I just thought that it was interesting to note that the gemara consistenly refers to Shmuel's sisters as 'the daughters of Shmuel's father' instead of just saying 'Shmuel's sisters.'

Also, Shmuel's father prohibited his daughters from sleeping in the same bed, because he was worried that if they engaged in homosexual acts, they would become assur to the kohen gadol. Why was this his worry? The beit hamikdash wasn't around then! All tosfot says is that he was 'machmir.'

Does anyone have any other insights into this?

Is this Shmuel the Shmuel HaNavi?

No, this Shmuel is much later. His father was Abba bar Abbah.

Ok, there goes my theories. (The Miskan and The daughters from other wife)

Maybe they had different mothers.

The Soncino says the girls were instructed to avoid that sort of thing because of decency, in spite of the Beit Hamikdash having been destroyed:

I'm guessing the girls are referred to as the daughters of their father because in this context it was the father who was setting the rules, not the brother.

It's surprising that he would have such a chashad. How much more so for us?


In which case it should just say Abba bar Abba's daughters, and not mention Shmuel at all.

My maggid shiur said that Abba bar Abba had such admiration for his son that he preferred to be called the father of Shmuel, instead of his real name.

I don't follow your kal vechomer.

Alternatively, maybe the custom then was like the middle eastern custom where fathers are referred to upon the birth of their oldest son as "Abu ___" instead of their given name.

All I'm saying is that if someone as great as Avuha d'Shmuel would be worried about his daughters having homosexual inclinations, all the more so, we should be careful.

I still don't get it. The chumra of greater people don't necessarily apply to lesser people. And maybe he knew his daughters and that this would be something to be concerned about.

That would make a name like Abba Eban (or in Arabic, Abu Ibn) pretty non-descript and circular.

simpleTorah still hasn't been cleared for access to this forum yet, so he asked me to post the following:

Just to be clear, Avuha D'Shmuel was not concerned about lesbian acts in of themselves. Rather, he was afraid that they would come to lust actual sex. Lesbianism is assur, from Maaseh Eretz Mitzraiyim.
Yes, this didn't add anything constructive to the conversation. Live with it.