernacle? Thirteen years, for it is written, [iii] And all the wise men, that wrought all the work of the Sanctuary, came every man from his work which they made.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ex. XXXVI, 4; In the Heb. 'every man' is expressed by ish ish, the doubling of the word emphasising that he had just reached manhood. ');">³³</span> And it has been taught: [iv] In the first year after the Exodus, Moses made the Tabernacle; in the second, he erected it and sent out the spies. And it is written, [v] [And Caleb&nbsp;… said&nbsp;…] Forty years old was I when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadesh-barnea to espy out the land,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Josh. XIV, 7. ');">³⁴</span>

בן ולא בת: תניא אמר רבי שמעון בדין הוא שתהא בת ראויה להיות כבן סורר ומורה

… and now lo, I am this day fourscore and five years old.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ibid. 10. ');">³⁵</span> Now, how old was he when sent as a spy? Forty. Deduct fourteen, Bezaleel's age at the time,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Deduced from iii and iv. ');">³⁶</span> this leaves twenty-six [as Caleb's age at Bezaleel's birth]. Now, deduct two years for the three pregnancies; hence each must have begotten at the age of eight.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' i shews that Caleb was Bezaleel's great-grandfather, and iii and iv shew that he was twenty-six at Bezaleel's birth, within which three generations were born. ');">³⁷</span> A SON', BUT NOT A DAUGHTER. It has been taught: R. Simeon said, Logically, a daughter should come within the scope of a 'stubborn and rebellious child',