Tractate Derekh Eretz Rabbah

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Translated by A. Cohen

11 chapters · about 42 min

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The opening

1

When a man betroths a woman, he debars himself from [marrying] seven blood relations, viz.: her mother, her mother’s mother, her father’s mother, her daughter, her son’s daughter, her daughter’s daughter and her sister while she herself is alive. In all these who are prohibited to him, the interdict is never lifted except in the case of his wife’s sister who is forbidden to him only during her lifetime; and never does he disqualify his wife [from cohabitation with him] through [his intercourse] with her mother, her daughter or her sister.

If [after betrothal the woman] was raped, she is permitted to him, but should she have been a willing party she is forbidden to him. If she is the wife of a kohen, she is forbidden to him whether [it happened] under force or with her consent. [For it is stated, And she be not seized—[only then] is she forbidden; if, however, she was seized she is permitted. There is another class of woman who is forbidden [to her husband] even though she had been seized; and who is that? The wife of a kohen. R. Ishmael said: And she be not seized she is forbidden; consequently if she had been seized she is permitted. There is another class of woman who is permitted [to her husband] even if she had not been seized; and who is that? A woman whose betrothal was mistaken.] If a divorcee who became betrothed was seduced, whether under force or of her free will, she is forbidden to return to her former husband. This is the opinion of R. Jose b. Ḳippar in the name of R. Eleazar b. Shammua‘. This is the reasoning by which R. Jose b. Ḳippar expounded his view: [It is written,] Her former husband, who sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after that she is defiled. In what circumstances did she become defiled? It can only be explained by what the Sages have said: If a woman [after betrothal] was forcibly seduced, she is permitted to [her husband]; if she was a willing party she is forbidden to him; but in this case, whether under compulsion or of her free will she is forbidden to return to her former husband.

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About this edition

The words
A. Cohen's English translation, copied word for word.
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Sefaria; digitization by Sefaria

Left out
  • Notes and pages added by translators, editors or publishers

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