Yevamot

is Hadyab,  the river Gozan is Ginzak,  and the cities of the Medes are Hamdan  and its neighbouring towns; others say, Nihar  and its neighbouring towns. Which are its neighbouring towns? — Samuel replied: Karak,  Moshki,  Hidki  and Dumkia. R. Johanan said: All these  [were enumerated] in order to declare them as being unfit.  When, however, I  mentioned the matter  in the presence of Samuel he said to me: Thy son,  implies that he who is descended from an Israelitish woman may be called thy son, but thy son who is descended from a heathen woman is not called thy son but her son.  But, surely, there were also daughters,  and Rabina had said, 'From this it may be inferred that thy daughter's son born from [a union with] a heathen is called thy son'!  — There is a tradition that the women of that generation were sterilized. Others read: When I mentioned the matter  in the presence of Samuel he said to me, 'They did not move from there until they had declared them  to be perfect heathens; as it is said in the Scriptures, They have dealt treacherously against the Lord, for they have begotten strange children.' R. Joseph sat behind R. Kahana while R. Kahana sat before Rab Judah, and while sitting he made the following statement: 'Israel will make a festival when Tarmod will have been destroyed'.  But, surely, it was destroyed! — That  was Tammod. R. Ashi said: Tarmod and Tammod are identical, but the city was rebuilt;  when it was destroyed on one side it was settled on the other side, and when the other side was destroyed it was settled on the first side. R. Hamnuna sat before 'Ulla and was engaged in discussing a traditional law when the latter remarked,  'What a man! And how much more important would he have been  had not Harpania  been his [native] town'! As the other was embarrassed, he said to him, 'Where do you pay poll tax'? — 'To Pum Nahara', the other replied. 'If so', 'Ulla said, 'You belong to Pum Nahara'. What [is the meaning of] Harpania? — R. Zera replied: A mountain whither everybody  turns.  In a Baraitha it was taught: Whosoever did not know his family and his tribe  made his way thither. Raba said: And it was deeper than the nether-world,  for in the Scripture it is said, I shall ransom them from the power of the nether-world; I shall redeem them from death,  but for the unfitness of these there is no remedy at all; the unfit of Harpania on account of the unfit of Meshan,  and the unfit of Meshan on account of the unfit of Tarmod,  and the unfit of Tarmod on account of the slaves of Solomon.  Thus it is that people say, 'The small kab and the big kab  roll down to the nether-world, from the netherworld to Tarmod,  from Tarmod to Meshan, and from Meshan to Harpania. MISHNAH. HOW [IS THE EXEMPTION OF HER RIVAL BY] THE WIFE OF HIS BROTHER WHO WAS NOT HIS CONTEMPORARY'  [TO BE UNDERSTOOD]? IF THERE WERE TWO BROTHERS ONE OF WHOM DIED, AND AFTER A THIRD  BROTHER WAS BORN  THE SECOND  TOOK IN LEVIRATE MARRIAGE HIS DECEASED BROTHERS WIFE AND THEN DIED HIMSELF, THE FIRST WOMAN  IS EXEMPT  AS 'THE WIFE OF HIS BROTHER WHO WAS NOT HIS CONTEMPORARY', AND THE SECOND  [IS EXEMPT]  AS HER RIVAL. IF HE  ADDRESSED TO HER A MA'AMAR  AND DIED,  THE SECOND,  MUST PERFORM HALIZAH  BUT MAY NOT ENTER INTO THE LEVIRATE MARRIAGE. GEMARA. R. Nahman said: He who uses the expression FIRST  commits no error and he who uses the expression SECOND  also commits no error. 'He who uses the expression