Ketubot 40B

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Text Excerpt

מעשה מחט ⁠— שלשים?!

the needlecraft of a tailor, a common, less valuable skill, is the fine also 30 sela? Rather, just as with regard to the slaves, the sum is not dependent on the standing of the victim, so too with regard to a woman who was raped.

אלא אמר רבי זירא: אילו באו עליה שנים, אחד כדרכה, ואחד שלא כדרכה, יאמרו: בעל שלימה ⁠— חמשים, בעל פגומה ⁠— חמשים? אמר ליה אביי: אי הכי, גבי עבד נמי, יאמרו: עבד בריא ⁠— שלשים, עבד מוכה שחין ⁠— שלשים?!

Rather, R' Zeira said a different proof: Had two men engaged in forced sex with her, one vaginal sex, and one anal sex, they will say: If one who engaged in forced sex with an untainted virgin pays 50 sela, does one who engaged in forced sex with her when she is tainted, i.e., after she has engaged in anal sex, also pay 50 sela? Apparently, the 50 sela is the fixed sum of the fine, while the rest of the payment varies on a case-by-case basis. Abaye said to him: This too is no proof, as if so, with regard to a slave as well, they will say if one whose ox gored a healthy slave pays 30 sela, does one whose ox gored a slave afflicted with boils also pay 30 sela?

אלא אמר אביי, אמר קרא: ״תחת אשר עינה״, הני תחת אשר עינה, מכלל דאיכא בושת ופגם. רבא אמר, אמר קרא: ״ונתן האיש השוכב עמה לאבי הנערה חמשים כסף״. הנאת שכיבה חמשים, מכלל דאיכא בושת ופגם.

Rather, Abaye said a different proof. The verse says: “50 shekels of silver…because he tormented her” (Deuteronomy 22:29); these 50 sela are the fine paid because he tormented her. From which it may be inferred that there are the additional payments of humiliation and degradation beyond that sum mentioned in the verse. Rava said an alternative proof. The verse says: “And the man who lay with her should give to the father of the young woman 50 shekels of silver” (Deuteronomy 22:29). For the pleasure of lying with her he pays 50 sela; from which it may be inferred that there are the additional payments of humiliation and degradation, beyond payment of the fine.

Text data via Sefaria: William Davidson Edition - English and William Davidson Edition - Vocalized Aramaic, CC-BY-NC; edition provenance: Koren. Display terminology has been modernized for readability.