NASHIM (Heb. נָׂשִים; "Women"), third order of the Mishnah, according to the accepted order mentioned in the homily of *Simeon b. Lakish (Shab. 31a; according to the order given by Tanḥuma (Num. R. 13:15), it is the first).Nashim deals essentially with matrimonial law and with the laws governing the relations between husband and wife. It also includes the tractates*Nedarim ("vows") and*Nazir ("the Nazirite"), respectively, since according to the Bible (Num. 30:4ff.), the vow of a wife or a girl during her minority can be annulled by the husband or father (cf. Sot. 2a). The tractates included inNashim are*Yevamot, 16 chapters;*Ketubbot, 13;Nedarim, 11;Nazir, 9;*Sotah, 9;*Gittin, 9; and*Kiddushin, 4. As is customary, the tractates are arranged in descending order according to the number of chapters (see *Mishnah). Themishnayot ofNashim also contain incidental aggadic passages, but at the end ofSotah andKiddushin there are more continuous aggadic passages. In the Tosefta,Yevamot has 14 chapters;Ketubbot, 12 (or 13);Nedarim, 7;Nazir, 6;Sotah, 15;Gittin, 7 (or 9); andKiddushin, 5. The aggadic section is richer than that of the Mishnah, particularly inSotah. Because of their practical importance for matrimonial law and sexual morality, the tractates of the orderNashim are stressed in rabbinic study, and the more practically relevant parts have received extensive treatment by both the medieval commentators and the later rabbinical authorities, including all the responsa literature.
Sources:Encyclopaedia Judaica. © 2007 The Gale Group. All Rights Reserved.