Yevamot 15

Chapter 15

א תינח היכא דנשא מת ואחר כך נשא חי דמגו דאישתרי איסור אשת אח אישתרי נמי איסור אחות אשה
1 [The comparison] might well be justified where the deceased brother married [first]<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' His wife thus becoming a forbidden relative to his brother as 'brother's wife'. ');"><sup>1</sup></span> and the surviving brother married [his brother's wife's sister] afterwards,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Thus adding to the one prohibition (v. previous note) the other of 'wife's sister'. ');"><sup>2</sup></span>
ב אלא נשא חי ואח"כ נשא מת איסור אחות אשה קדים
2 for, in this case, since the prohibition of brother's wife was removed,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' By the precept of the levirate marriage, owing to the childlessness of the deceased. ');"><sup>3</sup></span> that of wife's sister<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Since it was added subsequently. ');"><sup>4</sup></span>
ג ואפי' נשא מת נמי תינח היכא דנשא מת ומת ואח"כ נשא חי דחזיא ליה דביני ביני אלא נשא מת ולא מת ואחר כך נשא חי לא איחזיא ליה כלל
3 is also removed; but where the surviving brother had married [first] and the deceased brother had married subsequently, the prohibition of wife's sister was Surely in force first!<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' And could not consequently be removed by the removal of a prohibition which took effect subsequent to it. ');"><sup>5</sup></span> Furthermore, even where the deceased had married [first], [the comparison] would be justified in the case where the deceased had married and died, and the surviving brother had married afterwards so that [the widow] was eligible in the interval;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Between the death of her husband and the marriage of her sister by his surviving brother. This case would be analogous to that of the leper who was eligible to bring his sacrifices on the eighth day of his purification during the interval between the beginning of the day and the hour on that day he contracted a new uncleanness by his discharge. ');"><sup>6</sup></span>
ד מי לא מודי עולא שאם ראה קרי בליל שמיני שאין מכניס ידיו לבהונות שלא יצא בשעה שהיא ראויה להביא בה קרבן
4 where, however, the deceased had married, and before he died his wife's sister was married by his surviving brother, [his widow] was never for a moment eligible for his brother! Does not 'Ulla admit that if the leper observed semen on the night preceding the eighth day<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The night is reckoned as the beginning of the day following it. ');"><sup>7</sup></span> of his purification he must not project his hand into the Sanctuary on account of his thumb<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. supra p. 31, n. 16. ');"><sup>8</sup></span>
ה אלא כי איצטריך עליה היכא דנשא מת ומת ואח"כ נשא חי
5 because at the time he was eligible to bring the sacrifice [of the cleansed leper]<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The eighth day of his purification. ');"><sup>9</sup></span> he was not free from uncleanness?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Owing to the discharge of the semen which occurred in the night. As a sacrifice must be brought in the day time only, there was not a single moment during which he was eligible to bring the sacrifices as being clean in all respects. The prohibition consequently remains in force. So also in the case of a wife's sister as regards the levirate marriage. The question, therefore, arises again, what need was there for the superfluous text of Lev. XVIII, 18. V. supra p. 30, n. 2. ');"><sup>10</sup></span>
ו ואי בעית אימא אתיא בהיקישא מדרבי יונה דאמר רבי יונה ואיתימא רב הונא בריה דרב יהושע אמר קרא (ויקרא יח, כט) כי כל אשר יעשה מכל התועבות האלה ונכרתו הוקשו כל העריות כולן לאשת אח מה אשת אח שריא אף כל עריות נמי שריין כתב רחמנא עליה
6 But [this is really the explanation]: If ''aleha' was at all needed, [it was for such a case as] where the deceased brother had married [first] and died, and the surviving brother married [the widow's sister] subsequently.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' So that there was an interval during which he was permitted to marry the widow. V. p. 33. n. 11. ');"><sup>11</sup></span> If you prefer I can say [that the reason<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Why the superfluous ''aleha' in Lev. XVIII, 18 was required. ');"><sup>12</sup></span>
ז אמר ליה רב אחא מדפתי לרבינא מכדי כל עריות איכא לאקושינהו לאשת אח ואיכא לאקושינהו לאחות אשה מאי חזית דאקשת לאחות אשה אקשינהו לאשת אח
7 is because] it<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The law that forbidden relatives may be married in the case of a levirate marriage. ');"><sup>13</sup></span> might have been deduced by means of R. Jonah's analogy. For R. Jonah — others say, R. Huna son of R. Joshua — said: 'Scripture stated: For whosoever shall do any of these abominations shall be cut off,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lev. XVIII, 29. ');"><sup>14</sup></span>
ח איבעית אימא לקולא וחומרא לחומרא מקשינן איבעית אימא הכא תרי איסורי והכא תרי איסורי ותרי מתרי ילפינן אבל הכא חדא איסורא ותרי מחדא לא ילפינן
8 all forbidden relatives were compared to a brother's wife';<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Having been grouped together in this text. ');"><sup>15</sup></span> [so in this case also it might have been said], as a brother's wife is permitted<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' In the case of a levirate marriage. ');"><sup>16</sup></span>
ט רבא אמר ערוה לא צריכא קרא דאין עשה דוחה לא תעשה שיש בו כרת כי איצטריך קרא למיסר צרה
9 so also are all other forbidden relatives permitted; hence the All Merciful has written, ''aleha'.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lev. XVIII, 18; to intimate that they are not permitted. ');"><sup>17</sup></span> Said R. Aha of Difti<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Dibtha, below the Tigris, S.W. of Babylon. ');"><sup>18</sup></span>
י וערוה לא צריכא קרא והא תניא אין לי אלא היא
10 to Rabina: Consider! All forbidden relatives<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' That were enumerated in our Mishnah. ');"><sup>19</sup></span> might be compared to a brother's wife<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' And levirate marriage with all of them would thus be permitted. ');"><sup>20</sup></span>
יא משום צרתה
11 and might equally be compared to a wife's sister,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' With whom the levirate marriage is forbidden by the text ''aleha' (v. supra). ');"><sup>21</sup></span> what reason do you see for comparing them to a wife's sister?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' With whom the levirate marriage is forbidden by the text ''aleha' (v. supra). ');"><sup>21</sup></span>
יב והא קתני אין לי אלא הן משום צרותיהן
12 Compare them rather to a brother's wife!<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' And levirate marriage with all of them would thus be permitted. ');"><sup>20</sup></span> — If you wish I might say: When a comparison may be made for increasing as well as for decreasing restrictions, that for increasing restrictions must be preferred. If you prefer, however, I might say: In the former cases<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'here', (a) in that of a wife's sister and (b) all the other forbidden relatives (other than a brother's wife). ');"><sup>22</sup></span>
יג ת"ש רבי אומר (דברים כה, ה) ולקח ולקחה (דברים כה, ה) ויבם ויבמה לאסור צרות ועריות
13 there are two prohibitions in the one as well as in the other,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'and here two prohibitions', (a) forbidden relatives and (b) brother's wife. ');"><sup>23</sup></span> and a double prohibition may justly be inferred from a double prohibition; in the latter case, however,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'but here,' a brother's wife who is not a consanguineous relative. ');"><sup>24</sup></span>
יד אימא לאסור צרות של עריות והא תרי קראי קנסיב ליה מאי לאו חד לערוה וחד לצרה
14 only one prohibition is involved,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' That of a brother's wife. ');"><sup>25</sup></span> and a double prohibition may not be inferred from a single one.
טו לא אידי ואידי לצרה חד למיסר צרה במקום מצוה וחד למישרי צרה שלא במקום מצוה
15 Raba said: [That] a forbidden relative herself<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' So BaH. ');"><sup>26</sup></span> [may not contract the levirate marriage] requires no Scriptural text to prove it, since no positive precept can supersede a prohibition which involves <i>kareth</i>; if a Scriptural text was at all needed it was for the purpose of forbidding a rival.
טז מאי טעמא ויבם ויבמה במקום ייבום הוא דאסירא צרה שלא במקום ייבום שריא צרה
16 And in the case of a forbidden relative is no Scriptural text required [to prohibit her levirate marriage]? Surely it was taught, 'Thus we are in a position to know the law concerning herself'!<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., the forbidden relative, supra 3b. ');"><sup>27</sup></span> — On account of her rival.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Whose case had to be proved, it was necessary to begin with this introduction. ');"><sup>28</sup></span>
יז אמר רב אשי מתני' נמי דיקא דקתני חמש עשרה נשים פוטרות צרותיהן ואילו פטורות ופוטרות לא קתני שמע מינה
17 Was it not taught, however, 'Now we know the law concerning themselves'?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., the forbidden relatives. ');"><sup>29</sup></span> — On account of their rivals.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Cf. supra n. 3. ');"><sup>30</sup></span>
יח ומאי שנא ערוה דלא צריכא קרא דאין עשה דוחה לא תעשה שיש בו כרת צרה נמי לא תיבעי קרא משום דאין עשה דוחה לא תעשה שיש בו כרת
18 Come and hear: Rabbi said: [Instead of] and take, [Scripture stated], and take her,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Deut. XXV, 5. ');"><sup>31</sup></span> [and instead of] and perform the duty of a husband's brother [Scripture stated], and perform the duty of a husband's brother unto her,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Deut. XXV, 5. ');"><sup>31</sup></span>
יט א"ל רב אחא בר ביבי מר לרבינא ה"ק משמיה דרבא צרה נמי לא איצטריך קרא כי איצטריך קרא
19 in order to prohibit<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' By the use of 'her' and 'unto her' which implies 'but no other'. ');"><sup>32</sup></span> [the levirate marriage of] forbidden relatives and their rivals!<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Which shews that a Scriptural text is required, even in the case of forbidden relatives themselves, to prove that levirate marriage is prohibited. ');"><sup>33</sup></span> — Read, 'To forbid [the levirate marriage of] the rivals of the forbidden relatives'. But two texts, surely, were mentioned;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'he took.' ');"><sup>34</sup></span> was not one for the forbidden relative and the other for her rival? — No; both were for the rival, but one indicates prohibition<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Of the levirate marriage. ');"><sup>35</sup></span> of a rival where the precept<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Of the levirate marriage. ');"><sup>35</sup></span> is applicable, and the other indicates permission to marry the rival where the precept<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Of the levirate marriage. ');"><sup>35</sup></span> is not applicable.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' As, for instance, in the case of a rival of a forbidden relative who married a stranger, v. infra 13a. ');"><sup>36</sup></span> What is the reason? — [Because instead of] 'And perform the duty of a husband's brother' [Scripture stated] And perform the duty of a husband's brother UNTO HER, [which indicates that] only where levirate marriage is applicable is a rival forbidden<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' To be married by the man to whom the relative herself is forbidden. ');"><sup>37</sup></span> but where levirate marriage is not applicable<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' As, for instance, in the case of a rival of a forbidden relative who married a stranger, v. infra 13a. ');"><sup>36</sup></span> a rival is permitted.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' To be married by the man to whom the relative herself is forbidden. ');"><sup>37</sup></span> R. Ashi said: [This<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Raba's statement that the prohibition to contract levirate marriage with a forbidden relative is so obvious that no Scriptural text is required to prove it. ');"><sup>38</sup></span> may] also be inferred from our Mishnah where it was stated, FIFTEEN [CATEGORIES OF] WOMEN EXEMPT THEIR RIVALS, but it was not stated, 'are exempt<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Which shews that the exemption of the forbidden relatives themselves from the levirate marriage (i.e., the prohibition ever to marry them) was taken in our Mishnah for granted. ');"><sup>39</sup></span> and exempt [their rivals]'. This proves it. In what respect does the case of a forbidden relative differ<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' From the case of her rival. ');"><sup>40</sup></span> that it should require no text?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' To prove its prohibition even in the case of the levirate marriage. ');"><sup>41</sup></span> Obviously because no positive precept may supersede a prohibition which involves <i>kareth</i>. But then the case of a rival also should require no text,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' To prove its prohibition even in the case of the levirate marriage. ');"><sup>41</sup></span> since no positive precept may supersede a prohibition which involves <i>kareth</i>!<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Kareth being the penalty in both cases. ');"><sup>42</sup></span> — Said R. Aha b. Bebai Mar to Rabina, Thus it has been stated in the name of Raba: In the case of a rival also no Scriptural text<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' To prove its prohibition even in the case of the levirate marriage. ');"><sup>41</sup></span> was needed; if a text was needed at all