Gittin - Daf 90
- Machlokes on what grounds one may divorce his wife
The next Mishnah states, Beis Shammai says: לא יגרש אדם את אשתו – A man may not divorce his wife, אלא אם כן מצא בה דבר ערוה – unless he found in her a matter of adultery, as the passuk says: "כי מצא בה ערות דבר" – because he found in her an adulterous matter. Beis Hillel says: אפילו הקדיחה תבשילו – Even if she merely burned his dish. Rebbe Akiva says: אפי' מצא אחרת נאה הימנה – Even if he merely found another woman more attractive than she, as the passuk says: "והיה אם לא תמצא חן בעיניו" – And it will be that she does not find favor in his eyes, indicating that these are acceptable grounds for divorce. In a Baraisa, Beis Hillel argues that the Torah’s using two terms ("ערוה" and "דבר") indicates that two separate issues are being taught as grounds for divorce. Beis Shammai responds that "דבר" is needed for a gezeirah shavah to learn from testimony for punishments ("על פי שני עדים או שלשה עדים יקום according to the testimony of two witnesses or three witnesses, the matter will be established - דבר"): מה להלן בשני עדים אף כאן בשני עדים – just as there, two witnesses are required, here, too, proving adultery (to prohibit her to the husband) requires two witnesses. Beis Hillel explains how both laws can be derived from this passuk. The Gemara proves that even where one divorces without cause, he does not need to remarry her.
- The “different” man who marries the divorcee who was divorced because of adultery
A Baraisa darshens: the passuk says: "והלכה והיתה לאיש אחר" – and she will go and marry another man,
הכתוב קראו אחר – the passuk calls him “different,” לומר שאין זה בן זוגו לראשון – saying that this second husband is not morally equal to the first husband, זה הוציא רשעה מביתו – because this first husband removed a wicked woman from his house (where he divorced because of adultery), וזה הכניס רשעה לתוך ביתו – and this second husband brought a wicked woman into his house. זכה שני – If the second husband merits it, שלחה – he will send her away, as the next passuk says: "ושנאה האיש האחרון" – and the last man will despise her, ואם לאו קוברתו – but if he does not divorce her, she will bury him, as that passuk continues: "או כי ימות האיש האחרון" – or if the last man will die, saying כדאי הוא במיתה – death is fitting for him, for, as above, the first husband removed the wicked woman from his house, and this man brought her in.
- כל המגרש אשתו ראשונה אפילו מזבח מוריד עליו דמעות
The passuk says: "כי שנא שלח" – For the despised send away. Rebbe Yehudah explains: אם שנאתה שלח – If you despise her, send her away. Rebbe Yochanan explains: שנאוי המשלח – The one who sends away is despised by Hashem. The Gemara explains there is no argument: הא בזוג ראשון – [Rebbe Yochanan] is referring to a first marriage, הא בזוג שני – whereas [Rebbe Yehudah] is referring to a second marriage. We find that divorcing a first wife is particularly tragic, for Rebbe Elazar said: כל המגרש אשתו ראשונה – Anyone who divorces his first wife, אפילו מזבח מוריד עליו דמעות – even the mizbeiach sheds tears on his account, as the passuk says: וזאת שנית תעשו – And this you additionally do: כסות דמעה את מזבח ה' בכי ואנקה – covering Hashem’s mizbeiach with tears, weeping and sighing, which the passuk further explains: על כי ה' העיד בינך ובין אשת נעוריך – because Hashem testified between you and the wife of your youth (i.e., you first wife), אשר אתה בגדתה בה – that you betrayed her, והיא חברתך ואשת בריתך – though she is your companion and the wife of your covenant.
