Nedarim

MISHNAH. IF A WOMAN WAITS FOR A YABAM,  WHETHER FOR ONE OR FOR TWO,  — R. ELIEZER RULED: HE [THE YABAM] CAN ANNUL [HER VOWS]. R. JOSHUA SAID: [ONLY IF SHE WAITS] FOR ONE, BUT NOT FOR TWO. R. AKIBA SAID; NEITHER FOR ONE NOR FOR TWO. R. ELIEZER ARGUED: IF A MAN CAN ANNUL THE VOWS OF A WOMAN WHOM HE ACQUIRED HIMSELF, HOW MUCH THE MORE CAN HE ANNUL THOSE OF A WOMAN GIVEN TO HIM BY GOD!  SAID R. AKIBA TO HIM; IT IS NOT SO; IF YOU SPEAK OF A WOMAN WHOM HE ACQUIRES HIMSELF, THAT IS BECAUSE OTHERS HAVE NO RIGHTS IN HER; WILL YOU SAY [THE SAME] OF A WOMAN GRANTED TO HIM BY GOD, IN WHOM OTHERS TOO HAVE RIGHTS!  R. JOSHUA SAID TO HIM: AKIBA, YOUR WORDS APPLY TO TWO YEBAMIM; BUT WHAT WILL YOU ANSWER IF THERE IS ONLY ONE YABAM? HE REPLIED, THE YEBAMAH IS NOT AS COMPLETELY UNITED TO THE YABAM  AS AN ARUSAH IS TO HER [BETROTHED] HUSBAND. GEMARA. It is well according to R. Akiba, for he maintains that the bond [wherewith she is bound to the yabam] involves no legal consequences;  also according to R. Joshua, who maintains that the tie is a real one.  But what is R. Eliezer's reason? Even if the tie is a real one, selection is not retrospective?  — R. Ammi answered: [The circumstances are] e.g., that he [the yabam] made a [betrothal] declaration,  R. Eliezer ruling with Beth Shammai that a declaration completely acquires.  But R. Joshua says thus: That applies only to one yabam, but not to two yebamin; for can there be such a case that though when his brother comes he can prohibit her to him by cohabitation or divorce, and yet he [the first] can annul!  Whilst R. Akiba maintains that the bond carries with it no legal consequences. Now, according to R. Eleazar,  who maintained that in the opinion of Beth Shammai a declaration is binding only in that it renders her co-wife  ineligible,  what can be said?  — The reference here is to one who had come before Court and been ordered to support her;  and [the law] is in accordance with the dictum of R. Phineas in Raba's name: Every woman who vows, vows conditionally upon her husband's assent.