Sotah

AND WHAT MAN IS THERE THAT HATH BETROTHED A WIFE? etc. Our Rabbis taught: 'That hath betrothed' — it is all one whether he betrothed a virgin or a widow or a childless widow waiting for her brother-in-law; and even when there are five brothers, one of whom died in battle, they all return home.  [The fact that Scripture does not read] 'and hath not taken' but 'and hath not taken her' is to exclude a High Priest who married a widow, an ordinary priest who married a divorcee or a Haluzah, a lay Israelite who married an illegitimate or a Nethinah, or a daughter of an Israelite married to an illegitimate or a Nathin. Is this to say that [this teaching is] not in agreement with R. Jose the Galilean? For if it agreed with R. Jose the Galilean, behold he has said: 'Fainthearted' i.e., he who is afraid because of the transgressions he had committed!  — You may even say that it agrees with R. Jose the Galilean, and it is in accord with Rabbah; for Rabbah said: He is certainly not guilty until he has cohabited with her. For what is the reason [of the prohibition] shall he not take?  So that he shall not profane [his seed].  Hence he does not receive the punishment of lashes  until he has cohabited with her. Our Rabbis taught: [The order of the phrases is] 'that hath built', 'that hath planted', 'that hath betrothed'. The Torah has thus taught a rule of conduct: that a man should build a house, plant a vineyard and then marry a wife. Similarly declared Solomon in his wisdom, Prepare thy work without, and make it ready for thee in the field, and afterwards build thine house  — 'prepare thy work without', i.e., a dwelling. place; 'and make it ready for thee in the field', i.e., a vineyard; 'and afterwards build thine house', i.e., a wife. Another interpretation is: 'prepare thy work without', i.e., Scripture; 'and make it ready for thee in the field', i.e., Mishnah; 'and afterwards build thine house', i.e., Gemara. Another explanation is: 'prepare thy work without', i.e., Scripture and Mishnah; 'and make it ready for thee in the field', i.e., Gemara; 'and afterwards build thine house,' i.e., good deeds. R. Eliezer, son of R. Jose the Galilean says: 'Prepare thy work without,' i.e., Scripture: Mishnah and Gemara; 'and make it ready for thee in the field,' i.e., good deeds; 'and afterwards build thine house, i.e., make research [in the Torah] and receive the reward. THE FOLLOWING DO NOT RETURN HOME: HE WHO BUILT A LODGE etc. A Tanna taught: If [when rebuilding the house] he adds a row [of fresh bricks] to it, he does return home. R. ELIEZER SAYS: ALSO HE WHO BUILT A BRICK-HOUSE IN SHARON DOES NOT RETURN HOME. A Tanna taught: [The reason is] because they have to renew it twice in a period of seven years. THE FOLLOWING DO NOT MOVE FROM THEIR PLACE: HE WHO BUILT A NEW HOUSE AND DEDICATED IT etc. Our Rabbis taught: A new wife  — I have here only 'a new wife'; whence is it [that the law applies also to] a widow and divorcee? There is a text to state 'wife', i.e., in every case. Why, however, does the text state 'a new wife'? [It means] one who is new to him, thus excluding the case of a man who takes back his divorced wife, since she is not new to him. Our Rabbis taught: He shall not go out in the host  — and it is possible to think that he does not go out in the host, but he supplies water and food and repairs the roads [for the army]; therefore there is a text to state, 'Neither shall he be charged with any business'. It is possible to think that I am also to include [among those who do not move from their place] the man who built a house but did not dedicate it, or planted a vineyard and did not use its fruit, or betrothed a wife but did not take her; therefore there is a text to state, 'Neither shall he be charged' — but you may charge others.  Since, however, it is written 'Neither shall he be charged', what is the purpose of 'He shall not go out in the host'?  So that a transgression of the Law should involve two prohibitions. MISHNAH. AND THE OFFICERS SHALL SPEAK FURTHER UNTO THE PEOPLE ETC.  R. AKIBA SAYS: 'FEARFUL AND FAINTHEARTED IS TO BE UNDERSTOOD LITERALLY VIZ., HE IS UNABLE TO STAND IN THE BATTLE-RANKS AND SEE A DRAWN SWORD. R. JOSE THE GALILEAN SAYS: 'FEARFUL AND FAINTHEARTED' ALLUDES TO ONE WHO IS AFRAID BECAUSE OF THE TRANSGRESSIONS HE HAD COMMITTED; THEREFORE THE TORAH CONNECTED ALL THESE  WITH HIM THAT HE MAY RETURN HOME ON THEIR ACCOUNT.  R. JOSE SAYS: A HIGH PRIEST WHO MARRIED A WIDOW, AN ORDINARY PRIEST WHO MARRIED A DIVORCEE OR HALUZAH, A LAY ISRAELITE WHO MARRIED AN ILLEGITIMATE OR NETHINAH, AND THE DAUGHTER OF AN ISRAELITE WHO MARRIED AN ILLEGITIMATE OR A NATHIN-BEHOLD SUCH AN ONE IS 'FEARFUL AND FAINTHEARTED'. AND IT SHALL BE, WHEN THE OFFICERS HAVE MADE AN END OF SPEAKING UNTO THE PEOPLE, THAT THEY SHALL APPOINT CAPTAINS OF HOSTS AT THE HEAD OF THE PEOPLE.  AND AT THE REAR OF THE PEOPLE THEY STATION GUARDS IN FRONT OF THEM AND OTHERS BEHIND THEM, WITH IRON AXES IN THEIR HANDS, AND SHOULD ANYONE WISH TO FLEE, THEY HAVE PERMISSION TO SMITE HIS THIGHS,