1The following rules apply with regard to a woman who told her husband:1 “You divorced me in the presence of so and so and so and so,” and those witnesses came and denied her statements.2 If afterwards, she and her husband departed for a far-removed country while peace prevails in the world at large,3 and then she returns and says, “My husband died,” her word is not accepted. The rationale is that she is considered to be a liar, who desires to free herself from her ties to her husband.4 If one witness comes and testifies on her behalf that her husband died, she should not be granted permission to marry; we fear that perhaps she hired him.5 If, however, she marries, nevertheless, she need not leave her second husband, for there is a witness who supports her.אהָאִשָּׁה שֶׁאָמְרָה לְבַעְלָהּ 'גֵּרַשְׁתַּנִי בִּפְנֵי פְּלוֹנִי וּפְלוֹנִי', וּבָאוּ אוֹתָן הָעֵדִים וְהִכְחִישׁוּהָ, וְאַחַר כָּךְ הָלְכָה הִיא וּבַעְלָהּ, וְשָׁלוֹם בָּעוֹלָם, וּבָאָה וְאָמְרָה 'מֵת בַּעְלִי' - אֵינָהּ נֶאֱמֶנֶת; שֶׁזּוֹ הֻחְזְקָה שַׁקְרָנִית, וְרוֹצָה לְהִשָּׁמֵט מִתַּחַת בַּעְלָהּ. בָּא עֵד אֶחָד וְהֵעִיד לָהּ שֶׁמֵּת בַּעְלָהּ - לֹא תִנָּשֵׂא, שֶׁמָּא הִיא שָׂכְרָה אוֹתוֹ; וְאִם נִשֵּׂאת, לֹא תֵצֵא, שֶׁהֲרֵי יֵשׁ לָהּ עֵד.
2Similarly, when there is a state of war in the world at large, if a woman comes and says, “My husband died in the war,”6 her word is not accepted, even where the couple’s relationship is peaceful. The rationale is that we fear that she will rely on a situation in which the likelihood is that he will die - e.g., the people in the front and at the rear were killed, and her husband is in the center. She might think, “Since these were killed, and those were killed, he was killed surely together with them.” For this reason, her word is not accepted, even if she says, “He died in the war, and I buried him.”7 If, however, she says that he died in bed, her word is accepted.8 בוְכֵן אִם הָיְתָה מִלְחָמָה בָּעוֹלָם, וּבָאָה וְאָמְרָה 'מֵת בַּעְלִי בַּמִּלְחָמָה' - אֵינָהּ נֶאֱמֶנֶת, וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהָיָה שָׁלוֹם בֵּינוֹ לְבֵינָהּ; שֶׁמָּא תִּסְמֹךְ דַּעְתָּהּ עַל דְּבָרִים שֶׁרֻבָּן לְמִיתָה וְתֹאמַר 'מֵת'. כְּגוֹן שֶׁנֶּהְרְגוּ הָרִאשׁוֹנִים וְהָאַחֲרוֹנִים שֶׁהָיָה בְּאֶמְצָעָן, שֶׁהֲרֵי הִיא אוֹמֶרֶת: מֵאַחַר שֶׁנֶּהְרְגוּ אֵלּוּ וְאֵלּוּ נֶהְרַג בִּכְלָלָן. לְפִיכָךְ אֵינָהּ נֶאֱמֶנֶת, וְאַפִלּוּ אָמְרָה 'מֵת בַּמִּלְחָמָה וּקְבַרְתִּיו'. אֲבָל אִם אָמְרָה 'מֵת עַל מִטָּתוֹ' - נֶאֱמֶנֶת.
3If we are not aware of a war raging in the world, and a woman comes and says: “There was a war in a particular county and my husband died in that war,” a priori, she should not marry. If, however, she marries, she need not leave her second husband.9 גלֹא הֻחְזְקָה מִלְחָמָה בָּעוֹלָם, וּבָאָה וְאָמְרָה 'מִלְחָמָה הָיְתָה בְּמָקוֹם פְּלוֹנִי וּמֵת בַּמִּלְחָמָה' - לֹא תִנָּשֵׂא לְכַתְּחִלָּה; וְאִם נִשֵּׂאת, לֹא תֵצֵא.
4Similarly, if a woman says, “My husband died in a landslide,” her word is not accepted. In the same vein, if an area was overrun by swarms of snakes and scorpions, and she says, “He was bitten by a snake - or a scorpion - and died,” her word is not accepted.10 The rationale is that she might rely on the fact that most men die because they were bitten in this manner, and make a statement without knowing for certain whether or not her husband died.דוְכֵן הָאִשָּׁה שֶׁאָמְרָה 'מֵת בַּעְלִי תַּחַת הַמַּפֹּלֶת' - אֵינָהּ נֶאֱמֶנֶת. וְכֵן אִם הָיָה שִׁלּוּחַ נְחָשִׁים וְעַקְרַבִּים, וְאָמְרָה 'נְשָׁכוֹ נָחָשׁ אוֹ עַקְרָב, וּמֵת' - אֵינָהּ נֶאֱמֶנֶת, שֶׁמָּא תִּסְמֹךְ דַּעְתָּהּ עַל רֹב אֲנָשִׁים שֶׁמֵּתוּ כָּךְ בִּנְשִׁיכָה.
5If a woman says, “They filled the house - or the cave - in which we were hiding with smoke; he died, but I was saved,” her word is not accepted. It is possible that just as she was saved by a miracle, he could have been saved by a miracle. If it is a year of famine, and she says: “My husband died,” her word is not accepted.11 If she says, “He died and I buried him,” her word is accepted.12 האָמְרָה 'עִשְּׁנוּ עָלֵינוּ בַּיִת', אוֹ 'מְעָרָה, הוּא מֵת, וַאֲנִי נִצּוֹלְתִּי' - אֵינָהּ נֶאֱמֶנֶת; כְּשֵׁם שֶׁנַּעֲשָׂה לָהּ נֵס כָּךְ נַעֲשָׂה לוֹ נֵס. הָיְתָה שְׁנַת רְעָבוֹן וְאָמְרָה 'מֵת בַּעְלִי' - אֵינָהּ נֶאֱמֶנֶת; 'מֵת וּקְבַרְתִּיו' - נֶאֱמֶנֶת.

Mishneh Torah (Moznaim)

Featuring a modern English translation and a commentary that presents a digest of the centuries of Torah scholarship which have been devoted to the study of the Mishneh Torah by Maimonides.

6If a woman says, “Gentiles - or thieves - attacked us. He was slain, and I was saved,” her word is accepted, because it is not common for attackers to kill women.13 Thus, it is not fitting to say: Just as she was saved, he was saved.ואָמְרָה 'נָפְלוּ עָלֵינוּ גּוֹיִים', אוֹ 'לִסְטִים, הוּא נֶהְרַג, וַאֲנִי נִצּוֹלְתִּי' - נֶאֱמֶנֶת; שֶׁאֵין דַּרְכָּן לַהְרֹג הַנָּשִׁים - כְּדֵי שֶׁנֹּאמַר: כְּשֵׁם שֶׁנִּצּוֹלָה הִיא כָּךְ נִצּוֹל הוּא.
7If an epidemic was raging throughout the world, and a woman says, “My husband died,” her word is accepted.14 For there is no widely accepted likelihood with regard to a plague; everyone knows that in a time of plague some die and some live. And it is possible that strong young men will die from the plague, and elderly infirm people will be saved. And therefore, we do not suspect that she relied on the likelihood that most people died.זהָיָה דֶּבֶר בָּעוֹלָם וּבָאָה וְאָמְרָה 'מֵת בַּעְלִי' - נֶאֱמֶנֶת. שֶׁהַדָּבָר פָּשׁוּט בְּפִי כָּל אָדָם שֶׁבִּשְׁנַת הַדֶּבֶר זֶה חַי וְזֶה מֵת, וְאֶפְשָׁר שֶׁיָּמוּתוּ בַּדֶּבֶר נְעָרִים חֲזָקִים, וְיִנָּצְלוּ הַזְּקֵנִים הַחוֹלִים, וּלְפִי זֶה אֵין חוֹשְׁשִׁין לָהּ שֶׁמָּא סָמְכָה דַּעְתָּהּ עַל רֹב הַמֵּתִים.
8It has already been stated15 that a witness who did not see evidence of the person’s death himself, but who testifies after hearing the statements of another person is acceptable with regard to the verification of the death of a woman’s husband. When does this apply? When the person heard a mentally competent adult - even a servant or a maid -servant - say that so and so died. If, however, a person heard from a mentally incompetent person or from a minor16 that an individual died, he may not testify to that effect, nor do we rely on their statements.חכְּבָר אָמַרְנוּ, שֶׁעֵד מִפִּי עֵד כָּשֵׁר לְעֵדוּת אִשָּׁה. בַּמֶּה דְּבָרִים אֲמוּרִים? שֶׁשָּׁמַע מִפִּי בֶּן דַּעַת שֶׁמֵּת פְּלוֹנִי, כְּגוֹן עֶבֶד אוֹ שִׁפְחָה. אֲבָל אִם שָׁמַע מִפִּי שׁוֹטֶה אוֹ קָטָן, אֵינוֹ מֵעִיד וְאֵין סוֹמְכִין עַל דִּבְרֵיהֶם.
9There is an exception to the above principle. If a person heard children saying: “We just came from so and so’s funeral. These and these many people recited eulogies. The sage so and so and these and these others followed the bier. And this and this is what happened to the bier,”17 the person may offer this as testimony regarding a man’s death, and on this basis permission is granted for the deceased’s wife to remarry.טשָׁמַע מִן הַתִּינוֹקוֹת שֶׁהֵן אוֹמְרִין 'עַכְשָׁו בָּאנוּ מֵהֶסְפֵּד פְּלוֹנִי, כָּךְ וְכָּךְ סַפְדָּנִין הָיוּ שָׁם, וּפְלוֹנִי הֶחָכָם, וּפְלוֹנִי עָלָה אַחַר מִטָּתוֹ, כָּךְ וְכָּךְ עָשׂוּ בְּמִטָּתוֹ' - הֲרֵי זֶה מֵעִיד מִפִּיהֶן עַל פִּי הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלּוּ וְכַיּוֹצֵא בָּהֶן, וּמַשִּׂיאִין אֶת אִשְׁתּוֹ.
10When a Jew says, “I killed so and so,” the man’s wife is allowed to remarry on the basis of his testimony. The rationale is a person’s own testimony cannot be used to incriminate him. Therefore, he is not disqualified, and he did testify that the husband died.18 ייִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁאָמַר 'הָרַגְתִּי פְּלוֹנִי' - הֲרֵי זוֹ תִּנָּשֵׂא עַל פִּיו; שֶׁאֵין אָדָם מֵשִׂים עַצְמוֹ רָשָׁע, וַהֲרֵי הֵעִיד שֶׁמֵּת.
11It has already been stated19 that statements made by a gentile in the course of conversation can be used as a basis to grant a woman permission to remarry. What is implied? If a gentile exclaimed: “How terrible is it that so and so died! He was so nice! He did so much for me!” Or if the gentile was talking and said, “We were traveling on our way, and to our amazement, so and so who was traveling with us fell down and died. We all were amazed that he died so suddenly.”יאכְּבָר אָמַרְנוּ, שֶׁהַגּוֹי שֶׁהֵסִיחַ לְפִי תֻּמּוֹ, מַשִּׂיאִין עַל פִּיו. כֵּיצַד? הָיָה הַגּוֹי מֵסִיחַ וְאוֹמֵר 'אוֹי לִפְלוֹנִי שֶׁמֵּת, כַּמָּה הָיָה נָאֶה וְכַמָּה טוֹבָה עָשָׂה עִמִּי'; אוֹ שֶׁהָיָה מֵסִיחַ וְאוֹמֵר 'כְּשֶׁהָיִיתִי בָּא בַּדֶּרֶךְ נָפַל פְּלוֹנִי שֶׁהָיָה מְהַלֵּךְ בַּדֶּרֶךְ עִמָּנוּ וּמֵת, וְתָמַהְנוּ לְדָבָר זֶה כֵּיצַד מֵת פִּתְאוֹם'.
If he makes statements of this nature that indicate that he has no intention of giving testimony,20 his word is accepted.וְכַיּוֹצֵא בִּדְבָרִים אֵלּוּ, שֶׁהֵן מַרְאִין שֶׁאֵין כַּוָּנָתוֹ לְהָעִיד - הֲרֵי זֶה נֶאֱמָן.
12When a Jew hears a gentile say in the course of conversation that a man died, he may testify that he heard these statements, and the man’s wife may be granted permission to remarry on this basis. When does the above apply? When there is no rationale to explain why the gentile would make these statements if they were not true. If, however, there could be a reason for the gentile’s statements, and he is making them with another intent in mind his word is not accepted. For example, a gentile told a Jew, “Do such and such for me, or else I will kill you, as I killed so and so,”21 he is not making these statements in the course of conversation, for his intent is to cast fear upon his listener.יביִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁשָּׁמַע מִגּוֹי הַמֵּסִיחַ לְפִי תֻּמּוֹ - מֵעִיד שֶׁשָּׁמַע מִמֶּנּוּ, וְתִנָּשֵׂא עַל פִּיו. בַּמֶּה דְּבָרִים אֲמוּרִים? שֶׁלֹּא הָיְתָה שָׁם אֲמַתְלָא בְּשִׂיחַת הַגּוֹי שֶׁמָּא לֹא נִתְכַּוֵּן אֶלָא לְדָבָר אַחֵר, כְּגוֹן שֶׁאָמַר לְאֶחָד 'עֲשֵׂה לִי כָּךְ וְכָּךְ שֶׁלֹּא אֶהְרֹג אוֹתְךָ כְּדֶרֶךְ שֶׁהָרַגְתִּי פְּלוֹנִי' - אֵין זֶה מֵסִיחַ לְפִי תֻּמּוֹ, שֶׁכַּוָּנָתוֹ לְהַטִּיל אֵימָה עַל זֶה.
13Similarly, if a person heard the gentile legal authorities say, “We executed so and so,” their word is not accepted.22 For they will use falsehood to reinforce their position and to cast fear among the populace. The same applies in all similar instances.יגוְכֵן אִם שָׁמַע מֵעַרְכָּאוֹת שֶׁל גּוֹיִים שֶׁאָמְרוּ 'הָרַגְנוּ פְּלוֹנִי' - אֵין נֶאֱמָנִין, שֶׁהֵן מְחַזְּקִין יְדֵי עַצְמָן בְּכָזָב כְּדֵי לְהַטִּיל אֵימָה. וְכֵן כָּל כַּיּוֹצֵא בִּדְבָרִים אֵלּוּ.
14When, at first, a gentile made statements in the course of conversation,23 and afterwards was asked questions by Jews until all the details of the person’s death were disclosed,24 his statements are accepted, and the woman is granted permission to remarry on this basis.ידגּוֹי שֶׁהִתְחִיל לְהָסִיחַ לְפִי תֻּמּוֹ תְּחִלָּה - אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁשָּׁאֲלוּ אוֹתוֹ אַחַר כֵּן, וּבְדָקוּהוּ עַד שֶׁפֵּרַשׁ כָּל הַמְּאֹרָע - הֲרֵי זֶה נֶאֱמָן, וּמַשִּׂיאִין עַל פִּיו.
15It has already been stated25 that a witness who testifies: “I heard that so and so died,”26 is acceptable with regard to testimony concerning a woman’s husband, and the woman may remarry on this basis. This applies even when he heard the statements from a woman or from a servant.טוכְּבָר הוֹדַעְנוּ שֶׁהָעֵד שֶׁאָמַר 'שָׁמַעְתִּי שֶׁמֵּת פְּלוֹנִי', אַפִלּוּ שָׁמַע מֵאִשָּׁה שֶׁשָּׁמְעָה מֵעֶבֶד - הֲרֵי זֶה כָּשֵׁר לְעֵדוּת אִשָּׁה, וּמַשִּׂיאִין עַל פִּיו.
If, however, a witness, a woman or a servant says: “So and so died; I saw that he died,” the witness should be asked:27 “What did you see? How do you know that he died? “ If the witness responds with clear testimony, his word is accepted. If the witness replies, describing a situation in which it is highly likely that the person would have died, we do not grant his wife license to remarry. For testimony concerning a man’s death can be accepted only when the witness can say with certainty that he saw the man die, and there is no doubt concerning the matter.אֲבָל אִם אָמַר הָעֵד אוֹ הָאִשָּׁה אוֹ הָעֶבֶד 'מֵת פְּלוֹנִי וַאֲנִי רְאִיתִיו שֶׁמֵּת' - שׁוֹאֲלִין אוֹתוֹ 'הֵיאָךְ רָאִיתָ?, וּבְמַה יָדַעְתָּ שֶׁמֵּת?' אִם הֵעִיד בְּדָבָר בָּרוּר, נֶאֱמָן, וְאִם הֵעִיד בִּדְבָרִים שֶׁרֻבָּן לְמִיתָה - אֵין מַשִּׂיאִין אֶת אִשְׁתּוֹ; שֶׁאֵין מְעִידִין עַל הָאָדָם שֶׁמֵּת אֶלָא בְּשֶׁרָאוּהוּ שֶׁמֵּת וַדַּאי, וְאֵין בּוֹ סָפֵק.
16What is implied? If a man was seen falling into the sea, even if he fell into the ocean, testimony should not be offered that the man died, because it is possible that he was cast away or escaped from the sea from an unseen place.28 If he fell into a body of water with definite boundaries - e.g., a cistern or a cavern in which a person standing at the edge could see the entire periphery - testimony that the man died may be offered, and license may be granted for his wife to remarry, provided the witnesses remained there for a period of time beyond which it was impossible for the man to live,29 and saw that he did not ascend from the body of water. Similarly, if he was cast into the sea and a net was cast in after him, and a limb that a person would not be able to live without was raised up,30 testimony may be offered that he died, and his wife may be granted license to remarry.31 טזכֵּיצַד? רָאוּהוּ שֶׁנָּפַל לַיָּם, אַפִלּוּ טָבַע בַּיָּם הַגָּדוֹל - אֵין מְעִידִין עָלָיו שֶׁמֵּת, שֶׁמָּא יָצָא בְּמָקוֹם אַחֵר. וְאִם נָפַל לְמַיִם מְקֻבָּצִים כְּגוֹן בּוֹר אוֹ מְעָרָה, שֶׁעוֹמֵד וְרוֹאֶה כָּל סְבִיבָיו, וְשָׁהָה כְּדֵי שֶׁתֵּצֵא נַפְשׁוֹ, וְלֹא עָלָה - מֵעִיד עָלָיו שֶׁמֵּת, וּמַשִּׂיאִין אֶת אִשְׁתּוֹ. וְכֵן אִם הִשְׁלִיכוּהוּ בַּיָּם, וְהִשְׁלִיכוּ מְצוּדָה אַחֲרָיו, וְהֶעֱלוּ מִמֶּנּוּ אֵבֶר שֶׁאִי אֶפְשָׁר שֶׁיִּנָּטֵל אוֹתוֹ אֵבֶר מִן הַחַי, וְיִחְיֶה - הֲרֵי זֶה מֵעִיד עָלָיו שֶׁמֵּת, וּמַשִּׂיאִין אֶת אִשְׁתּוֹ.
17If a man fell into a lair of lions, leopards or the like, testimony that he died may not be offered,32 for it is possible that they will not eat him. If he fell into a pit of snakes and scorpions,33 into a furnace,34 or into a boiling caldron filled with wine or oil,35 or his esophagus and windpipe were slit - either in their majority36 or in their entirety - testimony may be offered that he died, even if he arose and fled. For in these situations, he ultimately will die.יזרָאוּהוּ שֶׁנָּפַל לְגֹב אֲרָיוֹת וּנְמֵרִים וְכַיּוֹצֵא בָּהֶן, אֵין מְעִידִין עָלָיו - אֶפְשָׁר שֶׁלֹּא יֹאכְלוּהוּ. נָפַל לַחֲפִירַת נְחָשִׁים וְעַקְרַבִּים, אוֹ לְתוֹךְ כִּבְשָׁן הָאֵשׁ, אוֹ לְתוֹךְ יוֹרָה רוֹתַחַת מְלֵאָה יַיִן אוֹ שֶׁמֶן, אוֹ שֶׁשָּׁחֲטוּ שְׁנֵי סִימָנִין אוֹ רֹב שְׁנֵי הַסִּימָנִין - אַפִלּוּ עָמַד וּבָרַח, מְעִידִין עָלָיו שֶׁמֵּת; שֶׁוַּדַּאי סוֹפוֹ לָמוּת.
Similar laws apply in all situations in which it is impossible that the person will live, but rather will die shortly afterwards. Testimony may be offered that he died.וְכֵן כָּל כַּיּוֹצֵא בְּזֶה מִדְּבָרִים שֶׁאִי אֶפְשָׁר שֶׁיִּחְיֶה, אֶלָא יָמוּת מִיָּד בִּזְמַן קָרוֹב - הֲרֵי אֵלּוּ מְעִידִין עָלָיו.
18If we see a man hanging37 and a vulture eating from his body, testimony may not be offered that he died. This applies even if he was stabbed with a lance, or arrows were shot at him.38יחרָאוּהוּ צָלוּב, וְהָעוֹף אוֹכֵל בּוֹ - אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁדְּקָרוּהוּ אוֹ יָרוּ בּוֹ חִצִּים, אֵינוֹ מֵעִיד עָלָיו שֶׁמֵּת.
If, however, we see the vulture eating from a place that would cause him to die - e.g., his brain, his heart or his intestines, one may offer testimony that he died.וְאִם רָאוּ הָעוֹף אוֹכֵל בִּמְקוֹם שֶׁהַנֶּפֶשׁ יוֹצְאָה בִּנְטִילָתוֹ, כְּגוֹן מוֹחוֹ אוֹ לִבּוֹ אוֹ בְּנֵי מֵעָיו - הֲרֵי זֶה מְעִידִין עָלָיו שֶׁמֵּת.
19The following laws apply when one witness testifies, “I saw that he died in a war or in a landslide, or that he drowned in the ocean39 and died,” or mentioned other causes that would probably lead to death. If he says, “I buried him,” his statements are accepted,40 and she may be granted permission to remarry. If he did not say, “I buried him,” she should not be granted permission to remarry. If, however, she remarries, she need not leave her second husband.41 יטעֵד אֶחָד שֶׁאָמַר 'רְאִיתִיו שֶׁמֵּת בַּמִּלְחָמָה', אוֹ 'בְּמַפֹּלֶת', אוֹ 'שֶׁטָּבַע בַּיָּם הַגָּדוֹל וּמֵת', וְכַיּוֹצֵא בְּאֵלּוּ מִדְּבָרִים שֶׁרֻבָּן לְמִיתָה: אִם אָמַר 'קְבַרְתִּיו' - נֶאֱמָן, וְתִנָּשֵׂא עַל פִּיו; וְאִם לֹא אָמַר 'קְבַרְתִּיו' - לֹא תִנָּשֵׂא; וְאִם נִשֵּׂאת, לֹא תֵצֵא.
20Similarly, if one witness42 testifies that a woman’s husband drowned in the sea or in a body of water that does not have a defined periphery, he did not emerge from the water, all traces of him have disappeared,43 and his existence has been forgotten, the woman should not be granted license to remarry on this basis, as we have explained.44 If, however, she remarries,45 she need not be forced to leave her second husband.כוְכֵן הָאִשָּׁה שֶׁהֵעִיד לָהּ עֵד אֶחָד שֶׁטָּבַע בַּעְלָהּ בְּמַיִם שֶׁאֵין לָהֶם סוֹף, וְלֹא עָלָה, וְאָבַד זִכְרוֹ, וְנִשְׁתַּקַּע שְׁמוֹ - הֲרֵי זוֹ לֹא תִנָּשֵׂא עַל עֵדוּת זוֹ, כְּמוֹ שֶׁבֵּאַרְנוּ. וְאִם נִשֵּׂאת, לֹא תֵצֵא.
Even if a gentile said in the course of conversation, “So and so drowned at sea,” and on this basis the man’s wife remarried, she need not be forced to leave her second husband. Nevertheless, in the above instances, the sage who gave permission for her to remarry should be placed under a ban of ostracism.46 וְאַפִלּוּ הָיָה הַגּוֹי הוּא שֶׁהֵסִיחַ לְפִי תֻּמּוֹ וְאָמַר 'טָבַע פְּלוֹנִי בַּיָּם', וְנִשֵּׂאת עַל פִּיו - הֲרֵי זוֹ לֹא תֵצֵא. וְחָכָם שֶׁהוֹרָה לְהַשִּׂיא אוֹתָהּ, לְכַתְּחִלָּה - מְנַדִּין אוֹתוֹ.
21The following rules apply when the body of a man who was slain or died of natural causes is discovered. If his forehead, his nose and his facial features are intact, and his identity can be established based on them,47 testimony concerning his death may be offered. If, however, any of these identifying factors is missing, even if there are signs through which he can be identified48 on his body and on his personal artifacts,49 even if one of those signs is a mole,50 testimony concerning his death should not be offered. When does the leniency mentioned in the first clause apply? When the corpse was seen within three days of his murder or death. After three days have passed, testimony concerning his death should not be offered, because his facial features may have become distorted.51 כאמְצָאוּהוּ הָרוּג אוֹ מֵת: אִם פַּדַּחְתּוֹ וְחָטְמוֹ וּפַרְצוּף פָּנָיו קַיָּמִין, וְהִכִּירוּהוּ בָּהֶן שֶׁהוּא פְּלוֹנִי - מְעִידִין עָלָיו; וְאִם נִטַּל אֶחָד מֵאֵלּוּ - אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁיֵּשׁ לָהֶם סִימָנִין בְּגוּפוֹ וּבְכֵלָיו, וְאַפִלּוּ שׁוּמָא - אֵין מְעִידִין, שֶׁמָּא אַחֵר הוּא. בַּמֶּה דְּבָרִים אֲמוּרִים? שֶׁרָאוּהוּ בְּתוֹךְ שְׁלוֹשָׁה יָמִים אַחַר הֲרִיגָתוֹ אוֹ מִיתָתוֹ; אֲבָל אַחַר שְׁלוֹשָׁה, אֵין מְעִידִין עָלָיו, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁפַּרְצוּף פָּנָיו מִשְׁתַּנֶּה.
22The following rules apply when a man drowned at sea and was cast out onto dry land. Although several days have passed, if his facial features and his nose can be identified,52 testimony may be offered with regard to his death, for in water the features of a corpse do not become distorted until an extremely long period of time has passed.53 If the corpse lay on dry land for twelve hours54 after being cast out of the sea and the corpse became bloated,55 testimony may not be offered because his features have been distorted.56 When we look at the form of a corpse in order to identify a man to offer testimony with regard to his death, it is acceptable if we look at the corpse even by candlelight or by moonlight.57 כבטָבַע בַּיָּם וְהִשְׁלִיכוֹ הַיָּם לַיַּבָּשָׁה, אַפִלּוּ אַחַר כַּמָּה יָמִים - אִם הִכִּירוּ פָּנָיו וְחָטְמוֹ, מְעִידִין עָלָיו, שֶׁאֵינוֹ מִשְׁתַּנֶּה בַּמַּיִם, אֶלָא אַחַר זְמַן מְרֻבֶּה. וְאִם שָׁהָה בַּיַּבָּשָׁה אַחַר שֶׁהֻשְׁלַךְ מִן הַיָּם שָׁעוֹת, וְנִתְפַּח - אֵין מְעִידִין עָלָיו, שֶׁהֲרֵי נִשְׁתַּנָּה. כְּשֶׁמִּסְתַּכְּלִין בְּצוּרָתוֹ כְּדֵי לְהַכִּירוֹ לְהָעִיד עָלָיו, בּוֹדְקִין אוֹתוֹ וְרוֹאִין אוֹתוֹ אַפִלּוּ בַּלַּיְלָה לְאוֹר הַנֵּר אוֹ לְאוֹר הַלְּבָנָה.
23The following rule applies when we see a person at a distance and he says that he is so and so, the son of so and so, or so and so from a particular place,58 and that he has been bitten by a snake and is dying. Even if we go to the place where he was standing, find the corpse and discover that its features have changed to the extent that it is no longer distinguishable, we may, nevertheless, grant license for his wife to remarry.59 כגרָאוּ אֶחָד עוֹמֵד מֵרָחוֹק וְאוֹמֵר שֶׁהוּא פְּלוֹנִי בֶּן פְּלוֹנִי מִמָּקוֹם פְּלוֹנִי, וַהֲרֵי נְשָׁכוֹ נָחָשׁ וַהֲרֵי הוּא מֵת, וְהָלְכוּ וּמְצָאוּהוּ שֶׁנִּשְׁתַּנָּה וְלֹא הִכִּירוּהוּ - הֲרֵי אֵלּוּ מַשִּׂיאִין אֶת אִשְׁתּוֹ.
24A person’s testimony is effective in the following instance. A person came and said: “A court - or people - told me, when you arrive at this and this place,60 tell them that Yitzchak, the son of Michael, died.” When this person came to that place and delivered the message - although he is not aware of the identity of the deceased - since the people at that place do know his identity, the deceased’s wife may be granted permission to remarry. We do not presume that perhaps it was another person named Yitzchak, the son of Michael, who died.61 כדבָּא אֶחָד וְאָמַר 'אָמְרוּ לִי בֵּית דִּין אוֹ אֲנָשִׁים, כְּשֶׁתֵּלֵךְ לְמָקוֹם פְּלוֹנִי אֱמֹר לָהֶם: שֶׁמֵּת יִצְחָק בֶּן מִיכָאֵל', וּבָא הַשָּׁלִיחַ וְאָמַר לָנוּ, וְהַשָּׁלִיחַ אֵינוֹ יוֹדֵעַ מִי הוּא זֶה - הוֹאִיל וְאָנוּ יוֹדְעִים פְּלוֹנִי הַיָּדוּעַ בְּשֵׁם זֶה, הֲרֵי אִשְׁתּוֹ מֻתֶּרֶת, וְאֵין אוֹמְרִין שֶׁמָּא יִצְחָק בֶּן מִיכָאֵל אַחֵר הוּא שֶׁמֵּת.
25When a Jew and a gentile left from our location for a different destination, and the gentile came and said in the course of conversation: “The man who left this city with me died,” the deceased’s wife may be granted license to remarry. This applies even when the gentile does not know the identity of the man, provided he says: “I buried him.”62 כהיָצָא יִשְׂרָאֵל וְגוֹי מֵעִמָּנוּ לְמָקוֹם אֶחָד, וּבָא הַגּוֹי וְהֵסִיחַ לְפִי תֻּמּוֹ וְאָמַר 'אִישׁ שֶׁיָּצָא עִמִּי מִכָּאן מֵת' - מַשִּׂיאִין אֶת אִשְׁתּוֹ, וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאֵין הַגּוֹי יוֹדֵעַ אוֹתוֹ הָאִישׁ. וְהוּא שֶׁיֹּאמַר 'קְבַרְתִּיו'.
26Similarly, when ten men were taken together while shackled in chains or tied by heavy ropes used to lead camels63 or the like,64 from one place to another,65 and a gentile came and said in the course of conversation that all ten men who went out while tied died, and he buried them,66 their wives may be granted license to remarry.כווְכֵן אִם יָצְאוּ עֲשָׂרָה בְּנֵי אָדָם כְּאֶחָד מִמָּקוֹם לְמָקוֹם, וְהֵן אֲסוּרִין בְּקֻלָּר אוֹ נוֹשְׂאִים גְּמַלִּים וְכַיּוֹצֵא בִּדְבָרִים אֵלּוּ, וְהֵסִיחַ הַגּוֹי לְפִי תֻּמּוֹ וְאָמַר 'שֶׁעֲשָׂרָה אֲנָשִׁים שֶׁהָלְכוּ מִמָּקוֹם פְּלוֹנִי לְמָקוֹם פְּלוֹנִי, וְהֵם נוֹשְׂאִים כָּךְ וְכָּךְ, מֵתוּ כֻּלָּם, וּקְבַרְנוּם' - מַשִּׂיאִין אֶת נְשׁוֹתֵיהֶן.
27If a Jew says: “A Jewish man died in our company in this and this place. These and these were his facial features. These and these were signs of identification,” we do not make a guess and say that it was probably so and so.67 Rather the person is not considered to have died until a witness mentions his name and the name of his city.68 כזיִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁאָמַר 'מֵת אִישׁ יְהוּדִי עִמָּנוּ בְּמָקוֹם פְּלוֹנִי, כָּךְ וְכָּךְ צוּרָתוֹ, וְכָּךְ וְכָּךְ הָיוּ סִימָנָיו' - אֵין אוֹמְרִין בְּאֻמְדַּן הַדַּעַת הוּא פְּלוֹנִי, עַד שֶׁיָּעִיד הָעֵד שֶׁהוּא פְּלוֹנִי, וְיַכִּיר שְׁמוֹ וְשֵׁם עִירוֹ.
If, however, a person69 says: “One of the inhabitants70 of the city of so and so journeyed out in our company and died,” we check in that city. If only one man left the city, his wife may be given permission to marry.אֲבָל אִם אָמַר 'אֶחָד יָצָא עִמָּנוּ מֵעִיר פְּלוֹנִית וּמֵת' - מְחַפְּשִׂין בְּאוֹתָהּ הָעִיר, אִם לֹא יָצָא מִשָּׁם אֶלָא הוּא, תִּנָּשֵׂא אִשְׁתּוֹ.
28The following rule applies if a document was found saying: “So and so, the son of so and so, died,” or “So and so, the son of so and so, was killed”: If it can be determined that this was written71 by a Jew,72 the man’s wife may be given permission to marry.73כחמָצְאוּ כָּתוּב בַּשְּׁטָר: מֵת אִישׁ פְּלוֹנִי בֶּן פְּלוֹנִי, אוֹ נֶהְרַג אִישׁ פְּלוֹנִי, וְנוֹדַע שֶׁזֶּה כְּתָב יִשְׂרָאֵל - הֲרֵי זוֹ תִּנָּשֵׂא אִשְׁתּוֹ.
Similarly, when a person has lost the power of speech, and he was tested, as he would be tested with regard to a get,74 and it is proven that he is mentally sound, if he writes that so and so died, we may rely on his writing, and the deceased’s wife may be given permission to marry.75וְכֵן מִי שֶׁנִּשְׁתַּתֵּק, וּבָדְקוּ אוֹתוֹ כְּדֶרֶךְ שֶׁבּוֹדְקִין לְגִטִּין, וְנִמְצֵאת דַּעְתּוֹ מְכֻוֶּנֶת, וְכָתַב שֶׁמֵּת פְּלוֹנִי בֶּן פְּלוֹנִי - סוֹמְכִין עַל כְּתִיבָתוֹ, וְתִנָּשֵׂא.
We do not follow the standard process of interrogation76 with regard to witnesses who testify concerning the death of a woman’s husband. For our Sages did not speak about establishing stringencies regarding such matters. Indeed, their approach was characterized by leniency in order to permit a woman without a husband to remarry.77 וְאֵין בּוֹדְקִין עֵדֵי אִשָּׁה בִּדְרִישָׁה וַחֲקִירָה - שֶׁלֹּא אָמְרוּ חֲכָמִים בַּדָּבָר לְהַחְמִיר, אֶלָא לְהָקֵל מִשּׁוּם הַתָּרַת עֲגֻנָּה.
29Do not wonder at the fact that our Sages discharged78 the prohibition against a married woman, which is considered a very severe matter, on the basis of the testimony of a woman, a servant or a maidservant, statements made by a gentile in the course of conversation, a written statement or testimony that was not investigated by the ordinary process of interrogation, as we have explained.כטאַל יִקְשֶׁה בְּעֵינֶיךָ שֶׁהִתִּירוּ חֲכָמִים הָעֶרְוָה הַחֲמוּרָה בְּעֵדוּת אִשָּׁה, אַפִלּוּ שִׁפְחָה, וְעֵד מִפִּי עֵד, וּמִפִּי הַכְּתָב, וּבְלֹא דְּרִישָׁה וַחֲקִירָה, כְּמוֹ שֶׁבֵּאַרְנוּ,
These leniencies were instituted because the Torah requires only testimony of two witnesses, and all the other details of the laws of witnesses with regard to matters that cannot be verified definitively except via witnesses and their testimony - e.g., that one person killed another, or that one person lent money to another.שֶׁלֹּא הִקְפִּידָה תּוֹרָה עַל הַעָדַת שְׁנֵי עֵדִים וּשְׁאָר מִשְׁפְּטֵי הָעֵדוּת, אֶלָא בְּדָבָר שֶׁאֵין אַתָּה יָכוֹל לַעֲמֹד עַל בֻּרְיוֹ אֶלָא מִפִּי הָעֵדִים וּבְעֵדוּתָן, כְּגוֹן שֶׁהֵעִידוּ שֶׁזֶּה הָרַג זֶה, אוֹ הִלְוָה אֶת זֶה.
When, by contrast, the matter may be verified definitively without the testimony of a witness, and the witness cannot justify his statements if they are not true - e.g, when one testifies that a person died,79 the Torah did not necessitate that the requirements of formal testimony be met in these instances. For it is unlikely that a witness will testify falsely.80אֲבָל דָּבָר שֶׁאֶפְשָׁר לַעֲמֹד עַל בֻּרְיוֹ שֶׁלֹּא מִפִּי הָעֵד הַזֶּה, וְאֵין הָעֵד יָכוֹל לְהִשָּׁמֵט אִם אֵין הַדָּבָר אֱמֶת, כְּגוֹן זֶה שֶׁהֵעִיד שֶׁמֵּת פְּלוֹנִי - לֹא הִקְפִּידָה תּוֹרָה עָלָיו, שֶׁדָּבָר רָחוֹק הוּא שֶׁיָּעִיד בּוֹ הָעֵד בְּשֶׁקֶר.
For this reason, our Sages extended the leniency with regard to this matter and accepted the testimony of a single witness that is based on the testimony of a maidservant, testimony from a written document, and testimony that was not investigated by the ordinary process of interrogation. These leniencies were accepted so that the daughters of Israel will not be forced to remain unmarried.לְפִיכָךְ הֵקִילוּ חֲכָמִים בְּדָבָר זֶה, וְהֶאֱמִינוּ בּוֹ עֵד אֶחָד, מִפִּי שִׁפְחָה, וּמִן הַכְּתָב, וּבְלֹא דְּרִישָׁה וַחֲקִירָה - כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא יִשָּׁאֲרוּ בְּנוֹת יִשְׂרָאֵל עֲגֻנּוֹת.
Blessed be the Merciful One, who grants assistance.בְּרִיך רַחַמָנָא דְסַיְיעָן