Talking Talmud

A new mishnah: The woman can walk back her plan to drink from the bitter waters until the very last minute, when the Name of God has already been erased, after which point, she'd be forced to drink. And then, if she's guilty, she basically explodes inside out, and she is removed from the Temple. But if she has merits, then her death will be delayed. Which leads to the oh-so-important dispute over whether a man must teach his daughter Torah to help ensure that she have such merit - or perhaps he should not, lest it teach her licentiousness. Plus, a list of wrongheaded folks who "erode the world." Also, the nature of the scroll of the sotah's trial. Plus, comparison to other scrolls, like the Torah itself, as well as another sotah's scroll. Likewise, the question of parallelling the sotah's scroll to bills of divorcement.

A new chapter! The new mishnah delineates the process of the kohen taking the meal-offering from the sotah, and waving the basket it's in together with her. But does this happen before or after she drinks the bitter waters? It's a machloket. Also, another machloket on this process in the Gemara on this mishnah.

Different scenarios of the sotah case - especially where things go wrong in brining her to drink, etc. Which all are held in abeyance, as far as their solutions go. Also, a new mishnah on the sotah's affirmation: Amen, amen. Plus, the role of a husband in putting conditions and warnings on his wife, which is only acceptable during the time they're actually married. Also, the possible cases of adultery.

A daf with 2 mishnayot. First, on the kohen's writing the scroll that will be dipped in the water and erased - what is the portion of text from the Torah that will be written there? It is, of course, a machloket. Also, what can (and cannot) this text be written on?

More on the sotah's water - and how earth (and ashes) need to be added to it. Plus, the mesorah/tradition on the writing of this document, as well as that of divorce, and more. Which gives us tradition overriding logic, as we also say in Nazir. Also, the order of the dust in the water (or is that water over dust?), and the parallel to the purification process with the parah adumah, the red heifer.

The ingredients of the meal-offering "always" include oil and frankincense - except for when they are excluded (sin-offerings, in particular, plus the sotah's offering). Also, the process of the water, the Name of God, and the process by which it would be erased. Plus, various purification processes, and some that are never allowed to be used again.

On Moshe's burial - and how the Romans didn't find the place either. Also, interpretations of how people can come close to God, including mirroring His attributes. Which leads back to the burial of Moshe. Also, a new chapter with a new mishnah: The sotah's meal-offering, carried by her husband in an Egyptian wicker basket, to tire her out, and get her to the point that she'll confess, rather than drink the bitter waters. Plus, the sages' assessment of her meal-offering as suitable for her alleged offense, as well as the attempt to protect her.

On retrieving Yosef's bones to rebury him in the land of Israel, as promised at the end of the Book of Genesis, and the role of Serach bat Asher. Also, on the burial of Moshe - whose burial was so different from that of Yosef, and not only because he can't go into the land of Israel, even after death. Including several interpretations why Moshe couldn't complain to the Israelites, regarding the land and his lack of entry. "Based on the camel is the person's stature."

More exegesis of the Torah's verses on the opening on the story of the Exodus - beginning with Yocheved's pregnancy with Moshe (some of which presupposes knowledge of other midrashim). Tracking her pregnancy, and then the birth of Moshe. Also, the calendar of these events, including the date of Moshe's birth (Nisan? Sivan?)

Verses that are explicated on this daf are also found in the Haggadah - timely, this round of daf yomi, as we learn this daf on Passover. On the righteous women in whose merit the Israelites were redeemed from Egypt - with a focus on the women who promoted their own intimate relationships with their husbands, and also ensure ongoing fertility. Plus, the midrashim on the midwives of the Torah, and how Pharaoh schooled them in killing thr boy babies - which they did not do.