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Yevamot 4: The Witch Must Die

How do we interpretation biblical verses that are juxtaposed, or simply in proximity to each other? Do we extrapolate details from one verse and apply to the context of the other verse? Or is that too much to assume? Of course, the discussion uses the case of the yevama to discuss this principle, and establishes that a yevama cannot be forced to marry a yavam whom she doesn’t want to marry. A third option for relying on this method of interpretation is to apply it only for the Book of Deuteronomy, which of course prompts the question why that is, and an understanding that Deuteronomy is said by Moshe, as compared to the rest of the Torah. Plus, the examples that support R. Yehudah’s rejection of interpretation that depends on juxtaposition (semukhim)

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Anne and Yardaena

Anne Gordon is the deputy editor of Ops & Blogs at The Times of Israel. She is a veteran educator, having taught in high school and post-high school institutions in Israel and America for several decades. Yardaena Osband is a pediatrician and teaches in her community and online. They both hail from Boston, proud alumna of Maimonides School, where they first learned Gemara. Talking Talmud is their conversation (via podcast) on the daf yomi. They say: "Learning the daf? We have something for you to think about. Not learning the daf? We have something for you to think about! (Along with a taste of the daf...) Join the conversation with us!"
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