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1) CHECKING FOR LINEAGE

(a) (Mishnah): A man that wants to marry a Bas Kohen must check the lineage of 4 of her maternal ancestors, and also their mothers, making 8 in all:

1. Her mother; the mother of the father of her mother; her father's mother; the mother of her father's father; and the mothers of these 4 women.

(b) A man that wants to marry a Bas Levi or Bas Yisrael must check all these and an additional mother.
(c) There is no need to check ancestors of a (Kohen) that offered Kodshim on the Altar, or (a Levi) that sang on the Duchan in the Mikdash, or a man that was on the Sanhedrin;
(d) If a woman's ancestors were judges or collectors of Tzedakah, a Kohen may marry her without checking them;

1. R. Yosi says, even someone who was listed among potential judges of Tzipori need not be checked.
2. R. Chanina ben Antigonus says, even someone that was listed among the king's soldiers.

(e) (Gemara) Question: Why do we only check mothers, not fathers?
(f) Answer: When women quarrel, they insult each other regarding immorality - lineage problems are not exposed; when men quarrel, they insult each other regarding lineage problems - any problems would be common knowledge.
(g) Question: Why doesn't a woman have to check the ancestors of the man she marries?
(h) Answer: This supports Rav, who said that women (Kohanos) are not forbidden to marry disqualified (Kohanim). (Rashi - therefore, Chachamim were lenient not to make them check for Mamzerus; Tosfos - the whole checking is on account of (prohibitions of) Kehunah - Chachamim extended the enactment to all men. Since Kohanos need not worry about disqualified Kohanim, no woman need check.)
(i) (Rav Ada bar Ahavah): Checking the 4 mothers entails checking 12 women;
(j) (Beraisa): Checking the 4 mothers entails checking 16 women.

1. We can understand Rav Ada - he speaks of a Bas Levi or Bas Yisrael, 1 mother is added to each of the 4 (that mother's grandmother)

2. Question: How does the Beraisa find 16?
3. Answer: When it says, we add an additional mother - it means, an additional pair of mothers (that mother's grandmother and great grandmother).

(k) [Version #1 (Rav Yehudah citing Rav): Our Mishnah is as R. Meir - but Chachamim say, all families are assumed to be of proper lineage.
(l) Question: But Rav Chama bar Gurya cited Rav to say that the Mishnah is only when someone claimed that there is a problem!
(m) Answer: The Amora'im argue regarding Rav's opinion.]
(n) [Version #2 (Rav Yehudah citing Rav): Our Mishnah is as R. Meir - but Chachamim say, all families are assumed to be of proper lineage.
(o) (Rav Chama bar Gurya citing Rav): If someone claims that there is a problem, we must check her ancestors.]

(a) (Mishnah): There is no need to check ancestors of a (Kohen) that offered Kodshim on the Altar.

1. This is because no Kohen is allowed to serve before he is checked.

(b) (Mishnah): Or (a Levi) that sang on the Duchan in the Mikdash.

1. The Sanhedrin would also check Leviyim before letting them on the Duchan.

(c) (Mishnah): Or a man that was on the Sanhedrin.

1. (Rav Yosef): Just as one must be clean of sin to sit on the Sanhedrin, he must be clean of any blemish (in lineage).
2. (Mereimar): We learn from "My beloved, you are totally beautiful, there is no blemish in you."
3. Question: Perhaps that refers to physical blemishes!
4. Answer (R. Acha bar Yakov): "(The Sanhedrin) will stand with you" - they must be as you (Moshe), i.e. of good lineage.
5. Question: Perhaps that was only in Moshe's day, so they would be fitting for the Divine Presence to rest on them!
6. Answer (Rav Nachman): "(The judges of tens, fifties...) will bear with you" - they must be (of good lineage) as Moshe.

(d) (Mishnah): If a woman's ancestors were judges.
(e) Question: Does this teach that (all) judges must have proper lineage?!

1. Contradiction (Mishnah): Everyone is fit to judge monetary cases; not everyone is fit to judge capital cases.
2. Question: Whom does 'Everyone' come to include?
3. Answer (Rav Yehudah): A Mamzer.

(f) Answer (Abaye): The Mishnah speaks in Yerushalayim, where they would only appoint judges of good lineage.
(g) (Mishnah): Or collectors of Tzedakah.

1. This is because they quarrel with people - we may take pledges for money people must give to Tzedakah, even on Erev Shabbos;

i. If there were any lineage problems, they would be known.

(h) Rav Ada bar Ahavah's innkeeper was a convert; he was fighting with Rav Bivi - each wanted to be head of the city.

1. Rav Yosef: "You will put on yourselves a king from amidst your brothers" - all appointments must be from your close brothers (which excludes converts).
2. Rav Ada bar Ahavah: Does that even exclude a (son of a) convert born to a Bas Yisrael?
3. Rav Yosef: No - such a convert is considered your close brother. Therefore, Rav Bivi, a great Chacham, will govern spiritual affairs; the innkeeper will direct municipal affairs.
4. Abaye: One who hosts Chachamim in his inn should host someone as Rav Ada bar Ahavah, who knows how to argue for his host.

(i) Rav Zeira and Rabah bar Avuha would give authority to such converts.
(j) In Eretz Yisrael, they would not even be appointed over the measures; in Nehardai, they would not even be appointed over division of usage of wells.
(k) (Mishnah): R. Yosi says, even someone who was listed among potential judges of Tzipori need not be checked.

1. This is because they would check a person before putting him on the list.

(a) (Mishnah): R. Chanina ben Antigonus says, even someone that was listed among the king's soldiers.
(b) (Rav Yehudah): This refers to David's soldiers.

1. (Rav Yosef): We learn from "Of known lineage in the army".

(c) Question: Why was David insistent that his soldiers have good lineage?
(d) Answer: In order that their merit and their ancestors' merit should aid them.
(e) Question: But Tzelek the Amoni was in David's army!

1. Suggestion: He was a convert from Amon!

(f) Answer: No, he lived in Amon.
(g) Question: But Uriyah the Chiti was in David's army!

1. Suggestion: He was a convert from Chet!

(h) Answer: No, he lived in Chet.
(i) Question #1: But Iti the Giti was in David's army!

1. Suggestion: Perhaps he only lived in Gas.
2. Rejection: But Rav Nachman taught, Iti the Giti nullified the idol of Amon (which a Yisrael cannot do).

(j) Question #2: Rav Yehudah taught, David had 400 children from beautiful women taken in war; they would grow ponytails (as Nochrim) and ride in gold wagons at the head of the troops - they were the muscle of David's house.