Sanhedrin 58: Forbidden Relationships for Gentiles

The rabbis attempt to understand how complicated kinship might be managed by our halachot on forbidden relationships.  For example, if a baby is born to a mother who converted to Judaism while pregnant and whose father is a Gentile, from whom is that baby forbidden?  Well, that depends - does the child share kinship with only his mother's family?  Who can he marry? Another example tells of a Gentile man who is married to both a mother and her daughter.  After they all convert to Judaism, from whom is he forbidden to have sexual relations?  The rabbis use this opportunity to answer questions with the obvious prohibitions against sexual relationships between men and sexual relationships with one's parents. 

The Gemara argues about whether or not a Gentile man can marry his aunt - his father's wife.  To understand this, the rabbis consider both Adam and Abraham.  Adam married his daughter, we are taught, so that Cain would then marry his sister.  This is considered to be proof of the world being built on kindness.  Abraham married Sarah who was his paternal half-sister.  This was used as proof that it was the maternal line of relatives who were forbidden.

Maidservants and slaves are considered as well. There are different rules that apply to each group of people based on their religious, family, and other markers of difference.  Atypical sexual activity, a phrase that suggests anal intercourse, is considered on its own.  While this is difficult to understand in our modern times, we can understand better the claim of ownership and obligation that accompanies vaginal intercourse and not any other sexual activity in the times of the Talmud.  

A number of rabbis speak about physical discipline or hitting in anger in other circumstances.  It is said that Rav Huna cut off the hand of a person who habitually hit others. 

At the very end of our daf, the rabbis allude to the dangers of laziness, which will result in a lack of materials - for example, if we do not work the land, we do not have bread.  Halachot which suggest that we take action represent the importance of taking action when we can.