1. Marriage becomes a mandatory requirement.
Entrance into marriage was a requirement for the man.a Even
if he was widowed at an advanced age, he should not remain without a wife (see
#3, n. r and t).
a. Mishnah Yebamot 6.6: The commandment
concerning reproduction is given to the man, but not to the woman. R. Yohanan
b. Beroqah (ca. 110) said, “In relation to both, Scripture says, ‘God blessed
them and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply” ’ (Gen 1:28) (so getting
married is also a duty for women).” ‖ Jerusalem Yebamot 6.7D.13: R. Eleazar
(ca. 270) has written in the name of R. Yose b. Zimra (ca. 220), “The
scriptural basis of the Mishnaic teaching (which considers only the man to be
obliged to reproduce) is Gen 1:28, ‘Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth
and subdue it וְכִבְשֻׁהָ.’ It is written וכבשה (which can also be read וְכִּבְּשָׁהּ), that is, he presses it down (namely the woman, like subigere or comprimere geminam). Who is in the habit of pressing down? The man
and not the woman (so only the former is ordered to reproduce).” R. Jeremiah
(ca. 320), R. Abbahu (ca. 300), and R. Isaac b. Marion (ca. 280) said in the
name of R. Hanina (ca. 225), “The halakah is according to Yohanan b. Beroqah.”
(According to Maimonides on m. Yebam. 6.6, the halakah is not according to R.
Yohanan b. Beroqah.) Parallel passages are in b. Yebam. 65B and Gen. Rab. 8
(6D). ‖ A baraita in b. Pesaḥ. 113B: Seven are under the ban by heaven (= God):
the one who has no wife … (see § Matt 10:10 C, middle). ‖ Babylonian Talmud
Yebamot 63A: R. Eleazar (ca. 270) said, “Every man כל אדם who has no wife is not a
human being” (see § Matt 19:4). ‖ A baraita in b. Yebam. 63B: R. Eliezer (ca.
90) said, “He who is not concerned with procreation is like one who shed blood;
see Gen 9:6, ‘He who sheds human blood will have his blood shed by men’ and Gen
9:7 follows with ‘Be fruitful and multiply.’ ” R. Jacob (I, ca. 120) said,
“He is like one who diminishes the image (of God); see Gen 9:6, ‘God made man
in his image’ and after this Gen 9:7 follows (as before).’ ”—This
interpretation is also in Gen. Rab. 17 (11D) and Midr. Eccl. 9:9 (42B) without
attribution. Once again, b. Yebam. 63B repeats it in the name of R. Eleazar b.
Azariah (ca. 100); see t. Yebam. 8.4 (250). ‖ Tosefta Yebamot 8.4 (249): Man
may not abstain from reproduction unless he has children. Grandchildren are
like (their own) children. If one of them dies or if one of them is castrated,
he may not abstain from reproduction. The man is not entitled to be without a
woman, but the woman is entitled to be without a man. The man is not entitled
to marry an infertile person or an old woman who is no longer able to procreate
or a minor קְטַנָה (not yet 12 years and a day old) who is
not yet suitable for giving birth. The woman is entitled to marry even a man
who has been castrated. The man is not entitled to drink the cup of infertility
in order not to give birth, but the woman is entitled not to give birth
(because the commandment of reproduction does not apply to her). R. Judah (ca.
150) said, “Whoever castrates a man commits a crime. Whoever makes a woman
infertile is exempt.” ‖ Babylonian Talmud Yebamot 62B: R. Tanḥum b. Hanilai
(ca. 280, thus it reads instead of “R. Tanḥum said that Hanilai said”) said,
“Every person (changed by censorship to ‘every Jew’) who has no wife remains
without joy (see Deut 14:26), without blessing (see Ezek 44:30), without good
(see Gen 2:18).” In the west (= Palestine), they say, “Without knowledge of the
Torah (see Job 6:13, without an [enclosing] wall [see Jer 31:22]).” Rabba b.
Ulla (ca. 300) said, “Without peace (see Job 5:24).”—Similarly in Gen. Rab. 17
(11C) in the name of R. Jacob (ca. 170), of R. Joshua b. Levi (ca. 250), and of
R. Levi (ca. 300). ‖ When Ben Azzai (ca. 110) remained unmarried, he received a
harsh rebuke (see t. Yebam. 8.4 [250] at § Matt 19:12 C;). See also b. Ketub.
63A; y. Soṭah 1.16C.54; b. Soṭah 4B; Num. Rab. 9 (152A); and the Tosafists at
Ketub. 63A ברתיה. ‖ Further evidence at b. Qidd. 29B and a
baraita in b. Yebam. 63B. (Hermann L. Strack and Paul Billerbeck, A
Commentary on the New Testament from the Talmud and Midrash, ed. Jacob N.
Cerone, 4 vols. [trans. Andrew Bowden and Joseph Longarino; Bellingham, Wash.:
Lexham Press, 2022], 2:432-33)
