Yevamos - Daf 76
- פצוע דכא כהן מהו גיורת ומשוחררת
The next Mishnah states: פצוע דכא וכרות שפכה מותרין בגיורת ומשוחררת ואינן אסורין אלא מלבא בקהל – A petzua daka and kerus shafchah are mutar to marry a giyores and a freed slave woman and are forbidden only from marrying into the kahal. Rav Sheishess was asked: פצוע דכא כהן מהו בגיורת ומשוחררת – Regarding a petzuah dakah Kohen, what is the law regarding marrying a giyores or meshuchreres? בקדושתיה קאי ואסיר – Do we say that he remains in his Kehunah level of kedushah and is forbidden to her, or he does not remain at that level and is permitted to her? Rav Sheishess answered that this has been taught in a Baraisa which states: פצוע דכא ישראל מותר בנתינה – A petzuah dakah Yisroel is permitted to marry a Nesinah, even though a regular Yisroel may not. Now if it should enter your mind to say that petzuah dakah remains in his state of kedushah, then we should apply the passuk, "ולא תתחתן בם" – You shall not intermarry with them.” This passuk prohibits intermarriage with the seven Canaanite nations who inhabited the land before Yehoshua’s conquest. Rav Sheishess understands that it applies to even converts from those nations. If a petzuah dakah Yisroel is nonetheless permitted to marry these women, then a petzuah dakah Kohen does not remain in his level of kedushah and may marry a giyores or a freed slave woman.
- Shaul wanted to know if Dovid was descended from Peretz or Zerach
The next Mishnah states that female Ammoni and Moavi converts are permitted to marry into the kahal. As part of the Gemara’s effort to identify the source for this law, it brings the background story related Dovid HaMelech’s yichus. When Dovid went out to fight Golyas, Shaul asked Avner whose son is he. The Gemara clarifies that Shaul already knew and loved Dovid, for Dovid would play harp for him to lift his spirits when he was feeling down. He also knew who Yishai was, for Yishai was a prominent man. Rather he was asking if Dovid descended from Peretz or Zerach. If he descends from Peretz, he will be a king, שהמלך פורץ לעשות דרך – for a king may break through (poreitz) other people’s fences to make a path for himself, and no one can protest against him. If he descends from Zerach, חשיבא בעלמא הוי – he will be merely chashuv. The reason Shaul asked about him is that Shaul saw that when he gave Dovid his battle garments, they fit Dovid, even though Shaul was taller than everyone. Since his garments fit Dovid miraculously, Shaul asked if he was destined for malchus.
- Doeg questions whether Dovid is fit to marry into the kahal because he is descended from Rus
The Gemara continues and relates the Doeg HaEdomi said to Shaul: Before you ask whether Dovid is fit for kingship or not, ask whether he is fit to marry into the kahal, דקאתי מרות המואביה – for he descends from Rus who was a Moavi. When Avner responded that it was taught, "עמוני" ולא עמונית "מואבי" ולא מואבית – the Torah only prohibits the males and not the females of Amon and Moav, Doeg countered, that when the passuk says, "ממזר" does it not refer to a mamzeres as well? And when the passuk says "מצרי" does it not also refer to a Mitris? Avner responded that it is different in the case of the Ammoni and Moavi since the Torah explicitly said the reason is "על דבר אשר לא קדמו אתכם בלחם ובמים" – because they did not greet you with bread and water on the road when you were leaving Mitzrayim. דרכו של איש לקדם ולא דרכה של אשה לקדם – It is the way for men to greet travelers with bread and water, but not for women to do so. Doeg continues to challenge Avner and on the next Daf the issue is resolved.
