כתובות 5:2 — Soncino English Talmud

he shall plug his finger into his ears. And this is the same that R. Eleazar said: Why do the fingers of man resemble pegs? Why? Shall I say because they are divided? [Surely] each one has been made for its own purpose! Our Rabbis taught: A man shall not let his ears hear idle things, because they are burnt first of [all] the organs. The question was asked: Is it allowed to perform the first marital act on Sabbath? Is the blood [in the womb] stored up, or is it the result of a wound?22 And if you will say [that] the blood is stored up [in the womb, then the question arises:] is he concerned about the blood, and it is allowed: or is he concerned ^ᵃ^ᵇ^ᶜ^ᵈ^ᵉ^ᶠ^ᵍ^ʰ^ⁱ^ʲ^ᵏ^ˡ

^ᵃnote:The finger is pointed like a peg.
^ᵇnote:Lit., 'what is the reason?' I.e., what is the meaning of the question? With regard to what are the fingers of man like pegs?
^ᶜnote:I.e., shall I say that the question is: Why are the fingers divided? They might have been joined together.
^ᵈnote:Lit., 'for its thing.'
^ᵉnote:Not only unworthy things. but even idle things a man should not hear, e.g tittle-tattle.
^ᶠnote:Lit., 'of the limbs.' 'Because they are burnt first of (all) the organs' seems to have a figurative meaning. From hearing unworthy or idle things he may proceed to speak unworthy or idle things and then to do unworthy or idle things. The ear is thus the first organ to 'be burnt', to 'catch fire'. c.f. Prov. VI, 27-28. If. the English phrase, 'to burn one's fingers.'
^ᵍnote:Lit., 'How is it?
^ʰnote:When the intercourse could not take place before Sabbath, (Tosaf.)
^ⁱnote:And the intercourse would he allowed, since the blood flows out of its own accord, no wound having been made.
^ʲnote:Lit., 'or is it wounded?' And the intercourse would be forbidden.
^ᵏnote:Lit., 'And if you should he able to say.'
^ˡnote:Is his aim to release it? Lit., 'is it the blood he requires?' [According to Tosaf.: In order to see whether she is a virgin.]