Talking Talmud

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.

5 people who each had a trait that was to their credit, but they ended up brought down because of that same trait. Not surprisingly, beginning with Samson. Plus, a king's gout. Also, a deep dive into the story of Yehuda and Tamar.

The sages teach that the sotah-woman gets her just deserts, in alignment with her own actions. She doesn't get what she wanted, and what she had is taken from him. Likewise, other creatures in Tanakh have the same comeuppance - beginning with serpent of the Garden of Eden and carrying through several personalities, especially in King David's orbit. Plus, following the actions of the sotah-woman with her punishment. Also, other cases of measure-for-measure, including as punishment, but also as reward. Including tending to Yosef's bones, among several other cases.

The kohen takes hold of the clothing of the sotah-woman, and uncovers (or dishevels) her head. There was concern that a particularly attractive woman would be overly on display for such a process - with comparison to another case where the sides of the dispute about this seem to reversed. Plus, a woman who wore white garments would be re-clothed in black, and if she looked good in black, she'd then be re-clothed in ugly garments. Plus, jewelry would be removed. Also, a new mishnah: according to a person's actions, so is the person's punishment - measure for measure, as it were. Just as she prepared herself for sin, so is she punished accordingly, with the same vocabulary to mimic her actions. Plus, the 4 kinds of deaths by the court, when capital punishment was warranted - and the replacement deaths in the absence of the Temple and Sanhedrin.

The daf has a Mishnah describing how how the Sotah is brought to Jerusalem and how the public participated. The daf also explains what biblical stories were taught to the Sotah so that she may learn that a confession is admirable.

A new mishnah! At what point is a woman who's a sotah not permitted to eat terumah? Plus, a list of the women who are not allowed to eat terumah. Also, R. Sheshet's position on the case of a woman who was thought to be a sotah, but then two witnesses to her infidelity answer the question of her status, and the water she drinks isn't determining her innocence, because the witnesses confirm it independently. Also, how does the timing of the meal-offering of the sotah have impact on her status, especially if witnesses come forward to make her status as an adulteress certain, and leaving her with no need to test (and the meal-offering superfluous). Plus, the question of whether she committed adultery while in the Temple, to a more or less brazen extent.

Learning from the Divine, and God's choice of the lowly bush and the lowly mountain - against arrogance, and in favor of humility. But maybe some "arrogance," or comparable trait is necessary, at least for Torah scholars. Also, a halakhic discussion regarding the point at which the warning the husband gives his wife kicks in to have impact in their marital life.

How long is the seclusion that counts as suspect, for the husband to bring his complaint against his wife? The ways the Gemara measures time are far from the question of intimacy, though that underlies the discussion. Plus, the handling of a dispute between R. Akiva and Ben Azzai, or so it seems. [Who's Who: Ben Azzai] Also, a focus on Netilat Yadayim, and why the little things matter.

On the warning the husband gives his wife - and the multiple levels of anger in the process. Including the private/public dynamic of this accusation and sotah altogether. Plus, the focus on relationships. Also, the insidious destructive power of bringing licentiousness behavior home, or anger for that matter. With a recognition that there are different expectations for men and for women. Plus, Joseph and Mrs. Potiphar, and the exhortation for moral, ethical behavior.