## Sifrei Devarim Paragraph 215

###### Sifrei Devarim 215:1
[Sifrei Devarim 215:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/215:1)

(דברים כא טו) **כִּי תִהְיֶיןָ לְאִישׁ שְׁתֵּי נָשִׁים** – שֶׁיֵּשׁ בָּהֶם הֲוָיָה. יָצְאוּ שִׁפְחָה וְנָכְרִית שֶׁאֵין בָּהֶם הֲוָיָה. מַשְׁמָע מוֹצִיא אֶת אֵלּוּ וּמוֹצִיא אֶת הַיְבָמָה וּמוֹצִיא אֶת הָאֲרוּסָה, שֶׁאֵין לָהֶן הֲוָיָה, [תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: **שְׁתֵּי נָשִׁים**].

**Sefaria Community Translation:**
(Devarim 21:15) "If there *be* to a man two wives": Scripture speaks of women in whom there is "being" (i.e., being as a wife) — to exclude a maidservant and a Canaanite woman, in whom there *is* no "being" (i.e., with whom marriage does not "take"). The implication is that excluded (from this *halachah*) are these (above) and those whom he has ravished or seduced, (where there is no "marriage"). It is, therefore, written "loved" and "hated." Is there such a thing as "loved" or "hated" before the L-rd (i.e., as affecting marital status)? It must be (that "hated," then,) refers to ravished or seduced (i.e., "hated" by the L-rd), *not* in the manner of all the wives (as opposed to "loved," connoting halachically permitted union, [the *halachah* of non-favoritism obtaining also with sons of rape or seduction]). Whence do we derive (for *inclusion* in this *halachah*) (the sons of) a widow (wed) to a high-priest and (the sons of) a divorcée or a *chalutzah* (a levirate-refused woman, wed) to a regular Cohein (even though these unions are halachically interdicted)? From (the repetition of) "hated" "hated." (I might think that only) these are included, these unions being forbidden by negative commandment (only); but I would not include unions liable to *kareth* (cutting-off) at the hands of heaven; it is, therefore, written, to negate this assumption, "hated" "hated." I might then think (that also included in the *halachah* of non-favoritism) are a maidservant and a Canaanite woman; it is, therefore, written "If there be to a man … and they bear *to him* sons" — Wherever there is "being" (see above), the sons are his (and the *halachah* of non-favoritism obtains) — excluding the above, where the sons are *not* (halachically) his, (but the mother's).


###### Sifrei Devarim 215:2
[Sifrei Devarim 215:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/215:2)

רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל אוֹמֵר: בְּדֶרֶךְ אֶרֶץ הַכָּתוּב מְדַבֵּר, מַגִּיד שֶׁסּוֹפוֹ לִהְיוֹת שׂוֹנֵא אוֹתָהּ וְאוֹהֵב אַחֶרֶת.

**Sefaria Community Translation:**
R. Shimon says (on "the loved one and the hated one"): Scripture hereby apprises us that he is destined to hate her (the captive woman) and love another.


###### Sifrei Devarim 215:3
[Sifrei Devarim 215:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/215:3)

**וְיָלְדוּ לוֹ בָנִים**, לְהוֹצִיא אֶת הַסָּפֵק בֶּן תִּשְׁעָה לָרִאשׁוֹן בֶּן שִׁבְעָה לָאַחֲרוֹן.

**Sefaria Community Translation:**
"and they bear *him* sons": to exclude (from the *halachah* of *bechor*) an instance where we are in doubt (as to whether the son is a nine-month birth to the [possible] first [man who cohabited with her]), or a seven-month birth to the second.


###### Sifrei Devarim 215:4
[Sifrei Devarim 215:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/215:4)

אֵין לִי אֶלָּא הַיּוֹצֵא מִמְּקוֹם הַלֵּידָה. יוֹצֵא דֹפֶן מִנַּיִן? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: **וְיָלְדוּ לוֹ**, מִכָּל מָקוֹם.

**Sefaria Community Translation:**
"and they bear": I might think, from the place of "bearing," to exclude a (son born by) Caesarean section; it is, therefore, written "sons" (in any event).


###### Sifrei Devarim 215:5
[Sifrei Devarim 215:5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/215:5)

דָּבָר אַחֵר: **כִּי תִהְיֶיןָ לְאִישׁ שְׁתֵּי נָשִׁים**, אֵין לִי אֶלָּא שֶׁהֵן שְׁתַּיִם. מִנַּיִן אֲפִלּוּ הֵן מְרֻבּוֹת? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: **נָשִׁים**.

**Sefaria Community Translation:**
"two wives": This tells me only of two. Whence do I derive (that the same applies) even if they are more? From "wives" (in any event).


###### Sifrei Devarim 215:6
[Sifrei Devarim 215:6](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/215:6)

אֵין לִי אֶלָּא בִּזְמַן שֶׁהֵן מְרֻבּוֹת, וּמִקְצָתָן אֲהוּבוֹת וּמִקְצָתָן שְׂנוּאוֹת, מִנַּיִן אֲפִלּוּ כֻּלָּן אֲהוּבוֹת, כֻּלָּן שְׂנוּאוֹת? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: **אֲהוּבָה – הָאֲהוּבָה**, **שְׂנוּאָה – הַשְּׂנוּאָה**, רִבָּה הַכָּתוּב.

**Sefaria Community Translation:**
This tells me that the double share of the *bechor* (the first-born) applies only if there are many wives, some loved and some hated. Whence do I derive (that the same applies) even if all are loved or all hated? From "and they bear him sons, the loved one and the hated one," (the implication being) even if all are loved or all hated.


###### Sifrei Devarim 215:7
[Sifrei Devarim 215:7](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/215:7)

אֵין לִי אֶלָּא בִּזְמַן שֶׁהֵן מְרֻבּוֹת, וְכֻלָּן אֲהוּבוֹת אוֹ כֻלָּן שְׂנוּאוֹת, מִנַּיִן אֲפִלּוּ הֵן שְׁתַּיִם? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: **שְׁתֵּי נָשִׁים**.

**Sefaria Community Translation:**
This tells me only if there are many and all are loved or hated. Whence do I derive (that the same applies) even if there are only two? From "two wives".


###### Sifrei Devarim 215:8
[Sifrei Devarim 215:8](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/215:8)

אֵין לִי אֶלָּא בִּזְמַן שֶׁהֵן **שְׁתֵּי נָשִׁים**, **אַחַת אֲהוּבָה וְאַחַת שְׂנוּאָה**, מִנַּיִן אֲפִלּוּ אַחַת וְהִיא אֲהוּבָה, אֲפִלּוּ אַחַת וְהִיא שְׂנוּאָה? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: **אֲהוּבָה** – **אֲהוּבָה**, **שְׂנוּאָה** – **שְׂנוּאָה**; רִבָּה הַכָּתוּב.

**Sefaria Community Translation:**
Whence do I derive (that the same applies) even if there is only one wife (who bears two sons) and she is loved or hated? From (the repetition) "loved" "loved," "hated" "hated."


###### Sifrei Devarim 215:9
[Sifrei Devarim 215:9](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/215:9)

אֵיזוֹ הִיא **אֲהוּבָה**? אֲהוּבָה לִפְנֵי הַמָּקוֹם; **שְׂנוּאָה**? שְׂנוּאָה לִפְנֵי הַמָּקוֹם. יָכוֹל אֵין לִי אֶלָּא אֲנוּסָה וּמְפֻתָּה, שֶׁאֵינָן לוֹ כְּדֶרֶךְ כָּל הַנָּשִׁים, מִנַּיִן אַלְמָנָה לְכֹהֵן גָּדוֹל, גְּרוּשָׁה וַחֲלוּצָה לְכֹהֵן הֶדְיוֹט? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: **שְׂנוּאָה** – **שְׂנוּאָה**; רִבָּה אֶת הָעֲרָיוֹת שֶׁהֵן בְּלֹא תַעֲשֶׂה.

**Sefaria Community Translation:**
Is there such a thing as "loved" or "hated" before the L-rd (i.e., as affecting marital status)? It must be (that "hated," then,) refers to ravished or seduced (i.e., "hated" by the L-rd), *not* in the manner of all the wives (as opposed to "loved," connoting halachically permitted union, [the *halachah* of non-favoritism obtaining also with sons of rape or seduction]). Whence do we derive (for *inclusion* in this *halachah*) (the sons of) a widow (wed) to a high-priest and (the sons of) a divorcée or a *chalutzah* (a levirate-refused woman, wed) to a regular Cohein (even though these unions are halachically interdicted)? From (the repetition of) "hated" "hated."


###### Sifrei Devarim 215:10
[Sifrei Devarim 215:10](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/215:10)

וַעֲדַיִן לֹא אֲרַבֶּה אֶת הָעֲרָיוֹת שֶׁחַיָּבִין עֲלֵיהֶן כָּרֵת בִּידֵי שָׁמַיִם? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: **שְׂנוּאָה** – **שְׂנוּאָה**, רִבָּה אֶת הָעֲרָיוֹת שֶׁחַיָּבִים עֲלֵיהֶן כָּרֵת בִּידֵי שָׁמַיִם; וַעֲדַיִן לֹא אֲרַבֶּה אֶת הָעֲרָיוֹת שֶׁחַיָּבִים עֲלֵיהֶן מִיתַת בֵּית דִּין? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: **שְׂנוּאָה** – **שְׂנוּאָה**, רִבָּה.

**Sefaria Community Translation:**
(I might think that only) these are included, these unions being forbidden by negative commandment (only); but I would not include unions liable to *kareth* (cutting-off) at the hands of heaven; it is, therefore, written, to negate this assumption, "hated" "hated."


###### Sifrei Devarim 215:11
[Sifrei Devarim 215:11](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/215:11)

יָכוֹל אֲפִלּוּ שִׁפְחָה, אֲפִלּוּ נָכְרִית? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: **כִּי תִהְיֶיןָ לְאִישׁ**, מִי שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ בָּהֶן הֲוָיָה; יָצְאוּ אֵלּוּ שֶׁאֵין בָּהֶן הֲוָיָה.

**Sefaria Community Translation:**
I might then think (that also included in the *halachah* of non-favoritism) are a maidservant and a Canaanite woman; it is, therefore, written "If there be to a man … and they bear *to him* sons" — Wherever there is "being" (see above), the sons are his (and the *halachah* of non-favoritism obtains) — excluding the above, where the sons are *not* (halachically) his, (but the mother's).


###### Sifrei Devarim 215:12
[Sifrei Devarim 215:12](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/215:12)

**וְיָלְדוּ לוֹ בָנִים**, מִי שֶׁהַוְּלָדוֹת שֶׁלּוֹ; יָצְאוּ אֵלּוּ שֶׁאֵין הַוְּלָדוֹת שֶׁלּוֹ.

**Sefaria Community Translation:**
"And they bear him sons": Where the sons are his, excluding these who are not his sons.


###### Sifrei Devarim 215:13
[Sifrei Devarim 215:13](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/215:13)

דָּבָר אַחֵר: **וְיָלְדוּ לוֹ בָנִים** – הַבָּנִים בַּתּוֹרָה הַזֹּאת, וְאֵין הַבָּנוֹת בַּתּוֹרָה הַזֹּאת. לְפִי שֶׁמָּצִינוּ שֶׁהַבָּנוֹת נִכְנָסוֹת לְנַחֲלָה תַּחַת הָאַחִים, לַחֲלוֹק בְּשָׁוֶה, יָכוֹל תְּהֵא בְּכוֹרָה נוֹהֶגֶת בָּהֶן? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: **וְיָלְדוּ לוֹ בָנִים**, הַבָּנִים בַּתּוֹרָה הַזֹּאת וְאֵין הַבָּנוֹת בַּתּוֹרָה הַזֹּאת.

**Sefaria Community Translation:**
Variantly: "and they bear him *sons*": *Sons* come under this ordinance (of *bechor*) and not daughters. Because we find that daughters divide the inheritance where there are no brothers, (viz. Bamidbar 27:8), we might think that this ordinance obtains with them (as well as with sons); it is, therefore, written "and they bear him *sons*" — *Sons* come under this ordinance and not daughters.


###### Sifrei Devarim 215:14
[Sifrei Devarim 215:14](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/215:14)

**וְהָיָה הַבֵּן** – וְלֹא טֻמְטוּם וְאַנְדְּרוֹגִינוֹס.

**Sefaria Community Translation:**
"and the first-born *son* be the hated one's": and not a *tumtum* (one whose sex is concealed) or a hermaphrodite.


###### Sifrei Devarim 215:15
[Sifrei Devarim 215:15](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/215:15)

**הַבְּכוֹר** – וְלֹא הַסָּפֵק.

**Sefaria Community Translation:**
"and the first-born": and not one whose first-born status is in doubt.


###### Sifrei Devarim 215:16
[Sifrei Devarim 215:16](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/215:16)

**לַשְּׂנִיאָה** – הַכָּתוּב מְבַשֶּׂרְךָ שֶׁבֵּן הַבְּכוֹר לַשְּׂנִיאָה.

**Sefaria Community Translation:**
"the hated one's": i.e., even though the first-born son be the hated one's. Variantly: Scripture apprises you that the first-born son *shall be* the hated one's.