Pisqa’ 196³¹⁷

1. “Who is the man who has betrothed a woman” (Dt. 20:7)— the same ruling applies to **one who betroths a young lady,**³¹⁸, literally, “a virgin.” and one who betroths a widow, or [a woman] awaiting the levir’s³¹⁹; “brother-in-law.” In particular, a man designated to marry the wife of his deceased, childless brother, or to release her from this marriage by a rite of “loosening the shoe” (khalitzah; Dt. 25:5-11 and Pisqa’ot 188-291.) While awaiting the yavam’s decision to marry or to release her, the woman occupies the status of shomeret yevam (“awaiting the levir”). decision [to either marry or release her], or even if the levir heard that his childless brother was killed in battle [thus releasing the wife from her obligation to the levir]— **all these may return [from war].**³²⁰ 193.1.

footnotes: ³¹⁷ H:216; JN2:86. ³¹⁸ Heb: betulah ³¹⁹ Heb: yavam ³²⁰ //M.Sotah 8:2; cf. T.Sotah 7:19. Cf. the virtually identical formulation at Pisqa’

“But he hasn’t yet taken her” (Dt. 20:7)— the exemption applies only to one marrying a suitable woman.

one who remarries his [divorced] wife; or a widow marrying a High Priest; or a divorcee, or a wife —released by the levir³²¹; “the released one.”— who marries a common Priest. **Or a woman of impaired lineage,**³²², “a woman born of parents whose marriage is forbidden,” e.g., of close relatives. The male correlate is mamzer. Mamzerim (plural) may marry other mamzerim, as well as netinim, but are prohibited from marrying Israelites of unimpaired lineage. **or a descendant of outcastes,**³²³ literally, “one predisposed [to servitude].” The term is used as a title for descendents of the people of Gibeon who, according to Josh. 9:17-27, were condemned to serve other Israelites in perpetuity as “drawers of water and hewers of wood.” who marries into Israel; or an Israelite daughter who marries a man of impaired lineage or a descendant of outcastes.

footnotes: ³²¹ Heb: khalutzah ³²² Heb: mamzeret ³²³ Heb: netin;

“He shall go and return to his home” (Dt. 20:7)— that is, he shall go and heed the instructions of the Warrior Priest to return³²⁴

footnotes: ³²⁴ Cf. M. Sotah 8:3.