(כח) וַיְבָ֣רֶךְ אֹתָם֮ אֱלֹהִים֒ וַיֹּ֨אמֶר לָהֶ֜ם אֱלֹהִ֗ים פְּר֥וּ וּרְב֛וּ וּמִלְא֥וּ אֶת־הָאָ֖רֶץ וְכִבְשֻׁ֑הָ וּרְד֞וּ בִּדְגַ֤ת הַיָּם֙ וּבְע֣וֹף הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם וּבְכָל־חַיָּ֖ה הָֽרֹמֶ֥שֶׂת עַל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃
(28) God blessed them and God said to them, “Be fertile and increase, fill the earth and master it; and rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, and all the living things that creep on earth.”
וּמִלְאוּ אֶת הָאָרֶץ ברכה שימלא העולם לרובם ולפי דעתי יברך אותם שימלאו כל הארץ ויפרדו הגוים למשפחותם בקצוי תבל לרובם ולא יהיו במקום אחד כמחשבת אנשי דור הפלגה וכבשוה נתן להם כח וממשלה בארץ לעשות כרצונם בבהמות ובשרצים וכל זוחלי עפר ולבנות ולעקור נטוע ומהרריה לחצוב נחשת וכיוצא בזה וזה יכלול מה שאמר
"And fill the earth:" A blessing that they should fill the earth due to their great number. And according to my opinion, He blessed them that they fill all of the earth, [meaning] that the nations should separate into their families to the corners of the world due to their great number. And they should not be in one place, [such an idea being] the thought of the men of the Generation of Dispersion (at the time of the Tower of Babel).
Actually, the people of that time were guilty of four sins: 1) idolatry; 2) sexual licentiousness including incest; 3) murder; 4) gratuitous violence. The reason for the forty days of rain may be broken down as follows: thirty days of continuous rain descended because of their idolatry, i.e. the worshiped the sun for thirty days; however seeing the sun’s influence on earth commences already five days before it becomes visible to us and it continues for five days after it has ceased to be visible, it was proper that they be punished on account of sun-worship for forty days. Whatever is true of the visible effect of the sun as well as its invisible effect, applies equally to the stars so that in respect of every form of worship of celestial constellations the number forty represented מדה כנגד מדה, “the punishment fitted the crime.” Similar considerations apply to the sin of sexual licentiousness and murder as in both instances the gestation period of the human being was forty days before it became a real fetus. As to the violence, their fourth sin, the number forty is appropriate for the duration of the days of rain as the Torah containing this legislation was given to Moses after he had spent forty days on Mount Sinai.
This sin of corruption did not only include human beings but it had also corrupted the behaviour of the animals. This is why our sages (Sanhedrin 108) explained ברותחין קלקלו וברותחין נדונו, “the ones who had become guilty of wasting hot semen were punished by a deluge of hot water.” This fact is based on a similarity of the words וחמת המלך שככה, and the king’s anger “cooled off,” and the words used at the end of the deluge in 8,1 וישכו המים, “and the waters cooled off.”
As to the line ותשחת הארץ לפני האלוקים, “the earth had become corrupt in the presence of G-d,” this is a reference to the idolatry practiced by man. The Torah alluded to then fact that the sins of mankind included both trespasses against G-d as well as trespasses against society. They corrupted religion and they corrupted the basics of procreation. These latter sins also included indiscriminate robbery amongst the people. The Torah refers to this by writing ותמלא הארץ, “the earth became filled with violence,” and the repetition כי מלאה הארץ חמס. Seeing that the Torah reports G-d’s decision to bring on the deluge in connection with the report of the violence it is clear that this sin weighed most heavily and that the decree to destroy mankind was not sealed until G-d had reviewed the indiscriminate violence on earth (compare Sanhedrin 108). We find support for this view in two verses in the Book of Isaiah. In Isaiah 54,14 we read רחקי מעושק כי לא תיראי וממחתה כי לא תקרב אליך. “You shall keep away from oppression (do not engage in it) and you shall have no fear, and from ruin and it shall not come near you.” The same prophet had said a few verses earlier (verse 9) כי מי נח זאת לי, “that this is like the deluge to Me, etc.” In other words the prophet (in the name of G-d) warns the people that the deluge had been due to the violence and oppression practiced by people against each other. The reason that this was the “straw that broke the camel’s back,” i.e. the most critical sin was that it is a trespass against common sense. If there were no G-d at all, mankind would have to legislate laws controlling violence as otherwise civilisation would collapse of its own. A society which did not even observe such a code flaws could not expect to endure.
(11) And God said to him, “I am El Shaddai. Be fertile and increase; A nation, yea an assembly of nations, Shall descend from you. Kings shall issue from your loins.
(9) But Onan, knowing that the seed would not count as his, let it go to waste whenever he joined with his brother’s wife, so as not to provide offspring for his brother.
The meaning of the letter ל in the word לאחיך in verse 8 may be understood as similar to אמרי לי אחי הוא, “say concerning me he is my brother” (Genesis 20,13). The verse teaches us the lesson that if someone deliberately wastes his semen, i.e. שחת ארצה, this was the sin of the generation which perished during the deluge. We find the word כי השחית כל בשר על הארץ in connection with that generation, i.e. the same word as we find describing Onan’s sin (Nidah 12). The reason the Torah calls the firstborn of Yehudah ער was because these letters are the same as רע, “evil” in G’d’s eyes [same letters in a different sequence. Ed.] Seeing the Torah mentions the word רע in connection with both Er, Onan, and the people of Sodom (Genesis 13,13), it stands to reason that all of these people were guilty of the sin of letting their semen go to waste deliberately.
... וְרַבָּנָן דְּהָכָא אָמְרִין הִפִּילָה עֻבָּרָהּ, וּמִשָּׁעָה שֶׁהִפִּילָה שׁוּב לֹא יָלְדָה. רַבִּי יוּדָן בְּרַבִּי סִימוֹן אָמַר בְּמוֹךְ הָיְתָה מְשַׁמֶּשֶׁת. אָמַר רַבִּי יוּדָן בְּרַבִּי סִימוֹן דָּרְיָוֶשׁ הָאַחֲרוֹן בְּנָהּ שֶׁל אֶסְתֵּר הָיָה...
......And the Rabbis taught: she miscarried. And from the time of her miscarriage, she did not conceive again. Rabbi Yuden the son of Rabbi Simon said: She used contraception (moch). Rabbi Yuden the son of Simon taught: "the last Darius" was her son...
(ו) הַמַּדִּיר אֶת אִשְׁתּוֹ מִתַּשְׁמִישׁ הַמִּטָּה, בֵּית שַׁמַּאי אוֹמְרִים, שְׁתֵּי שַׁבָּתוֹת. בֵּית הִלֵּל אוֹמְרִים, שַׁבָּת אֶחָת. הַתַּלְמִידִים יוֹצְאִין לְתַלְמוּד תּוֹרָה שֶׁלֹּא בִרְשׁוּת, שְׁלֹשִׁים יוֹם. הַפּוֹעֲלִים, שַׁבָּת אֶחָת. הָעוֹנָה הָאֲמוּרָה בַתּוֹרָה, הַטַּיָּלִין, בְּכָל יוֹם. הַפּוֹעֲלִים, שְׁתַּיִם בַּשַּׁבָּת. הַחַמָּרִים, אַחַת בַּשַּׁבָּת. הַגַּמָּלִים, אַחַת לִשְׁלֹשִׁים יוֹם. הַסַּפָּנִים, אַחַת לְשִׁשָּׁה חֳדָשִׁים, דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר:
(6) A man forbade himself by vow from having intercourse with his wife: Beth Shammai says: two weeks; Beth Hillel says: one week. Students may go away to study Torah, without the permission [of their wives for a period of] thirty days; workers for one week. The times for conjugal duty prescribed in the torah are: For independent men, every day; For workers, twice a week; For donkey-drivers, once a week; For camel-drivers, once in thirty days; For sailors, once in six months. These are the words of Rabbi Eliezer.
(ו) לֹא יִבָּטֵל אָדָם מִפְּרִיָּה וּרְבִיָּה, אֶלָּא אִם כֵּן יֶשׁ לוֹ בָנִים. בֵּית שַׁמַּאי אוֹמְרִים, שְׁנֵי זְכָרִים. וּבֵית הִלֵּל אוֹמְרִים, זָכָר וּנְקֵבָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר, (בראשית ה) זָכָר וּנְקֵבָה בְּרָאָם. נָשָׂא אִשָּׁה, וְשָׁהָה עִמָּהּ עֶשֶׂר שָׁנִים, וְלֹא יָלְדָה, אֵינוֹ רַשַּׁאי לִבָּטֵל. גֵּרְשָׁהּ, מֻתֶּרֶת לִנָּשֵׂא לְאַחֵר. וְרַשַּׁאי הַשֵּׁנִי לִשְׁהוֹת עִמָּהּ עֶשֶׂר שָׁנִים. וְאִם הִפִּילָה, מוֹנֶה מִשָּׁעָה שֶׁהִפִּילָה. הָאִישׁ מְצֻוֶּה עַל פְּרִיָּה וּרְבִיָּה, אֲבָל לֹא הָאִשָּׁה. רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן בֶּן בְּרוֹקָא אוֹמֵר, עַל שְׁנֵיהֶם הוּא אוֹמֵר (בראשית א), וַיְבָרֶךְ אֹתָם אֱלֹהִים וַיֹּאמֶר לָהֶם אֱלֹהִים פְּרוּ וּרְבוּ:
(6) A man shall not abstain from procreation unless he already has children. Beth Shammai says: two males, And Beth Hillel says: male and a female, for it says, “Male and female created he them” (Genesis 5:2). If a man married a woman and lived with her for ten years and she bore no child, he may not abstain [any longer from the duty of propagation]. If he divorced her she is permitted to marry another, and the second husband may also live with her for ten years. If she miscarried [the period of ten years] is counted from the time of her miscarriage. A man is commanded concerning the duty of propagation but not a woman. Rabbi Yohanan ben Beroka says: Concerning both of them it is said, “And God blessed them; and said to them… “Be fruitful and multiply” (Genesis 1:28).
(ב) הָאִישׁ מְצֻוֶּה עַל פְּרִיָּה וּרְבִיָּה אֲבָל לֹא הָאִשָּׁה. וְאֵימָתַי הָאִישׁ נִתְחַיֵּב בְּמִצְוָה זוֹ מִבֶּן שְׁבַע עֶשְׂרֵה. וְכֵיוָן שֶׁעָבְרוּ עֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה וְלֹא נָשָׂא אִשָּׁה הֲרֵי זֶה עוֹבֵר וּמְבַטֵּל מִצְוַת עֲשֵׂה. וְאִם הָיָה עוֹסֵק בַּתּוֹרָה וְטָרוּד בָּהּ וְהָיָה מִתְיָרֵא מִלִּשָּׂא אִשָּׁה כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא יִטְרַח בִּמְזוֹנוֹת בַּעֲבוּר אִשְׁתּוֹ וְיִבָּטֵל מִן הַתּוֹרָה הֲרֵי זֶה מֻתָּר לְהִתְאַחֵר. שֶׁהָעוֹסֵק בְּמִצְוָה פָּטוּר מִן הַמִּצְוָה וְכָל שֶׁכֵּן בְּתַלְמוּד תּוֹרָה:
(2) Men are obligated in procreation (periyya u-reviyya), but not women. When is a man obligated in this mitzva? From the age of seventeen. Once he reaches [the age of] twenty years and has not married, he has transgressed and neglected a positive commandment. However, if he is involved in Torah and engrossed in it, and he fears that if he marries, he will have to busy himself with supporting a wife and thereby come to neglect Torah study, then it is permissible for him to delay [marriage]; for one who is involved in a mitzva is exempt from another mitzva – all the more so regarding Torah study.
(יב) הַמַּשְׁקֶה עִקָּרִין לְאָדָם אוֹ לִשְׁאָר מִינִים כְּדֵי לְסָרְסוֹ הֲרֵי זֶה אָסוּר וְאֵין לוֹקִין עָלָיו. וְאִשָּׁה מֻתֶּרֶת לִשְׁתּוֹת עִקָּרִין כְּדֵי לְסָרְסָהּ עַד שֶׁלֹּא תֵּלֵד. הֲרֵי שֶׁכָּפָה אֶת הָאָדָם וְשִׁסָּה בּוֹ כֶּלֶב אוֹ שְׁאָר חַיּוֹת עַד שֶׁעֲשָׂאוּהוּ כְּרוּת שָׁפְכָה אוֹ שֶׁהוֹשִׁיבוֹ בַּמַּיִם אוֹ בַּשֶּׁלֶג עַד שֶׁבִּטֵּל מִמֶּנּוּ אֵיבְרֵי תַּשְׁמִישׁ אֵינוֹ לוֹקֶה עַד שֶׁיְּסָרֵס בְּיָדוֹ. וְרָאוּי לְהַכּוֹתוֹ מַכַּת מַרְדּוּת:
It is forbidden to have a man or a male of another species drink a potion that causes him to lose his sexual potency. Lashes are not given, however. A woman is permitted to drink a potion to cause her to lose her sexual potency so that she will not conceive.
If a person bound a man and set a dog or other animal upon him until his sexual organs were maimed or he made him sit in water or snow until his sexual organs lost their potency, he is not given lashes unless he castrates him by hand. It is, however, fitting to subject him to stripes for rebellious conduct.
(יח) אָסוּר לְהוֹצִיא שִׁכְבַת זֶרַע לְבַטָּלָה. לְפִיכָךְ לֹא יִהְיֶה אָדָם דָּשׁ מִבִּפְנִים וְזוֹרֶה מִבַּחוּץ. וְלֹא יִשָּׂא קְטַנָּה שֶׁאֵינָהּ רְאוּיָה לֵילֵד. אֲבָל אֵלּוּ שֶׁמְּנָאֲפִין בַּיָּד וּמוֹצִיאִין שִׁכְבַת זֶרַע לֹא דַּי לָהֶם שֶׁאִסּוּר גָּדוֹל הוּא אֶלָּא שֶׁהָעוֹשֶׂה זֶה בְּנִדּוּי הוּא יוֹשֵׁב וַעֲלֵיהֶם נֶאֱמַר (ישעיה א טו) "יְדֵיכֶם דָּמִים מָלֵאוּ" וּכְאִלּוּ הָרַג הַנֶּפֶשׁ:
It is forbidden to release sperm wastefully. Therefore a person should not enter his wife and ejaculate outside of her. A man should not marry a minor who is not fit to give birth.
Those who, however, release sperm with their hands, beyond the fact that they commit a great transgression, a person who does this will abide under a ban of ostracism. Concerning them, it is said: "Your hands are filled with blood." It is as if they killed a person
(ב) צָרִיךְ הָאָדָם שֶׁיְּכַוִּן לִבּוֹ וְכָל מַעֲשָׂיו כֻּלָּם לֵידַע אֶת הַשֵּׁם בָּרוּךְ הוּא בִּלְבַד, וְיִהְיֶה שִׁבְתּוֹ וְקוּמוֹ וְדִבּוּרוֹ הַכּל לְעֻמַּת זֶה הַדָּבָר. כֵּיצַד? כְּשֶׁיִּשָּׂא וְיִתֵּן אוֹ יַעֲשֶׂה מְלָאכָה לִטּל שָׂכָר, לֹא יִהְיֶה בְּלִבּוֹ לִקְבֹּץ מָמוֹן בִּלְבַד, אֶלָּא יַעֲשֶׂה דְּבָרִים הָאֵלּוּ כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּמְצָא דְּבָרִים שֶׁהַגּוּף צָרִיךְ לָהֶם מֵאֲכִילָה וּשְׁתִיָּה וִישִׁיבַת בַּיִת וּנְשִׂיאַת אִשָּׁה. וְכֵן כְּשֶׁיֹּאכַל וְיִשְׁתֶּה וְיִבְעל לֹא יָשִׂים בְּלִבּוֹ לַעֲשׂוֹת דְּבָרִים הָאֵלּוּ כְּדֵי לֵהָנוֹת בִּלְבַד עַד שֶׁנִּמְצָא שֶׁאֵינוֹ אוֹכֵל וְשׁוֹתֶה אֶלָּא הַמָּתוֹק לַחֵךְ וְיִבְעל כְּדֵי לֵהָנוֹת, אֶלָּא יָשִׂים עַל לִבּוֹ שֶׁיֹּאכַל וְיִשְׁתֶּה כְּדֵי לְהַבְרוֹת גּוּפוֹ וְאֵיבָרָיו בִּלְבַד. לְפִיכָךְ לֹא יֹאכַל כָּל שֶׁהַחֵךְ מִתְאַוֶּה כְּכֶלֶב וַחֲמוֹר אֶלָּא יֹאכַל דְּבָרִים הַמּוֹעִילִים לַגּוּף אִם מָרִים אִם מְתוּקִים. וְלֹא יֹאכַל דְּבָרִים הָרָעִים לַגּוּף אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהֵן מְתוּקִים לַחֵךְ. כֵּיצַד? מִי שֶׁהָיָה בְּשָׂרוֹ חַם לֹא יֹאכַל בָּשָׂר וְלֹא דְּבַשׁ וְלֹא יִשְׁתֶּה יַיִן, כָּעִנְיָן שֶׁאָמַר שְׁלֹמֹה דֶּרֶךְ מָשָׁל (משלי כה כז) "אָכל דְּבַשׁ" וְגוֹ'. וְשׁוֹתֶה מֵי הָעֳלָשִׁין אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהוּא מַר שֶׁנִּמְצָא שׁוֹתֶה וְאוֹכֵל דֶּרֶךְ רְפוּאָה בִּלְבַד כְּדֵי שֶׁיַּבְרִיא וְיַעֲמֹד שָׁלֵם הוֹאִיל וְאִי אֶפְשָׁר לָאָדָם לִחְיוֹת אֶלָּא בַּאֲכִילָה וּשְׁתִיָּה. וְכֵן כְּשֶׁיִּבְעל לֹא יִבְעל אֶלָּא כְּדֵי לְהַבְרוֹת גּוּפוֹ וּכְדֵי לְקַיֵּם אֶת הַזֶּרַע. לְפִיכָךְ אֵינוֹ בּוֹעֵל כָּל זְמַן שֶׁיִּתְאַוֶּה אֶלָּא כָּל עֵת שֶׁיֵּדַע שֶׁהוּא צָרִיךְ לְהוֹצִיא שִׁכְבַת זֶרַע כְּמוֹ דֶּרֶךְ הָרְפוּאָה אוֹ לְקַיֵּם אֶת הַזֶּרַע:
(2) It is necessary for man to set his heart and all his efforts solely to know the Name, blessed is He! so that his sitting down, his rising up and his speech shall be facing this goal. How may he accomplish it? When he will buy, or sell, or do work for wages, he should not have in his heart the accumulation of money only but he should perform these duties as a means to acquire the necessities of the body, as food, drink, dwelling-place and marriage; likewise when he will eat, drink, or lead a family life, he should not set his heart upon these things for the sole enjoyment thereof, until, as a consequence he will not eat and drink save that which is sweet to the palate, and marry to gratify his sensuality only. But he shall set his heart to eat and drink solely in order to keep his body and limbs in good health. He, therefore, should not eat everything his palate craves for like a dog or an ass, but partake of the things which are wholesome to the body whether bitter or sweet; and he shall not eat food which is bad for the body even though it be sweet to the palate. For example? One whose body was feverish shall not eat meat, nor honey, and drink no wine, as the subject was proverbally expressed by Solomon: "To eat too much honey is not good" (Prov. 25.27); he should rather drink cichorium intybus, even though it is bitter, as a consequence whereof he will eat and drink solely as a remedial means so that he may become healthy and stay healthy, seeing that it is impossible for man to sustain life save by food and drink. Likewise in connubial relation there shall be no coition save when it is of benefit to health, or to sustain species. One should, therefore, not yield to every urge, save when knowing that emission of semen is a helpful means medically or to sustain species.
(יט) שִׁכְבַת זֶרַע הִיא כֹּחַ הַגּוּף וְחַיָּיו וּמְאוֹר הָעֵינַיִם וְכָל שֶׁתֵּצֵא בְּיוֹתֵר הַגּוּף כָּלֶה וְכֹחוֹ כָּלֶה וְחַיָּיו אוֹבְדִים. הוּא שֶׁאָמַר שְׁלֹמֹה בְּחָכְמָתוֹ (משלי לא ג) "אַל תִּתֵּן לַנָּשִׁים חֵילֶךָ". כָּל הַשָּׁטוּף בִּבְעִילָה זִקְנָה קוֹפֶצֶת עָלָיו. וְכֹחוֹ תָּשֵׁשׁ. וְעֵינָיו כֵּהוֹת. וְרֵיחַ רַע נוֹדֵף מִפִּיו וּמִשֶּׁחְיוֹ. וּשְׂעַר רֹאשׁוֹ וְגַבּוֹת עֵינָיו וְרִיסֵי עֵינָיו נוֹשְׁרוֹת. וּשְׂעַר זְקָנוֹ וְשֶׁחְיוֹ וּשְׂעַר רַגְלָיו רַבֶּה. שִׁנָּיו נוֹפְלוֹת. וְהַרְבֵּה כְּאֵבִים חוּץ מֵאֵלּוּ בָּאִים עָלָיו. אָמְרוּ חַכְמֵי הָרוֹפְאִים אֶחָד מֵאֶלֶף מֵת בִּשְׁאָר חֳלָאִים וְהָאֶלֶף מֵרֹב הַתַּשְׁמִישׁ. לְפִיכָךְ צָרִיךְ אָדָם לְהִזָּהֵר בְּדָבָר זֶה אִם רָצָה לִחְיוֹת בְּטוֹבָה. וְלֹא יִבְעל אֶלָּא כְּשֶׁיִּמָּצֵא גּוּפוֹ בָּרִיא וְחָזָק בְּיוֹתֵר וְהוּא מִתְקַשֶּׁה הַרְבֵּה שֶׁלֹּא לְדַעְתּוֹ. וּמַסִּיחַ עַצְמוֹ לְדָבָר אַחֵר וְהַקִּשּׁוּי בּוֹ כְּשֶׁהָיָה. וְיִמָּצֵא כֹּבֶד מִמָּתְנָיו וּלְמַטָּה וּכְאִלּוּ חוּטֵי הַבֵּיצִים נִמְשָׁכִים וּבְשָׂרוֹ חַם. זֶה צָרִיךְ לִבְעל וּרְפוּאָה לוֹ שֶׁיִּבְעל. לֹא יִבְעל אָדָם וְהוּא שָׂבֵעַ וְלֹא רָעֵב אֶלָּא אַחַר שֶׁיִּתְעַכֵּל הַמָּזוֹן שֶׁבְּמֵעָיו. וְיִבְדֹק נְקָבָיו קֹדֶם בְּעִילָה וּלְאַחַר בְּעִילָה. וְלֹא יִבְעל מְעֻמָּד וְלֹא מְיֻשָּׁב. וְלֹא בְּבֵית הַמֶּרְחָץ וְלֹא בְּיוֹם שֶׁיִּכָּנֵס לַמֶּרְחָץ. וְלֹא בְּיוֹם הַקָּזָה. וְלֹא בְּיוֹם יְצִיאָה לַדֶּרֶךְ אוֹ בִּיאָה מִן הַדֶּרֶךְ לֹא לִפְנֵיהֶם וְלֹא לְאַחֲרֵיהֶם:
(19) Semen is the vigor of the body, its very life, and the light of the eyes, and its too frequent emission sets decay in the body, wastes its strength, and ends life itself, which is as Solomon in his wisdom said: "Give not unto women thy vigor" (Prov. 31.3). Whosoever indulges in sensuality ages before his time, his strength fails him, his eyes become dim, a foul odor issues from his mouth and from underneath his arms, the hair of his head, eye-brows, and eye-lids fall out; the hair of his beard, under his arms and his feet grow heavier, his teeth fall out, and many more ailments besides these come upon him. Doctors of medicine said: "One in a thousand die of other diseases, and the rest of the thousand from overindulgence of sex. Therefore, must man be careful in this matter, if he desires to lead a good life. He should not yield to an urge save if his body be in good health and exceedingly vigorous, with involuntary erection despite diversion, and a pressure on the genitocrural arteries accompanied by warm wave over his body, when there is a hygienic need of relief. But he should not still an urge when sated and not when hungry, but after the food in his bowels be digested. Care should be taken, before and after, whether there is a need of elimination. Neither standing nor sitting; neither in the bath-house nor on the day of bathing; neither on the day of blood-letting nor on the day of departing for or returning from a journey; neither preceding nor following all these.
(א) דיני פריה ורביה ושלא לעמוד בלא אשה. ובו יד סעיפים:
חייב כל אדם לישא אשה כדי לפרות ולרבות וכל מי שאינו עוסק בפריה ורביה כאלו שופך דמים וממעט את הדמות וגורם לשכינה שתסתלק מישראל: הגה וכל מי שאין לו אשה שרוי בלא ברכה בלא תורה כו' ולא נקרא אדם וכיון שנשא אשה עונותיו מפקפקים שנאמר מצא אשה מצא טוב ויפק רצון מאת ה': (טור)
(ב) אין מוכרין ס"ת אלא כדי ללמוד תורה ולישא אשה:
(ג) מצוה על כל אדם שישא אשה בן י"ח והמקדים לישא בן י"ג מצוה מן המובחר אבל קודם י"ג לא ישא דהוי כזנות ובשום ענין לא יעבור מך' שנה בלא אשה ומי שעברו עליו ך' שנה ואינו רוצה לישא ב"ד כופין אותו לישא כדי לקיים מצות פריה ורביה ומיהו אם עוסק בתורה וטרח בה ומתיירא לישא אשה כדי שלא יטרח במזונו ויתבטל מן התורה מותר להתאחר: הגה ובזמן הזה נהגו שלא לכוף ע"ז וכן מי שלא קיים פריה ורביה ובא לישא אשה שאינה בת בנים כגון עקרה וזקנה או קטנה משום שחושק בה או משום ממון שלה אע"פ שמדינא היה למחות בו לא נהגו מכמה דורות לדקדק בענין הזיווגים ואפי' בנשא אשה ושהה עמה עשרה שנים לא נהגו לכוף אותו לגרשה אע"פ שלא קיים פריה ורביה וכן בשאר ענייני זיווגים: (ריב"ש סי' ט"ו) ובלבד שלא תהא אסורה עליו:
(ד) ומי שחשקה נפשו בתורה כבן עזאי תמיד ונדבק בה כל ימיו ולא נשא אשה אין בידו עון והוא שלא יהא יצרו מתגבר עליו:
(ה) כיון שיש לאדם זכר ונקבה קיים מצות פריה ורביה והוא שלא יהיה הבן סריס או הנקיבה איילונית. (פי' איל הוא זכר הצאן כלומר שיש לאשה טבע הזכר וסימנים הם שאין לה שדים כנשים וקולה עבה ואותו מקום אינו בולט מגופה כיתר הנשים:
(ו) נולדו לו זכר ונקבה ומתו והניחו בנים הרי זה קיים מצות פריה ורביה בד"א כשהיו בני הבנים זכר ונקבה והיו באים מזכר ונקבה אף על פי שהזכר בן בתו והנקבה בת בנו הואיל ומשני בניו הם באים הרי קיים מצות פריה ורביה אבל אם היו לו בן ובת ומתו והניח א' מהם זכר ונקבה עדיין לא קיים מצוה זו: הגה היה הבן ממזר או חרש שוטה וקטן קיים המצוה (ב"י בשם הרשב"א):
(ז) היו לו בנים בהיותו עכו"ם ונתגייר הוא והם ה"ז קיים מצוה זו אבל אם היו לו בנים כשהוא עבד ונשתחרר הוא והם לא קיים מצוה זו עד שיוליד אחר שנשתחרר:
(ח) אע"פ שקיים פריה ורביה אסור לו לעמוד בלא אשה וצריך שישא אשה בת בנים אם יש ספק בידו אפילו יש לו כמה בנים ואם אין ספק בידו לישא אשה בת בנים אא"כ ימכור ס"ת אם אין לו בנים ימכור כדי שישא אשה בת בנים אבל אם יש לו בנים לא ימכור אלא ישא אשה שאינה בת בנים ולא יעמוד בלא אשה וי"א שאפי' אם יש לו בנים ימכור ס"ת כדי שישא אשה בת בנים: הגה מיהו אם מכיר שאינו בן בנים עוד ואינו ראוי עוד להוליד ישא אשה שאינה בת בנים (נ"י בפ' הבא על יבמתו) וכן אם יש לו בנים הרבה ומתיירא שאם ישא אשה בת בנים יבאו קטטות ומריבות בין הבנים ובין אשתו מותר לישא אשה שאינה בת בנים אבל אסור לישב בלא אשה משום חשש זו: (ת"ה סי' רס"ג):
(ט) נושא אדם כמה נשים והוא דאפשר למיקם בסיפוקייהו ומ"מ נתנו חכמים עצה טובה שלא ישא אדם יותר מד' נשים כדי שיגיע לכל אחת עונה בחודש ובמקום שנהגו שלא לישא אלא אשה א' אינו רשאי לישא אשה אחרת על אשתו: (וע"ל ס"ס ב' דאסור לישא שני נשים בשני מקומות)
(י) ר"ג החרים על הנושא על אשתו אבל ביבמה לא החרים וכן בארוסה: הגה אם אינו רוצה לכנוס אלא לפטור (מהרי"ק שורש ק"א) וה"ה בכל מקום שיש דיחוי מצוה כגון ששהה עם אשתו עשר שנים ולא ילדה (מרדכי פרק החולץ רשב"א סימן ר"ף ומהר"ם פדוואה סי' י"ט) אמנם יש חולקים וס"ל דחרם ר"ג נוהג אפי' במקום מצוה ואפי' במקום יבום וצריך לחלוץ (הגהות מרדכי דיבמות והגהות מרדכי דכתובות וכ"כ נ"י פ' החולץ) ובמקום שאין הראשונה בת גירושין כגון שנשתטית או שהוא מן הדין לגרשה ואינה רוצה ליקח גט ממנו יש להקל להתיר לו לישא אחרת (כן משמע בתשובת הרשב"א) וכ"ש אם היא ארוסה ואינה רוצה להנשא לו או לפטור ממנו ולא פשטה תקנתו בכל הארצות: הגה ודוקא במקום שידוע שלא פשטה תקנתו אבל מן הסתם נוהג בכל מקום (תשובת ר"י מינץ סי' ק"י) ועיין בי"ד סי' רכ"ח אם הלך ממקום שנהגו להחמיר למקום שנהגו להקל ולא החרים אלא עד סוף האלף החמישי: הגה ומ"מ בכל מדינות אלו התקנה והמנהג במקומו עומד ואין נושאין ב' נשים וכופין בחרמות ונדויין מי שעובר ונושא ב' נשים לגרש אחת מהן וי"א דבזמן הזה אין לכוף מי שעבר חרם ר"ג (ב"י בסי' ע"ו) מאחר שכבר נשלם אלף החמישי (שם בשם מהרי"ק) ואין נוהגין כן י"א מי שהמירה אשתו מזכה לה גט ע"י אחר ונושא אחרת וכן נוהגין בקצת מקומות (פסקי מהרא"י סי' רנ"ו) ובמקום שאין מנהג אין להחמיר ומותר לישא אחרת בלא גירושי הראשונה (שם מנהגי רינ"וס):
(יא) טוב לעשות תקנה בחרמות ונידויים על מי שישא אשה על אשתו:
(יב) נשבע שלא ישא אחרת על אשתו ושהה י' שנים שלא ילדה יתבאר בסימן קי"ח:
(יג) אישה אינה מצווה על פריה ורביה (ועיין בסי' קנ"ד ומ"מ י"א דלא תעמוד בלא איש משום חשדא (הגהות אלפסי פרק הבא על יבמתו בשם א"ז):
(יד) דין מי שנשא אשה ושהה עמה עשר שנים ולא ילדה יתבאר שם:
(1) Every man is obligated to marry a woman in order to be fruitful, and to multiply and anyone who doesn't engage in being fruitful and multiplying is as if he spills blood, and lessens the appearance, and causes the divine presence to depart from Israel. Rem"a: He who does not marry is not allowed to make a blessing or to engage in Torah etc. and he is not called a man, and when he marries a woman, his sins are cast into doubt, as it is said: "One who has found a wife has found goodness and obtains favor in the eyes of God." (Proverbs 18:22)
(2) One can only sell a sefer Torah in order to learn Torah or marry a woman.
(3) It is incumbent on every man that they should marry a woman at the age of 18 and the diligent get married at 13 and this mitzvah is for those who choose it, but before the age of 13 one should not marry, because it is similar to harlotry. If 20 years go by and he has not taken a wife and he who lets 20 years pass, or he who does not want to marry, the courts can force him to marry in order to fulfill the mitzvah of being fruitful and multiplying. What are the things that might delay marriage? If he is busy with Torah, or if it is too burdensome and he fears to marry a women in order that he is not burdened in his livelihood and he will not fail in Torah it is permitted to delay. Rem"a: In this time, its custom that one does not force in regards to this. Likewise he who does not fulfill the mitzvah of being fruitful and multiplying and he comes to marry a woman who is not a bat banim, for example...
(4) He who spends all of his entire life engrossed in Torah study like Ben Azai and did not marry a woman is not considered a sinner, as his urges did not overcome him.
(5) Once a man has had a son and a daughter, he has fulfilled the obligation to be fruitful and multiply. And a ben siris (castrated son) and a nekivah ayalonit (girl who doesn't achieve signs of puberty) do not count. Rem"a: The ram is the male of the flock, in other words, that the woman has a male nature and those signs she does not have like breasts of a woman and her voice is thick...doesn't stick out from her body like women]
(6) If a man and a woman bear children and they die, and they leave behind sons, the man dies having fulfilled the mitzvah to be fruitful and multiply. What are the circumstances for this case? When there are grandchildren, a male and a female, and they came from the son and the daughter (of the obligated individal of halakha 5) despite the fact that the male grandchild comes from the daughter and the female grandchild comes from the son, since they came from his two kids, they fulfill the mitzvah of being fruitful and multiplying. But if he has a son and a daughter and they die and only one grandchild remains he still has not fulfilled his obligation. Rem"a: if the son is a mamzer or deaf-mute, or an idiot, or a minor, he has fulfilled the mitzvah.
(7) If he had sons that in his lifetime and he was an idolater and all parties converts (to Judaism) it this case his mitzvah is fulfilled. But if he has children when he is a slave and he and they are freed he has not fulfilled his obligation until he bears one after he is freed.
(8) Even though he fulfilled the obligation of be fruitful and multiply, he is forbidden from being without a wife and he needs to marry a woman who is capable of bearing children (see Yevamot 61b). He may sell a sefer Torah in order to do so if he has a doubt that he has enough children or if he has a doubt that he has married a women of child bearing capability. If he does not have children he sells so that he can marry a woman capable of bearing children but if he has children he should not sell it and marry a woman who is capable of bearing children, but he should not be without a wife. And some say, that even if he has sons, he sells the sefer Torah to marry a woman capable of bearing children. Isserless: However, if it is recognized that the will not be more grandchildren and it is not appropriate that more will not be born to him, he marries a women who is not capable of bearing children, and thus if he has many sons and he fears that if he marries a woman of child bearing age an altercation will come and discord will come between the children and his wife he is permitted to marry a woman who is not capable of bearing children but it is forbidden to settle down without a wife because of this fear.
(9) A man may marry a number of women provided that he has the means to sustain them, and what we find is that the sages gave worthy suggestion that a man marry no more than four women so that he may fulfill his sexual obligation once a month. In a place where they are accustomed to only marry one woman they are not permitted to marry another woman. Note: it is forbidden to marry two women in two places.
(10) RABBEINU GERSHOM DECREED CHEREM for one who marries [another] in addition to his wife, but in regards to a Leverite marriage, he did not decree cherem, and such is also the case with a betrothed woman. Rema: If he doesn't want to marry another, but rather to release her, and this is the rule in any place that a mitzvah would be delayed -- for instance, if he was married to his wife for ten years and she didn't give birth (Mordechai, Perek 'Hacholetz' Rashba siman 280 and Maharam Padua Siman 19). However there are those who disagree and say that Rabbeinu Gershom's decree applies even in a case in which a mitzvah is involved, and even in the case of a Levirite marriage, and one must do Chalitza (see Hagahot Mordechai in Yebamot and Ketubot). And in the case where the first wife is not easily divorceable, e.g. she became mentally infirmed, or the husband is legally allowed to divorce her but she won't accept a Get from him, one should be more lenient and allow him to marry another (see Rashb"a). And this case if she is betrothed and neither wants to marry him nor to be released from the betrothal. AND HIS [Rabbeinu Gershom's] DECREE was not unilaterally accepted in all the lands. Rema: Particularly in a plce where it is known that his decree wasn't unilaterally accepted, but basically it applies everywhere. See Section 14 Siman 228 for what one should do if he moved from a place where they are stringent on this ruling to a place where they are more lenient. AND HE ONLY EXTENDED THE DECREE until the end of the 5th centure (i.e. 500 years from when he said it). Rema: In any case, in all of these lands, the decree and the custom stand in their place, and we don't marry two women, and this is a punishable offense, and we force someone who did marry two wives to divorce one of them. And there are those who say that in this day and age, we shouldn't punish one who disobeys this decree because the fifth century [since it was declared] has already passed [and so it is expired], but this is not our custom. There are those who say that one whose wife refuses to accept a Get, he can serve it to her through someone else and then marry another, and this is the custom in some places. And in a place where this is not the custom, one should not be stringent, and a man may marry a second [wife] without divorcing the first.
(11) It is good to make a Takanah in relation to forbidding and to excommunicate a person who takes more than one wife
(12) If he swears that he will never marry another woman but 10 years go by and she has not born a child, this will be explained in Siman 118.
(13) A woman is not obligated in the mitzvah of being fruitful and multiplying [this idea is talked about in siman 154] RMA: nonetheless some say that she should not remain unmarried, due to suspicion.
(14) Laws associated with someone who marries a woman and 10 years pass and she does not bear a child will be explained there (siman 118).
(א) איסור הוצאת זרע לבטלה ודברים המביאים לכך ובו ז סעיפים:
אסור להוציא שכבת זרע לבטלה ועון זה חמור מכל עבירות שבתורה לפיכך לא יהיה אדם דש מבפנים וזורה מבחוץ ולא ישא קטנה שאינה ראויה לילד:
(ב) אלו שמנאפים ביד ומוציאים שכבת זרע לא די להם שאיסור גדול הוא אלא שהעושה זה בנדוי הוא יושב ועליהם נאמר ידיכם דמים מלאו וכאלו הרג הנפש:
(ג) אסור לאדם שיקשה עצמו לדעת או יביא עצמו לידי הרהור אלא אם יבא לו הרהור יסיע לבו מדברי הבאי לדברי תורה שהיא אילת אהבים ויעלת חן לפיכך אסור לאדם לישן על ערפו ופניו למעלה עד שיטה מעט כדי שלא יבא לידי קישוי ולא יסתכל בבהמה וחיה ועוף בשעה שמזדקקין זכר לנקבה ומותר למרביעי בהמה להכניס כמכחול בשפופרת מפני שהם עסוקים במלאכתם לא יבואו לידי הרהור:
(ד) אסור לאדם שאינו נשוי לשלוח ידיו במבושיו כדי שלא יבא לידי הרהור ואפי' מתחת טבורו לא יכניס ידו שמא יבא לידי הרהור ואם השתין מים לא יאחוז באמה וישתין ואם היה נשוי מותר ובין נשוי ובין שאינו נשוי לא יושיט ידו לאמה כלל אלא בשעה שהוא צריך לנקביו (ועיין בא"ח סימן ג'):
(ה) אשה שיש לה אוטם ברחם ועי"כ כשבעלה משמש עמה זורה מבחוץ אסור (אבל מותר לשמש עם קטנה ואיילונית הואיל ומשמש כדרך הארץ) תוספות ומרדכי פ"ק דיבמות ונ"י פ' הבא על יבמתו:
(ו) אסור לרכוב על בהמה בלא אוכף (פי' מרדעת באסט"ו בלע"ז): הגה בגמרא פרק כל היד משמע דאסור ללבוש מכנסיים אם לא עשויין כבתי שוקיים משום דמביא לידי השחתת זרע ואע"פ שאפשר לדחות דבגמרא לא קאמר אלא בימיהם שהיה להם תרומה ואיכא למיחש לטומאת הגוף מ"מ מדהביא הרא"ש בפסקיו משמע דאף בזמן הזה אסור (הכל ד"ע) ומה שנהגו היתר במרחץ אפשר לומר דבשעה מועטת לא אסרו כנ"ל עוד אסרו בגמ' לרחוץ עם אביו ואחיו ובעל אמו ובעל אחותו ונהגו עכשיו היתר בדבר הואיל ומכסין ערותן בבית המרחץ ליכא למיחש להרהורא (אגודה):
(ז) חסידים הראשונים וגדולי החכמים התפאר אחד מהם שלא נסתכל במילה שלו ומהם מי שהתפאר שלא התבונן מעולם בצורת אשתו מפני שלבו פונה מדברי הבאי (פי' הושאל לשון זה של הבאי לדברי הבל) לדברי האמת שהם אוחזת לבב הקדושים:
(1) It is prohibited to spill seed needlessly and this sin is more severe than all Torah transgressions. For this reason a man should not thresh inside and sprinkle [his semen] outside [of a woman], and he should not marry a girl who is unable to have children.
(2) Those who 'commit adultery' with their hand and thereby cause semen to be spilled it is not enough that this is a great prohibition, but one who does so should sit in excommunication and about them it is said "Their hands are full of blood" and it is as if they have killed a person.
(3) It is forbidden for a man intentionally make himself have an erection or to cause himself to think about sex. Rather if he thinks about sex he should remove himself from vain things and go to the words of Torah which is like a beloved doe and a graceful deer. Therefore it is forbidden for someone to sleep on their back with his face up, rather he should lean to the side so that he doesn't come to have an erection. And he shouldn't look at a beast or a wild animal or bird when the male and females are copulating. But it is permitted for those who bring animals to mate to 'put the applicator in the tube' because that is their work and it won't cause them to have sexual thoughts.
(4) It is forbidden for a man who is not married to touch his private parts so that he doesn't come to have a sexual thought. And he may not even touch anywhere under his belly button lest he have a sexual thought. And when he urinates he should not hold his member and urinate. But if he is married this is permitted. And whether married or unmarried he shouldn't put his hand on his member at all except when he must relieve himself (see Orach Chaim 3).
(5) A woman who has some sort of closure in her womb and therefore when her husband has relations with her he sprinkles outside, this is prohibited (but it is permitted to have relations with a minor or an aylonit since this is the way of the land) (Tosafot and the Mordecai ch. 1 Yevamot, and Nimukei Yosef on the chapter [entitled] Haba al Yevamto).
(6) It is prohibited to ride on a beast without a saddle. Hagah: In the Talmud in the chapter [entitled] Kol Hayad, it seems that it is forbidden to wear pants unless they are made like thigh holds for this will bring him to spill his seed. And even though we could reject this proof and say that this refers only to those days when they had terumah and we had to be concerned about defiling the body, in any case since the Rosh cited this in his rulings, it seems that this is still prohibited today. And that which they were accustomed to permit this in the bathhouse it is possible to say that for a short time this is permitted, this is what seems to be true to me. Furthermore, in the Talmud they forbade one to wash with his father or brother or mother's husband or sister's husband. But now they are accustomed to allow this since they cover their genitals in the bathhouse, we need not be concerned about sexual thoughts (Agudah).
(7) Among the early pietists and great scholars was one that took pride in never having looked at the place where he had been circumcised, and one that took pride in never having contemplated on his wife's figure, as his mind would turn away from vain things to true matters which grasp the hearts of the holy ones.
(1) Judaism is not only concerned with physical pain but also with psychological or emotional pain. Mental anguish is just as significant as intractable physical pain. Mental and physical suffering are recognized as being of equal importance in Jewish legal thought. A woman who has had two postpartum psychoses is allowed to use contraception, since another pregnancy would be a serious threat to her mental health.9R. Moshe Feinstein, Responsa Iggeros Moshe, Even Haezer 1, no. 65. Even abortion is sanctioned for serious maternal psychiatric disease that may lead to suicide.10R. Nathan Z. Friedman, Responsa Netser Mata’ai, 1, no. 8.
(30) Rabbi Unterman's distinction between Jews and Noachides with regard to termination of pregnancy within the first forty days following conception was anticipated by an earlier authority. Rabbi Plocki, in his Hemdat Yisra'el (p. 176), marshals evidence that an embryo may be destroyed with impunity during the first forty days of its development based upon Rabbenu Tam's interpretation of the talmudic dispute (Yevamot 12a) concerning the "three [categories of] women" who may resort to contraceptive devices in order to prevent conception. Rabbenu Tam explains that the dispute concerns the insertion of a tampon after cohabitation. The Tanna, R. Meir, rules that use of contraceptive devices by these women is mandatory since pregnancy would place their lives in jeopardy; the Sages assert that such action is not incumbent upon these women stating that the verse "The Lord preserves the simple" (Ps. 116:6) permits reliance upon divine providence to avert tragic consequences. However, according to Rabbenu Tam, the Sages permit the use of contraceptives after cohabitation reasoning that women are not commanded to refrain from "destroying the seed." R. Plocki points out that fertilization most frequently takes place immediately following cohabitation. Contraception following cohabitation is then, in effect, not destruction of the seed but abortion of a fertilized ovum. If abortion is forbidden even in the earliest stages of gestation, how then can Rabbenu Tam permit the use of contraceptive devices following cohabitation? R. Plocki concludes that destruction of the embryo during the first forty days following conception does not constitute an act of feticide but rather falls under the category of "destroying the seed." Since we accept the opinion of those authorities who rule that women are also bound by the prohibition against "destroying the seed," R. Plocki's reasoning (as evidenced by his own remarks) finds practical application only with regard to Noachides. According to those authorities who maintain that the ban against destroying the seed does not apply to Noachides, the latter may be permitted to interrupt pregnancy during the first forty days of gestation.