1)

What is the connection between this Parshah and the previous one?

1.

Rashi and Targum Yonasan (in Pasuk 15): Someone who withholds the Matnos Kehunah from the Kohen, will ultimately need to bring him his wife as a Sotah. 1


1

Refer to 5:12:152:1. See also Oznayim la'Torah here DH 'Ki Sisteh Ishto' #2 and on Pasuk 15, 'El ha'Kohen, where he edxplasons with this answer why the Torah inserts the word "ha'Kohen" thirteen times in the Parshah of Sotah.

2)

Why does the Torah insert the (otherwise superfluous) words "Ve'amarta aleihem"?

1.

Sotah, 24a: To include an Arusah and a Shomeres Yavam 1 in the Din of Sotah. 2

2.

Sotah, 26a: To include the wife of a Ger and of an Eved Cana'ani 3 in the Din of Sotah.


1

The Yerushalmi in Sotah, 4:1 learns it from "Vekinei es Ishto" in Pasuk 14, which incorporates Arusah and a Shomeres Yavam - 'Afilu Miktzas Ishto'.

2

See Torah Temimah, note 44, who elaborates on both the question and the answer. Refer also to 5:13:4:2.

3

See Torah Temimah, note 45.

3)

Why does the Torah repeat the word "Ish"?

1.

Rashi: Because the woman sinned against two 'Men' - her husband and Hashem, the "Ish Milchamah". 1

2.

Sotah, 27a: To include the wife of a Cheresh, a Shoteh, of a man who is deeply depressed, a man who traveled overseas, or who has been incarcerated - all of whom Beis-Din warn the woman who will subsequently forfeit her Kesubah. 2

3.

Oznayim la'Torah #1: On the same words - "Ish Ish ... " #1 - in Beha'aloscha, 9:10, in connection with someone who is Tamei on Erev Pesach, Chazal Darshen 'Ish Nidcheh le'Pesach Sheini, ve'Ein Tzibur Nidcheh ... ' (an individual is pushed away to bring the Pesach Sheini, but not a Tzibur). The same words here therefore hint at what Chazal say that it is only as long as there were a few individuals who commited adultery that the miracle of Mei Sotah applied, but when the number of adulterers increased, the Mei Sotah ceased to function. 3

4.

Oznayim la'Torah #2 DH 'Ish Ish ... ' #2: It is a hint that if a man commits adultery with his freind's wife, another man will commit adultery with his wife.


1

Because, as the Gemara says in Sotah, 17a, the Shechinah dwells between a man and woman who are meritorious. Rosh - Hashem says, 'You can deceive your husband, but you cannot deceive Me!'

2

See Torah Temimah, note 46.

3

See Oznayim la'Torah DH 'Ish Ish ... ' #2.

4)

What are the connotations of "ki Sisteh Ishto"?

1.

Rashi #1 (citing the Tanchuma): "Ki Sisteh Ishto" is like "Sishteh" (with a 'Shin'), 1 because people do not commit adultery unless a spirit of Sh'tus (folly) enters into them. 2

2.

Rashi #2, Rashbam and Seforno: It means that the woman strays 3 from the path of Tzeniyus, and her husband suspects her.

3.

Sifri: "Ishto" implies a woman who is fit to be his wife - to preclude an Almanah who is married to a Kohen Gadol and a Chalutzah who is married to a Kohen Hedyot - and other similar Pesulim. 4


1

See Torah Temimah, note 47.

2

Rashi: As in Mishlei, 6:32. See also Sifsei Chachamim

3

Rashbam: As in Mishlei, 4:15 and Hoshe'a, 5:2.

4

Who do not drink the Mei Sotah, but who go out without a Kesubah. See Torah Temimah. note 48.

5)

What are the connotations of "u'Ma'alah bo Ma'al"?

1.

Rashi: Refer to Vayikra, 5:15:1:1. 1

2.

Ramban, Targum Onkelos and Targum Yonasan: Refer to Vayikra, 5:15:1:2.

3.

Seforno: 'She desecrated ?the holiness of Hashem that He loves? 2 with regard to the sanctity of marriage, by hugging and kissing - and performing similar acts with another man'. 3


1

See also Torah Temimah, citing Me'ilah, 18a, and note 49.

2

Mal?achi, 2:11.

3

Refer to 5:6:4:3 & 5:12:2:1*.

6)

Why did the Torah insert Parshas Sotah? Why do we not say that if there are no witnesses that she committed adultery, she is permitted?

1.

Moshav Zekeinim (in Pasuk 9, citing R. Yehudah ha'Chasid): When a man goes to the Beis-Hamikdash on Yom-Tov, sometimes lewd men remain, and he may suspect that she sinned without witnesses; or he might neglect the Mitzvah of Aliyah le'Regel, in order to stay to guard his wife.

7)

Rashi says that one who does not give Matanos to a Kohen, will ultimately need to bring his wife (a Sotah) to the Kohen. What is the connection?

1.

Kli Yakar: Rashi wrote that if one does not give Ma'asros, his field will produce one tenth of what it used to. Consequently, his wife, suspecting that he became poor due to promiscuity, 1 will take her cue from him and commit adultery. Kol Eliyahu: She will make herself Hefker without fear - since she thinks that he is not innocent, and the Mei Sotah will therefore not affect her. And that is why he will need to bring her to drink!

2.

Torah Temimah: In keeping with the Gemara in Sotah, 2a 'A man receives the wife he deserves - based on his deeds. 2

3.

Oznayim la'Torah: Like Korach and King Uziyah He 'quarreled' with the Kehunah, which the Torah calls 'Me'ilah', 3 therefore his wife was Mo'el against him. Moreover, when the Kohen clarifies whether his wife sinned or not, he will appreicate the superiority of the Kohanim.


1

K'li Yakar: As the Pasuk writes in Mishlei 6:26 "Ki be'ad Ishah Zonah ad Kikar Lechem" and in 29:3 "ve'Ro'eh Zonos Ye'abed Hon".

2

Rashi: An immoral wife for a Rashi. See Torah Temimah, note 43, who elaborates, and who also gives another answer.

3

Oznayim la'Torah: See Divrei Hayamim 2. 26:18.

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