(Mishnah): Even if they saw him cut up.

I say that he was cauterized with a glowing hot sword, and he lived.

If he was hanging on a crucifix, I say that a noblewoman passed by and redeemed him.

If a wild animal was eating him, I say that Shamayim had mercy on him (it did not eat a part that will make him Tereifah).

If he fell into a pit of lions, we do not testify about him. I can say that miracles were done for him, like for Daniel.

If he fell into a furnace of fire, we do not testify about him. I can say that miracles were done for him, like for Chananyah, Misha'el and Azaryah.

If he fell into a pit of snakes and scorpions, we testify about him.

R. Yehudah ben Bava says, [we do not testify]. I can say that he is a snake charmer.

If he fell into a cauldron, whether of [boiling] water or of oil, we do not testify about him;

R. Aba says, if it was of oil, we testify about him. If it was of water, we do not testify about him;

(R. Yehudah ben Bava citing R. Ze'ira citing R. Chananel citing Rav): The Halachah does not follow R. Yehudah ben Bava (in our Mishnah. We explained this like HA'GAON RAV C. KANIEVSKY, SHLITA.)

The words of [the following] Rabanan disagree;

(R. Yirmeyah): A case occurred in which someone fell into the Yarden, and he came out after 17 days, and they recognized him, for the cold preserved him (from changing), and they permitted his wife to remarry.

(Mishnah): If a man fell into water, whether it has an end (one can see the shore in all four directions) or it has no end, his wife is forbidden;

R. Meir: A man fell into the great reservoir, and he came out after three days!

R. Yosah: A blind man went to immerse in a cave; the man leading him went after him. People with them waited until they surely drowned, and their wives were permitted to remarry.

A case occurred in Asya in which a man was lowered into water. When they lifted him, only his leg came up. Chachamim ruled that if above the knee [came up], his wife may remarry. If below the knee [came up], she may not remarry.

(Gemara): If he fell into water, whether or not it is endless, his wife is forbidden. R. Meir says so;

Chachamim say, if the water has no end, his wife is forbidden. If it has an end, his wife is permitted.

R. Meir: A case occurred in which a man fell into the great reservoir, and he came out after three days!

Chachamim (to R. Meir): We do not mention (learn from) miracles.

(Rebbi): A case occurred in which Reuven and Shimon descended to set fish traps in the Yarden towards evening. Reuven saw a fish tunnel, and entered it. He wanted to leave, but he could not find the opening. Shimon waited until he surely drowned, and informed Reuven's family of his death.

In the morning, the sun shone and Reuven saw the opening of the cave and left, and came home, and found a big eulogy in his house.

(R. Akiva): Once, I was on a boat, and I saw a boat sink. I was distressed for a Chacham who was in [that boat]. When I came to the entrance of Kapudkiya, he came before me and asked me questions.

R. Akiva: My son, how were you saved?

The Chacham: One wave tossed me to the next wave, and the next to the next, until it deposited me on the land.

R. Akiva: At that time, I said how great are the words of Chachamim, who said that water without an end, his wife is forbidden. Water with an end, his wife is permitted!

(R. Avahu): If the sea was still (there were no waves) and he looked in [all] four directions and saw that there is no one there, we permit his wife to remarry.

Another case occurred in Asya in which a man was lowered into water, and [when they lifted him,] only his leg came up. Chachamim ruled that if above the knee [came up], his wife may remarry. If below the knee [came up], she may not remarry.

It was taught that they wanted to cut treasures [from the floor of the sea. They tied his leg in chains, lest he keep the treasures for himself. He cut his leg, and used a flotation device to get to shore.] They came and found him; he was a moneychanger in Ako (he became rich through the treasures that he cut and brought. We explained this like MESHARES MOSHE.)

Question (R. Chagai, to R. Yosi): Is it not reasonable that we give to him the amount of time that a Tereifah can live (one year, before his wife may remarry)?

Answer (R. Yosi): Also I hold like this! (EIN YITZCHAK EH 1:22 - they hold that the Heter is because he became Tereifah. The Rambam permits her immediately. He holds that the Heter is because he died in the water.)

(Mishnah): Even if one heard women saying 'Ploni died', this suffices [to permit his wife to remarry];

R. Yehudah says, even if he heard children saying 'we are going to bury and eulogize Ploni'. This is whether [the one who mentioned his death] intended [to testify], or did not intend;

R. Yehudah ben Bava says, we rely on a Yisrael (who said that he died) only if he intended to testify. If a Nochri intended, his testimony is not testimony.

(Gemara): If one heard women lamenting Ploni among those who died, there is no greater testimony than this.

If one heard from the king's executioners that Ploni died or Ploni was killed, we do not permit his wife to remarry.

If one heard from a Beis Din of Yisrael 'Ploni died' or 'Ploni was killed', we permit his wife to remarry;

[If one heard a person say] 'Avad Ploni (he was lost)', 'Natrei Ploni' or 'he is not in the world' [we do not permit his wife to remarry];

'Avad Ploni' - I say that he means 'your Rebbi was lost from the world.' 'Natrei Ploni' means that he threw a certain food. 'Ploni is not in the world' - he became haughty [and no one can bear him].

Question: [If one heard] 'his ship sank in the sea' [what is the law]?

Answer: This is like Rava bar Zavda said in the name of Rav. A case occurred with Aba Simi, that his ship sank in the sea, and he was not on it. Also here it is so (perhaps he was not on the boat).

Question: What is intent (in our Mishnah)?

Answer #1 (R. Yochanan): It is whenever they mention his wife.

Answer #2 (Reish Lakish): It is whenever they ask him 'where is Ploni?', and he answers.

R. Chagai (to R. Yehoshua ben Levi): Does Rebbi remember - there were more than 30 Chachamim protesting against R. Hoshayah to rule like Reish Lakish [in a case], and he did not accept to do so?

(Rav Yehudah citing Rav): The Halachah does not follow R. Yehudah ben Bava regarding Yisrael. (Rather, even if he does not intend, we rely on his testimony.)

Support: The words of [the following] Rabanan say so;

(R. Shmuel citing R. Avahu citing R. Akiva bar Acha citing R. Yosi): We do not check witnesses of death with Drishah v'Chakirah (questions about the time and location of what they witnessed, and relevant details of the testimony. Likewise, we do not check his intent.)

A case occurred in which one came to testify in front of R. Tarfon about a woman, to permit her to remarry;

R. Tarfon: How do you come to testify about the woman, that she will remarry?

The witness: Rebbi, he was with us in the caravan. A troop came upon us. He hung on an olive branch, broke it and chased the troop away and returned. I said 'my son, I praise you; [your strength is like] an Ari (lion)!

The man: You guessed my name! In my city, they call me Yochanan ben Yonasan Ari, of the village Shichlah.

R. Tarfon: My son - you said to me Yonason ben Yochanan Aryeh, of the village Shichlah! (R. Tarfon interrupted him to test if he was totally sure about the name.)

The witness: No, I said Yochanan ben Yonasan Aryeh, of the village Shichlah.

R. Tarfon: Didn't you say Yochanan ben Yonasan Ari of the village Shichlah?

The witness: No, I said Yochanan ben Yonasan Aryeh, of the village Shichlah. Days later, [Ari] fell sick and died.

R. Tarfon checked his testimony, and permitted the man's wife to remarry.

Suggestion: Perhaps [R. Tarfon does not require Drishah v'Chakirah for Edus Ishah. [He checked the man] because 'what [can we lose] through this?!'

Rejection (Beraisa): We do not check witnesses of death with Drishah v'Chakirah. This is unlike R. Tarfon, for R. Tarfon says that we check witnesses of death with Drishah v'Chakirah. (We explained this like PNEI MOSHE.)