The Babylonian Talmud on R. Akiva’s Wife

R. Akiva became betrothed to the daughter of bar Kalba Savua. [When] bar Kalba Savua heard [about their betrothal, he took a vow] prohibiting her from [eating] all of his property. [Despite this,] she went [ahead] and married [R. Akiva.]

In the winter they would sleep in a storehouse of straw, [and R. Akiva] would gather [strands of] straw from her hair. He said to her, “If I had [the means] I would place on your [head] a Jerusalem of Gold, [a type of crown].” Elijah [the prophet] came [and] appeared to them as [a regular] person and [started] calling [and knocking] on the door. He said to them, “Give me a bit of straw, as my wife gave birth and I do not have anything on which to lay her.” R. Akiva said to his wife, “See [this] man, who does not even have straw.”

She said to him, “Go [and] be a student [of Torah].” He went [and studied Torah for] twelve years before R. Eliezer and R. Joshua. At the completion of [the] twelve years, he was coming home [when] he heard from behind his house that one wicked person was saying to his wife, “Your father behaved well toward you. [He was right to disinherit you.] One [reason is] that [your husband] is not similar to you, [i.e., he is not suitable for you]. And furthermore, he has left you in widowhood in his lifetime all these years.” She said to him, “If he listens to me, he should be [there for] another twelve years.” [R. Akiva] said, “Since she has given me permission [through this statement], I will go back [and study more].” He turned back [and] went [to the study hall, and he] was [there for] another twelve years.

[Eventually] he came [back accompanied] by 24,000 pairs of students. Everyone went out to [greet] him, [as he was by then a renowned teacher], and she too arose to go out to [greet] him. That wicked person said to her, “And to where are you [going?” As she was excessively poor, she was not dressed in a grand manner, as fit for the wife of one so esteemed]. She said to him, “A righteous man regards the life of his beast” (Proverbs 12:10); [he knows that I am in this state as a result of my dedication to him]. She came to present herself before [R. Akiva, but] the sages [tried to] fend her off. He said to them, “Leave her. [Both] my [Torah knowledge] and yours are hers.” [When] bar Kalba Savua heard [that the famous man was his son-in-law], he came [before halakhic authorities] and requested the dissolution of his vow, and it was dissolved.