(Beraisa): If a woman was married to a man and did not have children (in 10 years); to a second man and had no children; afterwards she may marry only a man who has children;

If she married a man without children, she leaves him without a Kesuvah.

Question: If she did not have children from the third husband, may her first two husbands demand that she repay the Kesuvah she collected from them?

Can they say, 'It is now revealed that you were the barren one'?

Or, can she say 'Now I became weak'?

Answer: Presumably, the latter is true.

Question: If she married a fourth husband and had children, may she demand a Kesuvah from the third husband?

Answer #1: No. We tell her, it is better for you to be quiet, lest your third husband say that had he known (that you are fertile) he would not have divorced you (and you are still married to him)!

Objection (Rav Papa): If she keeps quiet, do we keep quiet? The divorce was void, and her children are Mamzerim!

Answer #2 (Rav Papa): Rather, we say that now she got better.

(R. Ami): If (Reuven and Leah did not have children in 10 years and) each of them says that the other is sterile, this is 'matters between the two of them'; she is believed (and receives a Kesuvah).

This is because she can tell whether or not his semen shoots as an arrow, but he cannot tell.

(R. Ami): Even if he says that he will marry another woman to prove that he can have children, he must divorce Leah and pay a Kesuvah;

I say that anyone who takes a second wife must grant his first wife a divorce and a Kesuvah.

(Rava): A man may marry several additional wives, on condition that he can feed them.

(R. Ami): If he says that she miscarried within 10 years and she denies it (so you must divorce me now), also here she is believed. Had she miscarried, she would not falsely establish herself to be barren.

If she miscarried three times she is established to miscarry (and he must divorce her).

(R. Yitzchak ben Elazar): A case occurred in which he said that she miscarried twice and she said that she miscarried three times. Rabanan believed her;

Had she not miscarried three times, she would not falsely establish herself as one who miscarries.

(Mishnah): A man is commanded "Peru u'Rvu, but a woman is not;

R. Yochanan ben Berokah says, "... Peru u'Rvu" was said to both Adam and Chavah.

(Gemara) Question: What is the source that only a man is commanded?

Answer #1 (R. Ilai): The verse continues "Fill the land and conquer it". It is normal for men to conquer (in war), but not for women.

Objection: Just the contrary! Kivshuhah (conquer it) is the plural form, connoting both!

Answer (Rav Nachman bar Yitzchak): It is written Kivshah (singular).

Answer #2 (Rav Yosef): (Hash-m told Yakov) "... Pere u'Rve (singular)", and not 'Peru u'Rvu' (plural).

(R. Ilai): Just like it is a Mitzvah to say something that will be heeded, it is a Mitzvah not to say something that will not be heeded.

(R. Aba): This is an obligation - "Don't rebuke a scoffer, lest he hate you; rebuke a Chacham, and he will love you.

(R. Ilai): It is permitted to deviate (from truth) for the sake of Shalom - "Your father commanded ... tell Yosef to bear the sin (of his brothers)".

(R. Noson): This is a Mitzvah - "And Shmuel said ... Sha'ul will hear (that I am going to anoint David) and he will kill me" (so Hash-m told him to say a falsehood).

(Tana d'Vei R. Yishmael - Beraisa): Shalom is so great that even Hash-m deviated (for its sake). Sarah said "And my husband is old"; Hash-m told Avraham only that she said, "And I am old".

(Mishnah): R. Yochanan ben Berokah says...

One of R. Yochanan and R. Yehoshua ben Levi said that the Halachah follows R. Yochanan ben Berokah. The other said that the Halachah follows Chachamim.

Decision: The following shows that R. Yochanan said the Halachah follows Chachamim:

Version #1: R. Avahu said in the name of R. Yochanan that the Halachah follows R. Yochanan ben Berokah; R. Ami and R. Asi turned their faces.

Version #2: R. Chiya bar Aba said so in the name of R. Yochanan, and R. Ami and R. Asi turned their faces.

Question (Rav Papa): Granted, in Version #1 R. Ami and R. Asi did not say anything (they merely turned their faces) due to the honor of the Kaiser's house (R. Avahu was close to them);

However, according to Version #2, why didn't they refute him?

Question: What is the final ruling?

Answer: A case (of a childless couple) came before R. Yochanan. He obligated the husband to divorce her and pay a Kesuvah.

If she is not commanded, why must he pay a Kesuvah?

Rejection: Perhaps she had a claim (why she needed children):

A woman (to R. Ami): Force my husband to (divorce me and) pay my Kesuvah (we are childless).

R. Ami: No, you are not commanded to have children!

The woman: What will be in my old age (if I have no children)?

R. Ami: If this is her concern, we certainly force him.

A woman came before Rav Nachman with a similar request. When he heard that she desires a son to support her in her old age and to bury her, he replied like R. Ami.

Yehudah and Chizkiyah were twins. One was born at the beginning of the seventh month, and the other at the end of nine months. This was very painful for Yehudis (their mother), R. Chiya's wife. She disguised herself and came before R. Chiya.

Yehudis: Is a woman commanded Peru u'Rvu?

R. Chiya: No.

She drank a sterility potion. When R. Chiya found out, he greatly regretted that she would not bear more children;

Yehudah and Chizkiyah were brothers; Pazi and Tavi were sisters.