Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Tory Thorpe <torythrp AT yahoo.com>]

Dear Michael

> Please explain why Ketuboth 1:6 states that she lost her virginity  
> before
> they were betrothed.

This is the charge made by the husband in Ketuboth i 6, because he  
feels he has been cheated and he basically wants his money back. The  
bride's claim in this Mishnah is that she was raped after the  
betrothal, which if accepted as true means the husband doesn't get to  
lodge a suit against her to get his money back even if he chooses to  
divorce her. The woman cannot be stoned in this example, regardless  
of the facts, since the husband is claiming that she had sex with  
someone prior to their engagement.

Tory Thorpe