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The first Mishna in Massekhet Sota opens with the words hamekanneh le-ishto – one who issues a warning to his wife – describing the process of a husband warning his wife, in front of witnesses, not to be secluded with a specific man, a process that will lead to her drinking the bitter water of sota if she does so.
The gemoro begins with a discussion about why we are learning Masechet Sota. Why is it placed at this point in Nashim? How is it related to Masechet Nazir, which we just finished? Are the rabbis implying that a person who partakes in a part of the sota ritual should become a nazirite?
Rav Yehudah said in the name of Rav: Forty days before the formation of a child, a Heavenly voice is issued and pronounces: “The daughter of this individual is designated for that man,” and “This house is designated for So-and-so,” and “This field is designated for So-and-so.” (Evidently, whom a man will marry is decided upon his conception, prior to knowing whether he will be righteous or not!?)
We explore this notion of predestined matchmaking and the modern iteration of the shidduch crisis.