Ketubot

R. Joseph sat before R. Hamnuna while R. Hamnuna was sitting and discoursing: As sons may obtain their inheritance only from landed property so may one's daughters obtain their maintenance only from landed property. All shouted at him: 'Is it only from a man who leaves land that sons inherit while from him who leaves no land his sons do not inherit?'  Said R. Joseph to him:  Might not the Master have been speaking of the kethubah [that is due to] male children?  The other  replied: The Master who is a great man understood precisely what I meant. R. Hiyya b. Joseph stated: Rab allowed maintenance [to daughters]  from wheat  of 'aliyyah. The question was raised: Was [Rab's allowance made for] a marriage outfit,  and by 'aliyyah is meant,  'in accordance with her father's generans  disposition', [his ruling being] in agreement with that of Samuel who laid down that in respect of marriage outfit the assessment  is determined by [the disposition of] the father;  or was it rather for actual maintenance,  and by 'aliyyah was meant  'in accordance with the chivalrous  enactments made  in an upper chamber',  for R. Isaac b. Joseph stated: In an upper chamber it was enacted that daughters shall be maintained even out of movable property?  — Come and hear: R. Benai the brother of R. Hiyya b. Abba had in his possession orphans' movable property, and when [he and the daughters of the deceased] came before Samuel, the latter said to him, 'Go and provide maintenance [for them]'. Does not [maintenance refer] to actual maintenance, he being of the same opinion as R. Isaac b. Joseph?  — No; there  [the claim] was in respect of marriage outfit, and Samuel [acted] in accordance with his own view, since he laid down that in respect of marriage outfit the assessment  is determined by [the disposition of] the father. [Such] a case  occurred at Nehardea,  and the Nehardean judges issued an order  [in favour of the daughters]. At Pumbeditha also  R. Hana b. Bizna allowed [daughters] to collect [for their maintenance].  R. Nahman, however, said to them: Proceed to withdraw [your orders], otherwise  I shall order the seizure of your mansions. R. Ammi and R. Assi intended to allow maintenance  out of movable property.  Said R. Jacob b. Idi to them: In a matter concerning which R. Johanan and Resh Lakish hesitated to act  would you [venture to] act? R. Eleazar intended to allow maintenance  out of movable property.  Said R. Simeon b. Eliakim to him: 'Master, I know that in your decision  you are not acting on the line  of justice but on the line of mercy, but [the possibility ought to be considered that] the students might observe this ruling and fix it as an halachah for future generations'. A similar case  was once submitted to  R. Joseph. 'Give her', he ordered, 'of the dates that [are spread] on the reed-mat'.  Said Abaye to him, 'Even if she were a creditor  would the Master have allowed her [a privilege] of such a nature?'  — 'What I mean is', the other said to him, '[dates] that are suitable  for [spreading on] the reed-mat'.