(Numb. 5:12:) IF ANYONE HAS HIS WIFE GO ASTRAY (tisteh). Our masters have taught: The adulterers do not commit adultery, until a spirit of madness (shetut)³⁶ and tisteh appear to have the same root. enters them.³⁷., Numb. 2:5. Thus it is stated (ibid.): IF ANYONE HAS HIS WIFE GO ASTRAY. Here we have learned about the woman. Where is shown about the man? Where it is stated (in Prov. 6:32): THE ONE WHO COMMITS ADULTERY WITH A WOMAN IS HAS NO SENSE (literally: IS LACKING HEART); THE ONE WHO DOES SO DESTROYS HIS OWN LIFE.³⁸

footnotes: ³⁶ In the unpointed Hebrew text, shetut ³⁷ Tanh ³⁸ Cf. Numb. 9:6.