Pisqa’ 238¹

1

“Then the elders of that city shall take the man” (Dt.22:18)—

but not a minor.

“And they shall discipline him” (Dt.22:18)—

[by administering] judicial lashings.

And punish him” (Dt.22:19)—

[by levying] a monetary fine.

“One hundred silver coins” (Dt.22:19)—

in Tyrian silver.

“Which they must give to the young lady’s father” (Dt.22:19)—

the coins shall be his [as compensation for

damage to the reputation of his household].

“Which they must give to the young lady’s father” (Dt.22:19)—

but not to the father of an adult woman²

[who is no longer part of her father’s household].

“Which they must give to the young lady’s father” (Dt.22:19)—

this excludes [the father of] a female proselyte,

whose conception was not consecrated

[by her mother’s conversion],

but whose birth was consecrated

[by her mother’s conversion].³

For, [when slandered by her husband], she is not entitled

to [compensation of] one hundred silver sel`as⁴

[and neither, therefore, is her father].⁵          

“For he brought her into disrepute” (Dt.22:14)—

he didn’t merely bring this one into disrepute;

in fact, he [cast doubt upon] every maiden in Israel!

2

“And she shall be his wife” (Dt.22:19)—

this teaches that

he drinks from his own urinal!

 

For, even if she is lame,

or even if she is blind,

and, even if she’s covered with sores,

[she remains his wife till he dies].

However—if he found in her a trace of lewdness,

or if she was not suitable

[by circumstances of birth]

to enter the Community of Israel,

is it possible to say that he has the right

to maintain her in the marriage?

The Teaching states:

“She shall be his wife” (Dt.22:19)—

she’ll be a wife truly worthy of him!⁶

“He’ll be unable to send her off for the remainder of his days” (Dt.22:19)—

that is, even after the passage of time.

“For the remainder of his days” (Dt.22:19)—

[but if the marriage is childless,]

he can send her to her brother-in-law

[who may release her under the rule of the levir (see Dt.25:5-10)].

1. H:245;JN2:156-157. The heading of Pisqa’ 238, well-attested in other versions, is missing in F:270.
2. Heb: bogeret;­ literally, “having reached maturity.” The na`arah becomes a bogeret from thirteen and a half years of age.
3. That is, the proselyte was conceived prior to the mother’s own conversion, but she was born after the mother’s conversion. Since her lineage is impaired by the circumstances of conception, she must forego compensation.
4. A sel`a (Latin: tetradrachma) is the equivalent of two sheqels.
5. Cf. M. Ket. 4:3.
6. = M. Ket.3:5; cf. Pisqa’ 245.1