[If] she said, “My husband died and then may father-in-law died,” she may remarry and collect her kesubah, but her mother-in-law is forbidden. [If] she was a Yisrael's daughter [married] to a Kohen, she may eat terumah; [these are] the words of R' Tarfon. R' Akiva says: This is not the way to deliver her from sin; [rather,] let her be forbidden from remarrying and forbidden from eating terumah.  [If] someone betrothed one of five women, but does not know which one he betrothed, [and] each one says, “I am the one he betrothed” —- he should give a bill of divorce to each one, leave the kesubah [payment] between them, and withdraw; [these are] the words of R' Tarfon. R' Akiva says: This is not the way to deliver him from sin; [rather,] let him give a bill of divorce and the kesubah [payment] to each one.  If someone stole from one of five [people], but does not know from which one he stole, [and] each one says, “He stole from me,” he should leave the stolen amount between them, and withdraw; [these are] the words of R' Tarfon. R' Akiva says: This is not the way to deliver him from sin; [rather,] let him pay the stolen amount to each one.

[If] a woman went overseas with her husband and son, and then she came and said, “My husband died and then my son died” —- she is believed. [If she said,] “My son died and then my husband died” —- she is not believed. However, we consider her statement, and she must [therefore] perform chalitzah, but not yibum.

[If a woman said,] “I was granted a son overseas,” and she added, “my son died and then my husband died” —- she is believed. [If she said,] “My husband died and then my son died” —- she is not believed. However, we consider her statement, and she must [therefore] perform chalitzah, but not yibum.

[If a woman said,] “I was given a yavam overseas,” [and then] she added, “my husband died and then my yavam,” [or,] “my yavam [died] and then my husband” —- she is believed. [If] she and her husband and her yavan went overseas, [and] she said, “My husband died and then my yavam,” [or,] “My yavam [died] and then my husband” —- she is not believed; because a woman is not believed to say that her yavam died, so that she may marry, or that her sister died, so that she may enter his household; nor is a man believed to say that his brother died, so that he perform yibum with his wife, or that his wife died, so that he may marry her sister.

A woman whose husband and co-wife went overseas, and they came and said to her, “Your husband died,” may not marry or be taken in yibum until she knows if her co-wife is pregnant. [If] she had a mother-in-law, she need not concern herself. [However, if] she departed while pregnant, she must concern herself. R' Yehoshua says: She need not consider it.

[If] there were two sisters-in-law, and each one stated, “My husband died” —- each one is pro- hibited [to marry] because of the other's husband. [If] one had witnesses but the other did not —- the one with witnesses is prohibited [to marry], whereas the one without witnesses is permitted. [If] one had children but the other one did not —- the one with children is permitted [to marry], whereas the one without children is prohibited. [If] they were taken in yibum and their yevamin [then] died, they are prohibited from remarrying. R' Elazar says: Since they were permitted to the yevamin, they are permitted to all men.

One may only testify [that a man is dead] if he saw the face and nose, even though there are [identifying] marks on the body or clothing. One may only testify [that a man is dead] if he [actually] saw him dead, but not if he saw him cut, hanging, or being devoured by a wild beast. One may only testify [if he saw the body] within three days. R' Yehudah ben Bava says: Not all men, or areas, or times are alike.

[If] a man fell into water, whether all its shores are in sight or not, his wife is prohibited. R' Meir said: There was [once] an incident where someone fell into a large well and surfaced after three days. R' Yose said: There was [once] an incident where a blind man descended into a cave to immerse himself, and was followed by his guide; they remained [undetected] long enough from them to have died, and [the Rabbis] permitted their wives to remarry. There was another incident at Asya, where someone was lowered into the sea and they recovered nothing but his leg. The Sages said: [If the leg was severed] above the knee, she may remarry; [if the leg was] below the knee, she may not remarry.

Even if he heard women saying, “So-and-so died,” it is sufficient. R' Yehudah says: Even if he heard children saying, “We are going to eulogize and bury so-and-so.” [His testimony is valid] whether he intends [to testify] or not. R' Yehudah ben Bava says: A Jew's [testimony is valid], even if he intended [to testify], but [if] a non-Jew intended [to testify], his testimony is not valid.

Witnesses may testify [even if they saw] by lamplight and moonlight, and we permit remarriage on the basis of a voice. There was [once] an incident where someone stood on a hilltop and said, “So-and-so, the son of so-and-so, from such and such a place, has died,” They went [to the hilltop] but found no one there, [yet] they permitted his wife to remarry. There was another incident at Zalmon where someone said, “I am so-and-so, the son of so-and-so. A snake has bitten me, and I am dying.” They went [there] but could not recognize him, [yet] they permitted his wife to remarry.

R' Akiva said: When I went down to Nehardea to fix the leap year, I encountered Nechemiah of Beis Deli. He said to me, “I have heard that in Eretz Yisrael they do not permit a woman to remarry by the testimony of a single witness, except for R' Yehudah ben Bava.” I said to him: “This is correct.” He said to me: “Tell them in my name: You know that the country is in turmoil because of ravaging troops. I have a tradition from Rabban Gamliel the Elder that we permit a woman to remarry by the testimony of a single witness.” When I came and presented the matter before Rabban Gamliel, he rejoiced at my words, and said, “We have found a companion for R' Yehudah ben Bava.” As a result of the exchange, Rabban Gamliel recalled that [some] men had [once] been killed in Tel Arza, and Rabban Gamliel [the Elder] had permitted their wives to remarry on the testimony of a single witness. [It [then] became established to permit remarriage on the testimony of a single witness;] and it became established to permit remarriage on [the testimony of] one witness quoting another, and on the testimony of a slave, a woman, and a slavewoman. R' Eliezer and R' Yehoshua say: We do not permit a woman to remarry by the testimony of a single witness. R' Akiva says: Not by the testimony of a woman, [a slave, a slave-woman,] or relatives. They said to him: There was [once] an incident where some Leviim journeyed to Zoar, the city of date palms, and one of them fell ill during the journey, and they brought him to an inn. On their return [trip], they said to the woman innkeeper, “Where is our companion?” She said to them, “He died and I buried him” —- and they permitted his wife to remarry. They said to him: Shouldn't the wife of a Kohen be as [good as] a woman innkeeper? He replied: When the woman innkeeper is believed. This woman innkeeper brought out to them his staff, his baggage, and the Torah scroll in his possession.