These words are said to have been spoken by Joseph to his brethren, who, after the death of their father Jacob, feared lest Joseph should revenge himself upon them (Gen. l. 21).  The Midrash and the Targums as usual furnish much additional information.

Rav Assi said:—­Nowadays, if a Gentile should betroth a Jewess, there is reason for regarding the betrothal as not therefore invalid, for he may be a descendant of the ten tribes, and so one of the seed of Israel.

Yevamoth, fol. 16, col. 2.

Rabbi Yochanan said:—­If, after the death of her husband, a woman should remain unmarried for ten years and then marry again, she will have no children.  Rav Nachman added:—­Provided she have not thought of marrying all the while; but if she had thought of marrying again, in that case she will have children.  Rava once said to Rav Chisda’s daughter (who bore children to Rava, though she did not marry him until ten years after her first husband’s death), “The Rabbis have their doubts about you.”  She replied, “I had always set my heart upon thee.”  A woman once said to Rav Yoseph, “I waited ten years before I married again, and then I had children.”  “Daughter,” said he, “do not bring the words of the wise into discredit.  It is thou, not they, that are mistaken.”  Then the woman confessed that she had been a transgressor.

Ibid., fol. 34, col. 2.

The Rabbis teach that if a man live with a wife ten years without issue he should divorce her and give her the prescribed marriage portion, as he may not be deemed worthy to be built up by her (that is, to have children by her).

Ibid., fol. 64, col. 2.

As a set-off we append here a romantic story paraphrased from the Midrash Shir Hashirim.  A certain Israelite of Sidon, having lived many years with his wife without being blessed with offspring, made up his mind to give her a bill of divorcement.  They went accordingly together to Rabbi Shimon ben Yochai, that legal effect might be given to the act of separation.  Upon presenting themselves before him, the Rabbi addressed them in these fatherly accents:—­“My children,” said he, “your divorce must not take place in pettishness or anger, lest people should surmise something guilty or disgraceful as the motive for the action.  Let your parting, therefore, be like your meeting, friendly and cheerful.  Go home, make a feast, and invite your friends to share it with you; and then to-morrow return and I will ratify the divorce you seek for.”  Acting upon this advice, they went home, got ready a feast, invited their friends, and made merry together.  “My dear,” said the husband at length to his wife, “we have lived for many a long year lovingly together, and now that we are about to be separated, it is not because there is any ill-will between us, but simply because we are not blessed with a family.  In proof that my love is unchanged, and that I wish thee all good, I