## Sotah Daf 20a

###### Sotah 20a:1
[Sotah 20a:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sotah/r/20a:1)

קַשְׁיָא דְּרַבִּי עֲקִיבָא אַדְּרַבִּי עֲקִיבָא: הָתָם אָמַר מְחִיקָה מְעַכְּבָא, וְהָכָא אָמַר קוֹמֶץ מְעַכֵּב!

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara asks: The statement **of Rabbi Akiva** is **difficult,** as it is contradicted **by** another statement **of Rabbi Akiva: There,** in the first *baraita*, **he said** that **erasure prevents** the authorities from compelling the woman to drink the water if she retracted her decision to drink, **and here he says** that the sacrifice of the **handful prevents** the authorities from compelling the woman to drink the water. In other words, according to the first *baraita* the woman can retract her decision to drink until the scroll is erased, whereas according to the second *baraita* she can retract her decision until the handful is sacrificed.


###### Sotah 20a:2
[Sotah 20a:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sotah/r/20a:2)

תְּרֵי תַּנָּאֵי וְאַלִּיבָּא דְּרַבִּי עֲקִיבָא.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara responds: There is a dispute between **two *tanna’im*, and** they disagree **with regard to** the opinion **of Rabbi Akiva.** They disagree with regard to what point in time, according to Rabbi Akiva, is the final moment at which a woman can refuse to drink the bitter water without being forced to do so.


###### Sotah 20a:3
[Sotah 20a:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sotah/r/20a:3)

אִיבַּעְיָא לְהוּ: אָמְרָה אֵינִי שׁוֹתָה מֵחֲמַת בְּרִיּוּתָא, וְחָזְרָה וְאָמְרָה שׁוֹתָה אֲנִי, מַהוּ? כֵּיוָן דְּאָמְרָה אֵינִי שׁוֹתָה — טְמֵאָה אֲנִי קָאָמְרָה, וְכֵיוָן דְּאַחְזִיק נַפְשַׁהּ בְּטוּמְאָה, לָא מָצְיָא הָדְרָה בַּהּ. אוֹ דִילְמָא כֵּיוָן דְּאָמְרָה שׁוֹתָה אֲנִי — גַּלִּיָא דַּעְתַּהּ דְּמֵחֲמַת בִּיעֲתוּתָא הוּא דְּאָמְרָה. תֵּיקוּ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**A dilemma was raised before** the Sages: If **she** initially **said: I will not drink, while in a state of** good **health, and** then **she retracted** her statement **and said: I will drink, what is** the *halakha*? Does one say that **when she said: I will not drink,** it is as if **she** confessed and **said: I am defiled, and since she established herself as defiled she cannot retract** her statement? **Or perhaps when she said: I will drink, she revealed her thoughts that it** was only **due to fear that she said** she will not drink? The Gemara concludes that the dilemma **shall stand** unresolved.


###### Sotah 20a:4
[Sotah 20a:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sotah/r/20a:4)

אָמַר אֲבוּהּ דִּשְׁמוּאֵל: צָרִיךְ שֶׁיִּתֵּן מַר לְתוֹךְ הַמַּיִם. מַאי טַעְמָא — דְּאָמַר קְרָא: ״מֵי הַמָּרִים״, שֶׁמָּרִים כְּבָר.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Shmuel’s father says:** It is **necessary** for one **to put a bitter** substance **into the water** that the *sota* drinks. **What is the reason** for this? It is **as the verse states:** “And he shall blot them out into **the water of bitterness”** (Numbers 5:23), indicating **that** they **are already bitter** before the scroll is erased.


###### Sotah 20a:5
[Sotah 20a:5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sotah/r/20a:5)

**מַתְנִי׳** עַד שֶׁלֹּא נִמְחֲקָה הַמְּגִילָּה אָמְרָה ״אֵינִי שׁוֹתָה״ — מְגִילָּתָהּ נִגְנֶזֶת, וּמִנְחָתָהּ מִתְפַּזֶּרֶת עַל הַדֶּשֶׁן, וְאֵין מְגִילָּתָהּ כְּשֵׁרָה לְהַשְׁקוֹת בָּהּ סוֹטָה אַחֶרֶת. נִמְחֲקָה הַמְּגִילָּה וְאָמְרָה ״טְמֵאָה אֲנִי״ — הַמַּיִם נִשְׁפָּכִין, וּמִנְחָתָהּ מִתְפַּזֶּרֶת עַל בֵּית הַדֶּשֶׁן. נִמְחֲקָה הַמְּגִילָּה וְאָמְרָה ״אֵינִי שׁוֹתָה״ — מְעַרְעֲרִין אוֹתָהּ, וּמַשְׁקִין אוֹתָהּ בְּעַל כׇּרְחָהּ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**MISHNA:** If **before the scroll was erased she said: I will not drink, the scroll** that was written for **her is sequestered, and her meal-offering is** burned and **scattered over** the place of **the ashes, and her scroll is not fit to give** to **another *sota* to drink.** If **the scroll was erased and** afterward **she said: I am defiled, the water is poured out, and her meal-offering is scattered in the place of the ashes.** If **the scroll was** already **erased and she said: I will not drink, she is forced to drink against her will.**


###### Sotah 20a:6
[Sotah 20a:6](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sotah/r/20a:6)

אֵינָהּ מַסְפֶּקֶת לִשְׁתּוֹת עַד שֶׁפָּנֶיהָ מוֹרִיקוֹת, וְעֵינֶיהָ בּוֹלְטוֹת, וְהִיא מִתְמַלֵּאת גִּידִין. וְהֵם אוֹמְרִים: הוֹצִיאוּהָ [הוֹצִיאוּהָ] שֶׁלֹּא תְּטַמֵּא הָעֲזָרָה.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
When a guilty woman drinks **she does not manage to** finish **drinking before her face turns green and her eyes bulge, and her** skin becomes **full of** protruding **veins, and** the people standing in the Temple **say: Remove her,** so **that she does not render the Temple courtyard impure** by dying there.


###### Sotah 20a:7
[Sotah 20a:7](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sotah/r/20a:7)

אִם יֵשׁ לָהּ זְכוּת — הָיְתָה תּוֹלָה לָהּ. יֵשׁ זְכוּת תּוֹלָה שָׁנָה אַחַת, יֵשׁ זְכוּת תּוֹלָה שְׁתֵּי שָׁנִים, יֵשׁ זְכוּת תּוֹלָה שָׁלֹשׁ שָׁנִים. מִכָּאן אוֹמֵר בֶּן עַזַּאי: חַיָּיב אָדָם לְלַמֵּד אֶת בִּתּוֹ תּוֹרָה, שֶׁאִם תִּשְׁתֶּה תֵּדַע שֶׁהַזְּכוּת תּוֹלָה לָהּ. רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר אוֹמֵר: כׇּל הַמְלַמֵּד בִּתּוֹ תּוֹרָה — (כְּאִילּוּ) לוֹמְּדָהּ תִּפְלוּת.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The mishna limits the scope of the previous statement: **If she has merit, it delays** punishment **for her** and she does not die immediately. **There is a merit** that **delays** punishment for **one year, there is** a larger **merit** that **delays** punishment for **two years,** and **there is a merit** that **delays** punishment for **three years. From here Ben Azzai states: A person is obligated to teach his daughter Torah,** so **that if she drinks** and does not die immediately, **she will know that** some **merit** she has **delayed** punishment **for her. Rabbi Eliezer says: Anyone who teaches his daughter Torah is teaching her promiscuity [*tiflut*].**


###### Sotah 20a:8
[Sotah 20a:8](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sotah/r/20a:8)

רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ אוֹמֵר: רוֹצָה אִשָּׁה בְּקַב וְתִפְלוּת, מִתִּשְׁעָה קַבִּין וּפְרִישׁוּת. הוּא הָיָה אוֹמֵר: חָסִיד שׁוֹטֶה, וְרָשָׁע עָרוּם, וְאִשָּׁה פְּרוּשָׁה, וּמַכּוֹת פְּרוּשִׁין — הֲרֵי אֵלּוּ מְבַלֵּי עוֹלָם.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Rabbi Yehoshua says: A woman desires to** receive the amount of **a *kav*** of food **and a sexual relationship [*tiflut*]** rather **than** to receive **nine *kav*** of food **and abstinence. He would say: A foolish man of piety, and a conniving wicked person, and an abstinent woman [*perusha*], and those who injure** themselves out of false **abstinence;** all **these are** people **who erode the world.**


###### Sotah 20a:9
[Sotah 20a:9](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sotah/r/20a:9)

**גְּמָ׳** אָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה אָמַר שְׁמוּאֵל מִשּׁוּם רַבִּי מֵאִיר: כְּשֶׁהָיִיתִי לָמֵד תּוֹרָה אֵצֶל רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא, הָיִיתִי מֵטִיל קַנְקַנְתּוֹם לְתוֹךְ הַדְּיוֹ, וְלֹא אָמַר לִי דָּבָר. כְּשֶׁבָּאתִי אֵצֶל רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל, אָמַר לִי: בְּנִי מָה מְלַאכְתֶּךָ? אָמַרְתִּי לוֹ: לַבְלָר אֲנִי. אָמַר לִי: בְּנִי, הֱוֵי זָהִיר, שֶׁמְּלַאכְתְּךָ מְלֶאכֶת שָׁמַיִם הִיא, שֶׁמָּא תַּחְסִיר אוֹת אַחַת אוֹ תֹּתִיר אוֹת אַחַת, נִמְצֵאתָ אַתָּה מַחְרִיב אֶת כָּל הָעוֹלָם כֻּלּוֹ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**GEMARA:** **Rav Yehuda says** that **Shmuel says in the name of Rabbi Meir: When I was studying Torah before Rabbi Akiva,** as his disciple, **I used to put iron sulfate into the ink** with which I wrote Torah scrolls, **and he did not say anything to me** in protest. Afterward, **when I came** to learn Torah **before Rabbi Yishmael, he said to me: My son, what is your vocation? I said to him: I am a scribe [*lavlar*]** who writes Torah scrolls. **He said to me: My son, be careful** in your work, **as your work is the work of Heaven, lest you omit a single letter** from the Torah scroll **or add a single letter,** and in this **you are found to be destroying the entire world** if the mistake alters the meaning of the verse and results in blasphemy.


###### Sotah 20a:10
[Sotah 20a:10](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sotah/r/20a:10)

אָמַרְתִּי לוֹ: דָּבָר אֶחָד יֵשׁ לִי שֶׁאֲנִי מֵטִיל לְתוֹךְ הַדְּיוֹ, וְקַנְקַנְתּוֹם שְׁמוֹ. אָמַר לִי: וְכִי מְטִילִין קַנְקַנְתּוֹם לְתוֹךְ הַדְּיוֹ? הַתּוֹרָה אָמְרָה ״וּמָחָה״, כְּתָב שֶׁיּוּכַל לִמְחוֹת!

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
Rabbi Meir continues: **I said to** Rabbi Yishmael: **I have one substance that I put into the ink, and it is called iron sulfate,** which prevents the writing from being erased. **He said to me: And may iron sulfate be put into the ink? The Torah** clearly **said** with regard to the scroll of the *sota*: “And the priest shall write these curses in a scroll, **and he shall blot** them out into the water of bitterness” (Numbers 5:23). This indicates that the Torah requires **writing that can be blotted out.**


###### Sotah 20a:11
[Sotah 20a:11](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sotah/r/20a:11)

מַאי קָאָמַר לֵיהּ וּמַאי קָא מַהְדַּר לֵיהּ?

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
Since Rabbi Meir’s remark about iron sulfate seems unrelated to Rabbi Yishmael’s previous statement, the Gemara asks: **What is** Rabbi Yishmael **saying to** Rabbi Meir, **and what is** Rabbi Meir **replying to** Rabbi Yishmael?


###### Sotah 20a:12
[Sotah 20a:12](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sotah/r/20a:12)

הָכִי קָאָמַר לֵיהּ: לָא מִבַּעְיָא בַּחֲסֵירוֹת וִיתֵירוֹת דְּבָקִי אֲנָא, אֶלָּא אֲפִילּוּ לְמֵיחַשׁ לִזְבוּב דְּדִילְמָא אָתֵי וְיָתֵיב אַתָּגֵיהּ דְּדָלֶית וּמָחֵיק לֵיהּ וּמְשַׁוֵּי לֵיהּ רֵישׁ — דָּבָר אֶחָד יֵשׁ לִי שֶׁאֲנִי מֵטִיל לְתוֹךְ הַדְּיוֹ וְקַנְקַנְתּוֹם שְׁמוֹ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara explains: **This is what** Rabbi Meir **is saying to him: It is not necessary** to say that I do not err **in omissions and additions, as I am an expert. Rather,** there is not **even** any reason **for concern with regard to a fly lest** it **come and sit on the protrusion of** the letter ***dalet* and erase it,** thereby **rendering it** the letter ***reish*,** which could be a critical error. There is no concern of this erasure occurring, since **I have a certain substance that I put into the ink** and that prevents the writing from being erased, **and it is called iron sulfate.**


###### Sotah 20a:13
[Sotah 20a:13](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sotah/r/20a:13)

אִינִי? וְהָא תַּנְיָא, אָמַר רַבִּי מֵאִיר: כְּשֶׁהָיִיתִי לָמֵד תּוֹרָה אֵצֶל רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל הָיִיתִי מֵטִיל קַנְקַנְתּוֹם לְתוֹךְ הַדְּיוֹ, וְלֹא אָמַר לִי דָּבָר. כְּשֶׁבָּאתִי אֵצֶל רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא אֲסָרָהּ עָלַי!

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara questions the initial part of Rabbi Meir’s statement: **Is that so? But isn’t it taught** in a *baraita* that **Rabbi Meir said: When I was studying Torah before Rabbi Yishmael, I used to put iron sulfate into the ink** with which I wrote Torah scrolls, **and he did not say anything to me.** Afterward, **when I came** to learn Torah **with Rabbi Akiva, he prohibited me** from doing **so.**


###### Sotah 20a:14
[Sotah 20a:14](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sotah/r/20a:14)

קַשְׁיָא שִׁמּוּשׁ אַשִּׁמּוּשׁ. קַשְׁיָא אֲסָרָהּ אַאֲסָרָהּ!

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara points out that there are two separate contradictions between the two statements: Rav Yehuda’s statement with regard to Rabbi Meir first **serving** Rabbi Akiva as a disciple is **difficult,** as it is contradicted **by** the statement of the *baraita* with regard to his first **serving** Rabbi Yishmael. Furthermore, Rav Yehuda’s statement is **difficult,** since he states that it was Rabbi Yishmael **who prohibited** the addition of iron sulfate, and this is contradicted **by** the statement of the *baraita* that it was Rabbi Akiva **who prohibited it.**


###### Sotah 20a:15
[Sotah 20a:15](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sotah/r/20a:15)

בִּשְׁלָמָא שִׁמּוּשׁ אַשִּׁמּוּשׁ לָא קַשְׁיָא: מֵעִיקָּרָא אֲתָא לְקַמֵּיהּ דְּרַבִּי עֲקִיבָא. כֵּיוָן דְּלָא מָצֵי (קָם) [לְמֵיקַם] אַלִּיבֵּיהּ, אֲתָא לְקַמֵּיהּ דְּרַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל, וּגְמַר גְּמָרָא. הֲדַר אֲתָא לְקַמֵּיהּ דְּרַבִּי עֲקִיבָא סָבַר סְבָרָא.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara answers: **Granted,** the apparent contradiction between Rav Yehuda’s statement with regard to Rabbi Meir’s **serving** Rabbi Akiva first, and the statement of the *baraita* with regard to **serving** Rabbi Yishmael first, poses **no difficulty. Initially, he came before Rabbi Akiva** to study, but **since he could not comprehend his** extremely complicated **method** of learning, **he came before Rabbi Yishmael and learned** the oral **tradition** from him. Afterward, **he returned** and **came before Rabbi Akiva** and **studied** his method of logical **reasoning** in order to understand the reasons behind the *halakhot* he had already learned.


###### Sotah 20a:16
[Sotah 20a:16](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sotah/r/20a:16)

אֶלָּא אֲסָרָהּ אַאֲסָרָהּ קַשְׁיָא! קַשְׁיָא.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**However,** the contradiction between Rav Yehuda’s statement that it was Rabbi Yishmael **who prohibited** the addition of iron sulfate and the statement of the *baraita* that it was Rabbi Akiva **who prohibited it** still poses a **difficulty.** The Gemara concludes: Indeed, the matter is **difficult.**


###### Sotah 20a:17
[Sotah 20a:17](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sotah/r/20a:17)

תַּנְיָא, רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר, אוֹמֵר הָיָה רַבִּי מֵאִיר: לַכֹּל מְטִילִין קַנְקַנְתּוֹם לְתוֹךְ הַדְּיוֹ,

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**It is taught** in a *baraita*: **Rabbi Yehuda says** that **Rabbi Meir would say: Iron sulfate may be put into the ink** that is used **for all** sacred writings, i.e., Torah scrolls, phylacteries, and *mezuzot*,