More Discussions for this daf
1. Source for Asseret Yemai Teshuva 2. Messengers 3. Pesach Sheni
4. Megilas Ta'anis 5. Shimon and Levi 6. Fasting Two Days on Yom Kipur in Eretz Yisrael
7. Sheluchei Beis Din for Chanukah
DAF DISCUSSIONS - ROSH HASHANAH 18

Flaxcpa asked:

Why is the gemra calling a man 18 shimon and levi were called AN AT 13

Flaxcpa

The Kollel replies:

(1) This is a very good question and is answered by the Maharsha in Yevamos 105a DH v'Amar She-Hayu. He explains that since the Mishnah in Pirkei Avot 5:21 tells us that one should get married at the age of 18, it follows that before this age one is not considered a fully-fledged man because one is not yet ready to marry a woman and bear more men. Before 18 is considered childhood or youthood, but not yet manhood.

(2) Gilyonei Hashas Rosh Hashanah 18a (by Rabbi Yosef Engel) elaborates further. The term "Ish" here corresponds to the term "Isha" -woman. Since he is only ready to be married to a woman at the age of 18 therefore he is not considered a full Ish before this. Gilyonei Hashas also cites Rashi Sanhedrin 46a DH l'Meutei who writes that one is only considered an Ish if one is ready to bear children.

(3) It should however be stressed that in spite of the above, in most areas of Halacha manhood starts at 13. The Gemara Kidushin 19a states that when the Torah says "Ish" this comes to exclude a minor, and the Rosh in Responsa 16:1 writes that at 13 one is liable to punishment. The reason that the Gemara here understands that Ish refers to 18 is because the curse upon the House of Eli was that they would die when they reached the age at which they were ready to bear children. Even though it is physically possible to bear children well before 18, nevertheless this is not the recommended practice, so in reality the descendants of Eli would die as soon as they attained the full status of manhood as far as raising a family is concerned. Gilyoni Hashas adds that in this case the word Ish refers to "Ishus" - getting married.

(4) I have now found that the Aruch l'Neir to Yevamot 105a [disagreeing with the Maharsha we saw above in (1) ] asks your question. He cites the Bartenura to Pirkei Avot 5:21 who learns from Bereshit 34:25 that Shimon and Levi were 13 years old when they attacked Shechem and are referred to as "Ish", as you wrote.

(5) Aruch l'Ner answers with Tosfot Nidah 47b DH Divrei who writes that Beit Shamai maintain that adulthood is attained at 18 even if no pubic hairs are present. Our Gemara is following this opinion and tells us that all of the house of Eli will die by the time they become men:- even thoe who did not become men at the age of 13 because they did not produce pubic hairs, nevertheless everyone is considered an Ish by 18 even without hairs, and by this age they will all die.

Ketivah v'Chatimah Tovah,

Dovid Bloom