Sotah 6:3-4

Sotah 6:3

One might reasonably argue that since the first testimony (when the wife is warned), which does not prohibit her to her husband, requires two witnesses, the second testimony (that the wife committed adultery), which does prohibit her to her husband, should likewise require two witnesses. Therefore, Numbers 5:13 specifies that the sotah process is held when “there is no one to testify against her,” from which we infer that any testimony precludes drinking the bitter water (even one witness). But there is a kal v’chomer (an argument a fortiori) to the first testimony as follows: if the second testimony, which prohibits the woman to her husband, is sufficient with even one witness, shouldn’t the first testimony which does not prohibit her to her husband, be sufficient with just one witness? Deuteronomy 24:1 teaches, “He found something (davar) unseemly in her” and Deuteronomy 19:15 says, “according to the testimony of two witness shall a matter (davar) be established.” Just as the latter “davar” requires two witnesses, so does the former.

Sotah 6:4

If one witness testifies that the woman committed adultery but another testifies that she did not, or if one woman testifies that she committed adultery and another testifies that she did not, the woman in question drinks the bitter water. If one witness testifies that the woman committed adultery but two testify that she did not, she drinks the bitter water. If two witnesses testify that she committed adultery and one testifies that she did not, she doesn’t drink.