| 1And these are the ordinances that you shall set before them. |
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אוְאֵ֨לֶּה֙ הַמִּשְׁפָּטִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר תָּשִׂ֖ים לִפְנֵיהֶֽם: |
| And these are the ordinances: Wherever it says, “these” [in the Torah,] it [(this word) is used to] separate from what has been stated previously. [Where it says,] “And these,” [it means that] it is adding to what has been previously stated (Tanchuma Mishpatim 3). [Thus] just as what has been previously stated [namely the Ten Commandments,] were from Sinai, these too were from Sinai. Now why was the section dealing with laws juxtaposed to the section dealing with the altar? To tell you that you shall place the Sanhedrin adjacent to the Beth Hamikdash (other editions: the altar). — [From Mechilta] |
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וְאֵלֶּה הַמִּשְׁפָּטִים:
כָּל מָקוֹם שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "אֵלֶּה" פָּסַל אֶת הָרִאשׁוֹנִים, "וְאֵלֶּה" מוֹסִיף עַל הָרִאשׁוֹנִים, מָה הָרִאשׁוֹנִים מִסִּינַי, אַף אֵלּוּ מִסִּינַי; וְלָמָּה נִסְמְכָה פָּרָשַׁת דִּינִין לְפָרָשַׁת מִזְבֵּחַ? לוֹמַר לְךָ, שֶׁתָּשִׂים סַנְהֶדְרִין אֵצֶל הַמִּקְדָּשׁ (מכילתא):
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| that you shall set before them: The Holy One, blessed is He, said to Moses: Do not think of saying, “I will teach them the chapter or the law [both terms seemingly refer to the Oral Torah] two or three times until they know it well, as it was taught, but I will not trouble myself to enable them to understand the reasons for the matter and its explanation.” Therefore, it is said: “you shall set before them,” like a table, set [with food] and prepared to eat from, [placed] before someone. — [From Mechilta, Eruvin 54b] |
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אֲשֶׁר תָּשִׂים לִפְנֵיהֶֽם:
אָמַר לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְמֹשֶׁה: לֹא תַעֲלֶה עַל דַּעְתְּךָ לוֹמַר, אֶשְׁנֶה לָהֶם הַפֶּרֶק וְהַהֲלָכָה ב' אוֹ ג' פְּעָמִים, עַד שֶׁתְּהֵא סְדוּרָה בְּפִיהֶם כְּמִשְׁנָתָהּ, וְאֵינִי מַטְרִיחַ עַצְמִי לַהֲבִינָם טַעֲמֵי הַדָּבָר וּפֵרוּשׁוֹ, לְכָךְ נֶאֱמַר אֲשֶׁר תָּשִׂים לִפְנֵיהֶם – כְּשֻׁלְחָן הֶעָרוּךְ וּמוּכָן לֶאֱכֹל לִפְנֵי הָאָדָם (שם):
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| before them: But not before gentiles. Even if you know that they [gentiles] judge a certain law similarly to the laws of Israel, do not bring it to their courts, for one who brings Jewish lawsuits before gentiles profanes the [Divine] Name and honors the name of idols to praise them (other editions: to give them importance), as it is said: “For not like our Rock [God] is their rock, but [yet] our enemies judge [us]” (Deut. 32:31). When [we let] our enemies judge [us], this is testimony to [our] esteem of their deity. — [From Tanchuma 3] |
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לִפְנֵיהֶֽם:
וְלֹא לִפְנֵי גוֹיִם, וַאֲפִלּוּ יָדַעְתָּ בְדִין אֶחָד שֶׁהֵם דָּנִין אוֹתוֹ כְּדִינֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, אַל תְּבִיאֵהוּ בְעַרְכָּאוֹת שֶׁלָּהֶם, שֶׁהַמֵּבִיא דִּינֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל לִפְנֵי גוֹיִם, מְחַלֵּל אֶת הַשֵּׁם וּמְיַקֵּר שֵׁם עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה לְהַשְׁבִּיחָהּ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר כִּי לֹא כְצוּרֵנוּ צוּרָם וְאֹיְבֵינוּ פְּלִילִים (דברים ל"ב) – כְּשֶׁאוֹיְבֵינוּ פְּלִילִים זֶהוּ עֵדוּת לְעִלּוּי יִרְאָתָם (תנחומא):
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| 2Should you buy a Hebrew slave, he shall work [for] six years, and in the seventh [year], he shall go out to freedom without charge. |
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בכִּ֤י תִקְנֶה֙ עֶ֣בֶד עִבְרִ֔י שֵׁ֥שׁ שָׁנִ֖ים יַֽעֲבֹ֑ד וּבַ֨שְּׁבִעִ֔ת יֵצֵ֥א לַֽחָפְשִׁ֖י חִנָּֽם: |
| Should you buy a Hebrew slave: A slave who is himself a Hebrew. Or perhaps it means only a slave of a Hebrew, a Canaanite [servant] whom you bought from a Hebrew. And concerning him, he [the Torah] says, “he shall work [for] six years.” How [then] can I apply the [law in the following] verse, “and you shall bequeath them” (Lev. 25:46)? [Does this verse apply] concerning one [a servant] purchased from a non-Jew, but one [a servant] purchased from an Israelite goes free after six years? Therefore, the Torah states: “Should your brother, a Hebrew man… be sold to you, [he shall serve you for six years]” (Deut. 15:12). [This is the clarification that] I [God] said this only regarding your brother. — [From Mechilta] |
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כִּי תִקְנֶה עֶבֶד עִבְרִי:
עֶבֶד שֶׁהוּא עִבְרִי; אוֹ אֵינוֹ אֶלָּא עַבְדּוֹ שֶׁל עִבְרִי – עֶבֶד כְּנַעֲנִי שֶׁלְּקַחְתּוֹ מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל – וְעָלָיו הוּא אוֹמֵר שֵׁשׁ שָׁנִים יַעֲבֹד? וּמָה אֲנִי מְקַיֵּם וְהִתְנַחַלְתֶּם אֹתָם (ויקרא כ"ה), בְּלָקוּחַ מִן הַגּוֹי, אֲבָל בְּלָקוּחַ מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל יֵצֵא בְּשֵׁשׁ? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמָר כִּי יִמָּכֵר לְךָ אָחִיךָ הָעִבְרִי (דברים ט"ו), לֹא אָמַרְתִּי אֶלָּא בְאָחִיךָ:
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| Should you buy: from the hand of the court, who sold him [into servitude] because of his theft, as it is said: “If he has no [money], he shall be sold for his theft” (Exod. 22:2). Or perhaps it refers only to one who sold oneself [into servitude] because of poverty, but if the court sold him, he does not go free after six [years]? When he [the Torah] says: “And if your brother becomes impoverished beside you and is sold to you” (Lev. 25:39), one who sells oneself because of poverty is mentioned [here]. So [to avoid repetition,] how do I apply “Should you buy?” [By understanding that this is] concerning one sold by the court. |
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כִּי תִקְנֶה:
מִיַּד בֵּית דִּין שֶׁמְּכָרוּהוּ בִגְנֵבָתוֹ, כְּמוֹ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר אִם אֵין לוֹ וְנִמְכַּר בִּגְנֵבָתוֹ, אוֹ אֵינוֹ אֶלָּא בְּמוֹכֵר עַצְמוֹ מִפְּנֵי דָּחְקוֹ, אֲבָל מְכָרוּהוּ בֵית דִּין לֹא יֵצֵא בְשֵׁשׁ? כְּשֶׁהוּא אוֹמֵר וְכִי יָמוּךְ אָחִיךָ עִמָּךְ וְנִמְכַּר לָךְ (ויקרא כ"ה), הֲרֵי מוֹכֵר עַצְמוֹ מִפְּנֵי דָּחְקוֹ אָמוּר, וּמָה אֲנִי מְקַיֵּם כִּי תִקְנֶה? בְּנִמְכַּר בְּבֵית דִּין:
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| to freedom: Heb. לַחָפְשִׁי, to freedom. |
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לַֽחָפְשִׁי:
לְחֵרוּת:
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| 3If he comes [in] alone, he shall go out alone; if he is a married man, his wife shall go out with him. |
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גאִם־בְּגַפּ֥וֹ יָבֹ֖א בְּגַפּ֣וֹ יֵצֵ֑א אִם־בַּ֤עַל אִשָּׁה֙ ה֔וּא וְיָֽצְאָ֥ה אִשְׁתּ֖וֹ עִמּֽוֹ: |
| If he comes [in] alone: Heb. בְּגַפּוֹ, meaning that he was not married, as the Targum renders: אִם בִּלְחוֹדוֹהִי. The expression בְּגַפּוֹ means “with his skirt,” [i.e., the skirt of his cloak, meaning] that he came only as he was, alone within his clothing, in the skirt of his garment. |
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אִם־בְּגַפּוֹ יָבֹא:
שֶׁלֹּא הָיָה נָשׂוּי אִשָּׁה, כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ אִם בִּלְחוֹדוֹהִי, וּלְשׁוֹן בְּגַפּוֹ – בִּכְנָפוֹ, שֶׁלֹּא בָּא אֶלָּא כְּמוֹת שֶׁהוּא, יְחִידִי, בְּתוֹךְ לְבוּשׁוֹ – בִּכְנַף בִּגְדוֹ:
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| he shall go out alone: [This] tells [us] that if he was not married at first, his master may not give him a Canaanite maidservant from whom to beget slaves. — [From Kid. 20a] |
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בְּגַפּוֹ יֵצֵא:
מַגִּיד שֶׁאִם לֹא הָיָה נָשׂוּי מִתְּחִלָּה, אֵין רַבּוֹ מוֹסֵר לוֹ שִׁפְחָה כְנַעֲנִית לְהוֹלִיד מִמֶּנָּה עֲבָדִים (קידושין כ'):
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| if he is a married man: [Lit., if he is someone’s husband, meaning] an Israelite [woman]. — [From Mechilta] |
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אִם־בַּעַל אִשָּׁה הוּא:
יִשְׂרְאֵלִית:
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| his wife shall go out with him: Now who brought her in that she should go out? Rather, the text informs us that whoever purchases a Hebrew slave is [also] responsible for supporting his wife and his children. [From Mechilta, Kid. 22a] |
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וְיָֽצְאָה אִשְׁתּוֹ עִמּֽוֹ:
וְכִי מִי הִכְנִיסָהּ שֶׁתֵּצֵא? אֶלָּא מַגִּיד הַכָּתוּב שֶׁהַקּוֹנֶה עֶבֶד עִבְרִי חַיָּב בִּמְזוֹנוֹת אִשְׁתּוֹ וּבָנָיו (שם כ"ב):
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| 4If his master gives him a wife, and she bears him sons or daughters, the woman and her children shall belong to her master, and he shall go out alone. |
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דאִם־אֲדֹנָיו֙ יִתֶּן־ל֣וֹ אִשָּׁ֔ה וְיָֽלְדָה־לּ֥וֹ בָנִ֖ים א֣וֹ בָנ֑וֹת הָֽאִשָּׁ֣ה וִֽילָדֶ֗יהָ תִּֽהְיֶה֙ לַֽאדֹנֶ֔יהָ וְה֖וּא יֵצֵ֥א בְגַפּֽוֹ: |
| If his master gives him a wife: From here we deduce that his master has the option to give him [the slave] a Canaanite maidservant [in order] to beget slaves from her. Or, perhaps this means only an Israelite woman? Therefore, Scripture says: “The woman and her children shall belong to her master.” Thus, He is speaking only about a Canaanite woman, for a Hebrew woman she, too, goes free after six [years], and even before six [years], when she develops signs [of puberty], she goes free, as it is said: “your brother, a Hebrew man or a Hebrew woman [that one shall serve you for six years]” (Deut. 15:12). [This] teaches [us] that a Hebrew [maidservant] also goes free after six [years]. — [From Mechilta, Kid. 14b] |
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אִם־אֲדֹנָיו יִתֶּן־לוֹ אִשָּׁה:
מִכָּאן שֶׁהָרְשׁוּת בְּיַד רַבּוֹ לִמְסֹר לוֹ שִׁפְחָה כְנַעֲנִית לְהוֹלִיד מִמֶּנָּה עֲבָדִים. אוֹ אֵינוֹ אֶלָּא בְיִשְׂרְאֵלִית? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמָר הָאִשָּׁה וִילָדֶיהָ תִּהְיֶה לַאדֹנֶיהָ, הָא אֵינוֹ מְדַבֵּר אֶלָּא בִּכְנַעֲנִית, שֶׁהֲרֵי הָעִבְרִיָּה אַף הִיא יוֹצְאָה בְשֵׁשׁ – וַאֲפִלּוּ לִפְנֵי שֵׁשׁ אִם הֵבִיאָה סִימָנִין יוֹצְאָה – שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר אָחִיךָ הָעִבְרִי אוֹ הָעִבְרִיָּה (דברים ט"ו), מְלַמֵּד שֶׁאַף הָעִבְרִיָּה יוֹצְאָה בְשֵׁשׁ (מכילתא):
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| 5But if the slave says, "I love my master, my wife, and my children. I will not go free," |
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הוְאִם־אָמֹ֤ר יֹאמַר֙ הָעֶ֔בֶד אָהַ֨בְתִּי֙ אֶת־אֲדֹנִ֔י אֶת־אִשְׁתִּ֖י וְאֶת־בָּנָ֑י לֹ֥א אֵצֵ֖א חָפְשִֽׁי: |
| my wife: [This refers to] the maidservant. |
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אֶת־אִשְׁתִּי:
הַשִּׁפְחָה:
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| 6his master shall bring him to the judges, and he shall bring him to the door or to the doorpost, and his master shall bore his ear with an awl, and he shall serve him forever. |
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ווְהִגִּישׁ֤וֹ אֲדֹנָיו֙ אֶל־הָ֣אֱלֹהִ֔ים וְהִגִּישׁוֹ֙ אֶל־הַדֶּ֔לֶת א֖וֹ אֶל־הַמְּזוּזָ֑ה וְרָצַ֨ע אֲדֹנָ֤יו אֶת־אָזְנוֹ֙ בַּמַּרְצֵ֔עַ וַֽעֲבָד֖וֹ לְעֹלָֽם: |
| to the judges: Heb. אֶל-הָאֱלֹהִים, to the court to consult his sellers, for they sold him [the slave] to him [to his master]. — [From Mechilta] |
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אֶל־הָאֱלֹהִים:
לְבֵית דִּין; צָרִיךְ שֶׁיִּמָּלֵךְ בְּמוֹכְרָיו שֶׁמְּכָרוּהוּ לוֹ (שם):
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| to the door or to the doorpost: I might think that the doorpost is [a] qualified [place] on which to bore [the servant’s ear]. Therefore, Scripture says: “and you shall thrust it into his ear and into the door” (Deut. 15:17), [meaning] “into the door,” but not “into the doorpost.” What then does or to the doorpost mean? [The text is] comparing the door to the doorpost. Just as the doorpost is upright [i.e., attached to the house; otherwise it is not called a doorpost], so is the door upright. [A detached door may not be used for the ritual of ear boring.]-[From Mechilta, Kid. 22b] |
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אֶל־הַדֶּלֶת אוֹ אֶל־הַמְּזוּזָה:
יָכוֹל שֶׁתְּהֵא הַמְּזוּזָה כְשֵׁרָה לִרְצֹעַ עָלֶיהָ, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמָר וְנָתַתָּה בְאָזְנוֹ וּבַדֶּלֶת, בַּדֶּלֶת וְלֹא בַמְּזוּזָה, הָא מַה תַּלְמוּד לוֹמָר אוֹ אֶל הַמְּזוּזָה? הִקִּישׁ דֶּלֶת לִמְזוּזָה, מַה מְּזוּזָה מֵעוֹמֵד אַף דֶּלֶת מֵעוֹמֵד (שם):
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| and his master shall bore his ear: [I.e.,] the right [ear]. Or perhaps it means the left one? Therefore, the Torah states אֹזֶן “ear,” here and אֹזֶן [elsewhere] for [the purpose of making] a גְזֵרָה שָׁוָה, [which means two places having similar wording, which indicates that the rulings pertaining to one situation also apply to the other]. It is stated here: “and his master shall bore his ear,” and it is stated regarding the mezora [person with the disease of zara’ath]: “the cartilage of the right ear of the one who is becoming pure” (Lev. 14:14). Just as there the right [ear] is specified, here too the right [ear] is meant. Now, why was the ear chosen to be bored out of all the organs of the body? Rabban Jochanan ben Zakkai said: The ear that heard on Mount Sinai, “You shall not steal” (Exod. 20:13) and [then] went and stole, shall be bored. And if [the text is referring to] one who sold himself [into servitude, the reason is that] the ear that heard, “For the children of Israel are slaves to Me” (Lev. 25:55) and [then] went and acquired a master for himself, [this ear] shall be bored. Rabbi Shimon used to interpret this verse [in a beautiful manner] like a bundle of pearls [or a great amount of perfume in this way:]-why were the door and the doorpost singled out from all the fixtures in the house? The Holy One, blessed is He, said: The door and the doorpost were witnesses in Egypt when I passed over the lintel and the two doorposts, and I said, “For the children of Israel are slaves to Me; they are My slaves,” but [they are] not slaves to slaves, and [yet] this one went and acquired for himself a master-[his ear] shall be bored before them [for everyone to see]. — [From Kid. 22b] |
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וְרָצַע אֲדֹנָיו אֶת־אָזְנוֹ בַּמַּרְצֵעַ:
הַיְמָנִית, אוֹ אֵינוֹ, אֶלָּא שֶׁל שְׂמֹאל? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמָר אֹזֶן אֹזֶן לִגְזֵרָה שָׁוָה, נֶאֱמַר כָּאן וְרָצַע אֲדֹנָיו אֶת אָזְנוֹ, וְנֶאֱמַר בִּמְצֹרָע תְּנוּךְ אֹזֶן הַמִּטַּהֵר הַיְמָנִית (ויקרא י"ד), מַה לְּהַלָּן הַיְמָנִית, אַף כָּאן הַיְמָנִית; וּמָה רָאָה אֹזֶן לֵרָצַע מִכָּל שְׁאָר אֵבָרִים שֶׁבַּגּוּף? אָמַר רַבָּן יוֹחָנָן בֶּן זַכַּאי: אֹזֶן זֹאת שֶׁשָּׁמְעָה עַל הַר סִינַי לֹא תִגְנֹב, וְהָלַךְ וְגָנַב, תֵּרָצַע. וְאִם מוֹכֵר עַצְמוֹ, אֹזֶן שֶׁשָּׁמְעָה עַל הַר סִינַי כִּי לִי בְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל עֲבָדִים, וְהָלַךְ וְקָנָה אָדוֹן לְעַצְמוֹ, תֵּרָצַע. רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן הָיָה דּוֹרֵשׁ מִקְרָא זֶה כְּמִין חֹמֶר: מַה נִּשְׁתַּנּוּ דֶּלֶת וּמְזוּזָה מִכָּל כֵּלִים שֶׁבַּבַּיִת? אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא דֶּלֶת וּמְזוּזָה שֶׁהָיוּ עֵדִים בְּמִצְרַיִם כְּשֶׁפָּסַחְתִּי עַל הַמַּשְׁקוֹף וְעַל שְׁתֵּי הַמְּזוּזוֹת וְאָמַרְתִּי כִּי לִי בְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל עֲבָדִים – עֲבָדַי הֵם וְלֹא עֲבָדִים לַעֲבָדִים – וְהָלַךְ זֶה וְקָנָה אָדוֹן לְעַצְמוֹ, יֵרָצַע בִּפְנֵיהֶם (קידושין כ"ב):
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| and he shall serve him forever: Heb. לְעֹלָם, until the Jubilee year [the fiftieth year of the cycle]. Or perhaps it means literally forever, as its apparent meaning? Therefore, the Torah states [in reference to the Jubilee year]: “and each man to his family you shall return” (Lev. 25:10). [This] informs [us] that fifty years are called עֹלָם. But [this does] not [mean] that he must serve him [his master] the entire fifty years, but he must serve him until the Jubilee year, regardless of whether it is near or far off. — [From Mechilta, Kid. 15a] |
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וַֽעֲבָדוֹ לְעֹלָֽם:
עַד הַיּוֹבֵל; אוֹ אֵינוֹ אֶלָּא לְעוֹלָם כְמַשְׁמָעוֹ? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמָר וְאִישׁ אֶל מִשְׁפַּחְתּוֹ תָּשׁוּבוּ (ויקרא כ"ה), מַגִּיד שֶׁחֲמִשִּׁים שָׁנָה קְרוּיִים עוֹלָם; וְלֹא שֶׁיְּהֵא עוֹבְדוֹ כָּל חֲמִשִּׁים שָׁנָה, אֶלָּא עוֹבְדוֹ עַד הַיּוֹבֵל, בֵּין סָמוּךְ בֵּין מֻפְלָג (קידושין ט"ו):
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| 7Now if a man sells his daughter as a maidservant, she shall not go free as the slaves go free. |
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זוְכִֽי־יִמְכֹּ֥ר אִ֛ישׁ אֶת־בִּתּ֖וֹ לְאָמָ֑ה לֹ֥א תֵצֵ֖א כְּצֵ֥את הָֽעֲבָדִֽים: |
| Now if a man sells his daughter as a maidservant: Scripture is referring [here] to a minor girl. I might think that even if she develops signs [of initial puberty, the father may sell her]. [But] you must agree that a kal vachomer [the inference of a major rule from a minor rule] applies here namely if she who is already sold goes free with signs [that is, when she has signs of initial puberty], as it is written: “she shall go out for nothing, without money” (Exod. 21:11), which we interpret as referring to the signs of initial puberty, does it not make sense that she who is not sold [and has initial signs of puberty] should not be sold [at all]? -[From Mechilta, Arachin 29a] [At the moment when a female has two pubic hairs, usually when she is twelve years old, she is no longer considered a minor. She is then called נַעִרָה. She is, however, still under her father’s jurisdiction until six months later, when her breasts have developed to a certain stage. Then she is called בּוֹגֶרֶת, a mature girl. In the case of a Hebrew maidservant, the father may sell her only when she is a minor, not after she has become a נַעִרָה |
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וְכִֽי־יִמְכֹּר אִישׁ אֶת־בִּתּוֹ לְאָמָה:
בִּקְטַנָּה הַכָּתוּב מְדַבֵּר; יָכוֹל אֲפִלּוּ הֵבִיאָה סִימָנִים, אָמַרְתָּ קַל וָחֹמֶר, וּמַה מְּכוּרָה קֹדֶם לָכֵן יוֹצְאָה בְסִימָנִין – כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב וְיָצְאָה חִנָּם אֵין כָּסֶף, שֶׁאָנוּ דּוֹרְשִׁין אוֹתוֹ לְסִימָנֵי נַעֲרוּת – שֶׁאֵינָהּ מְכוּרָה אֵינוֹ דִּין שֶׁלֹּא תִמָּכֵר (ערכין כ"ט):
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| she shall not go free as the slaves go free: [I.e.,]-like the emancipation of Canaanite slaves, who go free because of [the loss of] a tooth or an eye. [See below, verses 26, 27.] This one [a Hebrew maidservant], however, will not go free because of [the loss of] a tooth or an eye, but she will work for [her complete] six years or until the Jubilee year or until she develops signs [of initial puberty]. Whichever comes first will be the first [event] to effect her emancipation, and [her master] will reimburse her for the value of her eye or the value of her tooth. Or perhaps this is not so [i.e., the intention of the verse], but “she shall not go free as the [male] slaves go free” [meaning] after six years or in the Jubilee year? Therefore, the Torah states: “Should your brother, a Hebrew man or a Hebrew woman, be sold to you…” (Deut. 15:12). This compares the Hebrew woman to the Hebrew man in regard to all the ways he can be emancipated: just as a Hebrew man goes free following six years [of service] or in the Jubilee year, so too does a Hebrew woman go free following six years [of service] or in the Jubilee year. What then is the meaning of “she shall not go free as the slaves go free?” [This means] she shall not go free with [the loss of] the tips of her limbs, as do the Canaanite slaves. I might think [then] that [only a Hebrew maidservant does not go free due to the loss of the tips of her limbs, but] a Hebrew man does go free with [the loss of] the tips of his limbs. [Therefore, the Torah] compares the Hebrew man to the Hebrew woman: just as the Hebrew woman does not go free with [the loss of] the tips of her limbs, neither does the Hebrew man go free with [the loss of] the tips of his limbs. — [From Mechilta] |
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לֹא תֵצֵא כְּצֵאת הָֽעֲבָדִֽים:
כִּיצִיאַת עֲבָדִים כְּנַעֲנִים שֶׁיּוֹצְאִים בְּשֵׁן וָעַיִן, אֲבָל זוֹ לֹא תֵצֵא בְּשֵׁן וָעַיִן אֶלָּא עוֹבֶדֶת שֵׁשׁ, אוֹ עַד הַיּוֹבֵל, אוֹ עַד שֶׁתָּבִיא סִימָנִין, וְכָל הַקּוֹדֵם קוֹדֵם לְחֵרוּתָהּ, וְנוֹתֵן לָהּ דְּמֵי עֵינָהּ אוֹ דְּמֵי שִׁנָּהּ. אוֹ אֵינוֹ אֶלָּא לֹא תֵצֵא כְּצֵאת הָעֲבָדִים בְּשֵׁשׁ וּבַיּוֹבֵל? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמָר כִּי יִמָּכֵר לְךָ אָחִיךָ הָעִבְרִי אוֹ הָעִבְרִיָּה, מַקִּישׁ עִבְרִיָּה לְעִבְרִי לְכָל יְצִיאוֹתָיו, מָה עִבְרִי יוֹצֵא בְשֵׁשׁ וּבַיּוֹבֵל, אַף עִבְרִיָּה יוֹצְאָה בְשֵׁשׁ וּבַיּוֹבֵל, וּמַהוּ לֹא תֵצֵא כְּצֵאת הָעֲבָדִים? לֹא תֵצֵא בְרָאשֵׁי אֵבָרִים כַּעֲבָדִים כְּנַעֲנִיִּים; יָכוֹל הָעִבְרִי יוֹצֵא בְרָאשֵׁי אֵבָרִים? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמָר הָעִבְרִי אוֹ הָעִבְרִיָּה, מַקִּישׁ עִבְרִי לְעִבְרִיָּה, מָה הָעִבְרִיָּה אֵינָהּ יוֹצְאָה בְרָאשֵׁי אֵבָרִים, אַף הוּא אֵינוֹ יוֹצֵא בְרָאשֵׁי אֵבָרִים (מכילתא):
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| 8If she is displeasing to her master, who did not designate her [for himself], then he shall enable her to be redeemed; he shall not rule over her to sell her to another person, when he betrays her. |
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חאִם־רָעָ֞ה בְּעֵינֵ֧י אֲדֹנֶ֛יהָ אֲשֶׁר־ל֥וֹ (כתיב אשר־לא) יְעָדָ֖הּ וְהֶפְדָּ֑הּ לְעַ֥ם נָכְרִ֛י לֹֽא־יִמְשֹׁ֥ל לְמָכְרָ֖הּ בְּבִגְדוֹ־בָֽהּ: |
| If she is displeasing to her master: [Meaning] that she does not please him to the extent that he would [want to] marry her. — [From Mechilta] |
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אִם־רָעָה בְּעֵינֵי אֲדֹנֶיהָ:
שֶׁלֹּא נָשְׂאָה חֵן בְּעֵינָיו לְכָנְסָהּ:
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| who did not designate her: For he should have designated her and married her, and the money paid for her purchase is the money of her betrothal. Here Scripture hints that it is a mitzvah [for the master] to perform יִעוּד, designation for marriage, [with the maidservant] and it hints that she would not require any other betrothal. [I.e., neither money nor articles of value would have to be given to the girl’s father in order to marry her. The money the father originally received for selling his daughter now would become the money of betrothal from her master.]-[From Kid. 19b] |
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אשר לֹֽא־יְעָדָהּ:
שֶׁהָיָה לוֹ לְיַעֲדָהּ וּלְהַכְנִיסָהּ לוֹ לְאִשָּׁה, וְכֶסֶף קְנִיָּתָהּ הוּא כֶסֶף קִדּוּשֶׁיהָ; וְכָאן רָמַז לְךָ הַכָּתוּב שֶׁמִּצְוָה בְּיִעוּד, וְרָמַז לְךָ שֶׁאֵינָהּ צְרִיכָה קִדּוּשִׁין אֲחֵרִים (קידושין י"ח):
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| he shall enable her to be redeemed: [This means] he [the master] should give her the opportunity to be redeemed and go free, for he too assists in her redemption. Now what is this opportunity that he gives her? That he deducts from her redemption, according to the number of years that she worked for him, as if she had been hired by him [and was not a slave]. How so? Let us say that he bought her for a maneh [one hundred zuz], and she worked for him for two years. We say to him, “You knew that she would ultimately leave at the end of six years. This means that you bought each year’s work for one-sixth of a maneh, and she has worked for you for two years, which equals one-third of a maneh. Accept two-thirds of a maneh [from her, to pay for the remaining four years] and let her leave you.” -[from Kid. 14b] |
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וְהֶפְדָּהּ:
יִתֵּן לָהּ מָקוֹם לְהִפָּדוֹת וְלָצֵאת – שֶׁאַף הוּא מְסַיֵּעַ בְּפִדְיוֹנָהּ; וּמַה הוּא מָקוֹם שֶׁנּוֹתֵן לָהּ? שֶׁמְּגָרֵעַ מִפִּדְיוֹנָהּ בְּמִסְפַּר הַשָּׁנִים שֶׁעָשְׂתָה אֶצְלוֹ כְּאִלּוּ הִיא שְׂכוּרָה אֶצְלוֹ. כֵּיצַד? הֲרֵי שֶׁקְּנָאָהּ בְּמָנֶה וְעָשְׂתָה אֶצְלוֹ שְׁתֵּי שָׁנִים, אוֹמְרִים לוֹ, יוֹדֵעַ הָיִיתָ שֶׁעֲתִידָה לָצֵאת לְסוֹף שֵׁשׁ, נִמְצָא שֶׁקָּנִיתָ עֲבוֹדַת כָּל שָׁנָה וְשָׁנָה בְּשִׁשִּׁית הַמָּנֶה, וְעָשְׂתָה אֶצְלְךָ שְׁתֵּי שָׁנִים, הֲרֵי שְׁלִישִׁית הַמָּנֶה, טֹל שְׁנֵי שְׁלִישִׁיּוֹת הַמָּנֶה וְתֵצֵא מֵאֶצְלְךָ:
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| to another person: Heb. לְעַם נָכְרִי. [Meaning] that neither the master nor the father has the right to sell her to anyone else. — [from Kid. 18a] |
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לְעַם נָכְרִי לֹֽא־יִמְשֹׁל לְמָכְרָהּ:
שֶׁאֵינוֹ רַשַּׁאי לְמָכְרָהּ לְאַחֵר לֹא הָאָדוֹן וְלֹא הָאָב (שם):
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| when he betrays her: If he [the master] comes to betray her and not fulfill the commandment of designation, and the father, too, since he betrayed her and sold her to this one. |
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בְּבִגְדוֹ־בָֽהּ:
אִם בָּא לִבְגֹּד בָּהּ, שֶׁלֹּא לְקַיֵּם בָּהּ מִצְוַת יִעוּד, וְכֵן אָבִיהָ מֵאַחַר שֶׁבָּגַד בָּהּ וּמְכָרָהּ לָזֶה:
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| 9And if he designates her for his son, he shall deal with her according to the law of the daughters [of Israel]. |
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טוְאִם־לִבְנ֖וֹ יִֽיעָדֶ֑נָּה כְּמִשְׁפַּ֥ט הַבָּנ֖וֹת יַֽעֲשֶׂה־לָּֽהּ: |
| And if he designates her for his son: [I.e., if] the master [chooses her as a wife for his son]. [This] teaches [us] that his son also stands in his [the master’s] place to designate her if his father so desires, and he does not require another betrothal, but he [can] say to her, “Behold, you are designated to me with the money your father received [originally] for your value.” -[From Kid. 18b] |
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וְאִם־לִבְנוֹ יִֽיעָדֶנָּה:
הָאָדוֹן; מְלַמֵּד שֶׁאַף בְּנוֹ קָם תַּחְתָּיו לְיַעֲדָהּ אִם יִרְצֶה אָבִיו, וְאֵינוֹ צָרִיךְ לְקַדְּשָׁהּ קִדּוּשִׁין אֲחֵרִים, אֶלָּא אוֹמֵר לָהּ הֲרֵי אַתְּ מְיֹעֶדֶת לִי בַּכֶּסֶף שֶׁקִּבֵּל אָבִיךְ בְּדָמַיִךְ:
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| according to the law of the daughters [of Israel]: Meaning sustenance, clothing, and marital relations. — [From Mechilta] |
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כְּמִשְׁפַּט הַבָּנוֹת:
שְׁאֵר כְּסוּת וְעוֹנָה (מכילתא):
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| 10If he takes another [wife] for himself, he shall not diminish her sustenance, her clothing, or her marital relations. |
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יאִם־אַחֶ֖רֶת יִקַּח־ל֑וֹ שְׁאֵרָ֛הּ כְּסוּתָ֥הּ וְעֹֽנָתָ֖הּ לֹ֥א יִגְרָֽע: |
| If he takes another [wife] for himself: in addition to her. — [From Mechilta] |
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אִם־אַחֶרֶת יִקַּח־לוֹ:
עָלֶיהָ:
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| he shall not diminish her sustenance, her clothing, or her marital relations: from the maidservant whom he had already designated. — [From Mechilta] |
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שְׁאֵרָהּ כְּסוּתָהּ וְעֹֽנָתָהּ לֹא יִגְרָֽע:
מִן הָאָמָה שֶׁיָּעַד לוֹ כְבָר:
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| her sustenance: Heb. שְׁאֵרָהּ, [referring to] food. — [From Mechilta, Keth. 47b] |
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שְׁאֵרָהּ:
מְזוֹנוֹת:
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| her clothing: Heb. כְּסוּתָה, lit., her covering As its apparent meaning [namely her clothing]. |
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כְּסוּתָהּ:
כְּמַשְׁמָעוֹ.
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| her marital relations: Heb. עֹנָתָה, [meaning physical] intimacy. — [From Mechilta, Keth. 47b] |
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ענתה:
תַּשְׁמִישׁ (כתובות מ"ז):
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| 11And if he does not do these three things for her, she shall go free without charge, without [payment of] money. |
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יאוְאִ֨ם־שְׁלָשׁ־אֵ֔לֶּה לֹ֥א יַֽעֲשֶׂ֖ה לָ֑הּ וְיָֽצְאָ֥ה חִנָּ֖ם אֵ֥ין כָּֽסֶף: |
| And if he does not do these three things for her: If he does not do any one of these three things for her. Now what are these three things? He should designate her for himself or for his son [as a wife], or he should deduct from the money of her redemption and allow her to go free. But this one [master] designated her neither for himself nor for his son, and she could not afford to redeem herself [even after the deduction]. — [From Mechilta] |
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וְאִם־שְׁלָשׁ־אֵלֶּה לֹא יַֽעֲשֶׂה לָהּ:
אִם אַחַת מִשְּׁלֹשׁ אֵלֶּה לֹא יַעֲשֶׂה לָהּ; וּמָה הֵן הַשָּׁלֹשׁ? יִיעָדֶנָּה לוֹ, אוֹ לִבְנוֹ, אוֹ יְגָרֵעַ מִפִּדְיוֹנָהּ וְתֵצֵא, וְזֶה לֹא יְעָדָהּ, לֹא לוֹ וְלֹא לִבְנוֹ, וְהִיא לֹא הָיָה בְיָדָהּ לִפְדּוֹת אֶת עַצְמָהּ:
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| she shall go free without charge: [The text] adds [another means of] emancipation for this [maidservant] beyond what it provided for male slaves. Now what is this [means of] emancipation? וְיָצְאָה חִנָם informs you that she goes free when she shows [initial] signs [of puberty], and she must stay with him until she develops [these] signs. If six years pass before the appearance of these signs, we have already learned that she goes free, as it is said: “Should your brother, a Hebrew man or a Hebrew woman [be sold to you, that one] shall serve you for six years” (Deut. 15: 12). What then is the meaning of “she shall go out without charge?” If the signs [of puberty] precede the [end of] six years, she shall go free because of them. Or perhaps it means only that she goes out when she reaches maturity [i.e., at twelve and a half years]? Therefore, Scripture says: “without [payment of] money,” to include her emancipation at maturity. If both of them [i.e., that she goes free “without charge” and “without money”] were not stated, [and “she shall go out without charge” was stated,] I would say that “she shall go out without charge” refers to [her being freed at] maturity. Therefore, both of them were stated, so that the disputant has no opportunity to differ. -[From Mechilta, Kid. 4a] |
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וְיָֽצְאָה חִנָּם:
רִבָּה לָהּ יְצִיאָה לָזוֹ יוֹתֵר מִמַּה שֶּׁרִבָּה לָעֲבָדִים, וּמַה הִיא הַיְצִיאָה? לִמֶּדְךָ שֶׁתֵּצֵא בְסִימָנִין וְתִשְׁהֶה עִמּוֹ עוֹד עַד שֶׁתָּבִיא סִימָנִין, – וְאִם הִגִּיעוּ שֵׁשׁ שָׁנִים קֹדֶם סִימָנִין, כְּבָר לָמַדְנוּ שֶׁתֵּצֵא, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר הָעִבְרִי אוֹ הָעִבְרִיָּה וַעֲבָדְךָ שֵׁשׁ שָׁנִים (דברים ט"ו) – וּמַהוּ הָאָמוּר כָּאן וְיָצְאָה חִנָּם? שֶׁאִם קָדְמוּ סִימָנִים לְשֵׁשׁ שָׁנִים תֵּצֵא בָהֵן. אוֹ אֵינוֹ אוֹמֵר שֶׁתֵּצֵא אֶלָּא בְּבַגְרוּת? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמָר אֵין כָּסֶף לְרַבּוֹת יְצִיאַת בַּגְרוּת; וְאִם לֹא נֶאֶמְרוּ שְׁנֵיהֶם הָיִיתִי אוֹמֵר וְיָצְאָה חִנָּם זוֹ בַגְרוּת, לְכָךְ נֶאֶמְרוּ שְׁנֵיהֶם שֶׁלֹּא לִתֵּן פִּתְחוֹן פֶּה לְבַעַל הַדִּין לַחֲלֹק (מכילתא):
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| 12One who strikes a man so that he dies shall surely be put to death. |
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יבמַכֵּ֥ה אִ֛ישׁ וָמֵ֖ת מ֥וֹת יוּמָֽת: |
| One who strikes a man so that he dies: Several verses have been written in the section dealing with murderers, and I will explain what I am able to explain [about] why they [these verses] are needed. |
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מַכֵּה אִישׁ וָמֵת:
כַּמָּה כְתוּבִים נֶאֶמְרוּ בְּפָרָשַׁת רוֹצְחִין, וּמַה שֶּׁבְּיָדִי לְפָרֵשׁ לָמָּה בָאוּ כֻלָּם, אֲפָרֵשׁ:
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| One who strikes a man so that he dies: Why was this said? Because it says: “And if a man strikes down any human being, he shall surely be put to death” (Lev. 24:17), I understand [that even if he deals him] a blow without death. Therefore, the Torah says: “He who strikes a man and he dies,” meaning that he is liable only for a blow causing death. If it said: “He who strikes a man,” and it did not say, “And if a man strikes down any human being,” I would say that one is liable only if one strikes a man. If one strikes a woman or a minor, how do we know [that one is liable]? Therefore, the Torah says: “if [a man] strikes down any human being,” referring even to a minor or even a woman. Also, if it said: “He who strikes a man,” I would understand that even a minor who struck and killed [someone] would be liable. Therefore, the Torah [specifically] says: “if a man strikes down,” but not a minor who strikes [someone] down. Also, “if… strikes down any human being” implies even a nonviable infant. Therefore, the Torah [here] says: “He who strikes a man,” implying one is liable only if one strikes a viable infant, one [who is] capable of becoming a man [i.e., an adult]. -[From Mechilta] |
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מַכֵּה אִישׁ וָמֵת:
לָמָּה נֶאֱמַר? לְפִי שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר וְאִישׁ כִּי יַכֶּה כָּל נֶפֶשׁ אָדָם (ויקרא כ"ד), שׁוֹמֵעַ אֲנִי הַכָּאָה בְלֹא מִיתָה, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר מַכֵּה אִישׁ וָמֵת – אֵינוֹ חַיָּב אֶלָּא בְּהַכָּאָה שֶׁל מִיתָה; וְאִם נֶאֱמַר מַכֵּה אִישׁ וְלֹא נֶאֱמַר וְאִישׁ כִּי יַכֶּה, הָיִיתִי אוֹמֵר אֵינוֹ חַיָּב עַד שֶׁיַּכֶּה אִישׁ, הִכָּה אֶת הָאִשָּׁה וְאֶת הַקָּטָן מִנַּיִן? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמָר כִּי יַכֶּה כָּל נֶפֶשׁ אָדָם – אֲפִלּוּ קָטָן וַאֲפִלּוּ אִשָּׁה; וְעוֹד, אִלּוּ נֶאֱמַר מַכֵּה אִישׁ, שׁוֹמֵעַ אֲנִי אֲפִלּוּ קָטָן שֶׁהִכָּה וְהָרַג יְהֵא חַיָּב, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמָר וְאִישׁ כִּי יַכֶּה, וְלֹא קָטָן שֶׁהִכָּה; וְעוֹד כִּי יַכֶּה כָּל נֶפֶשׁ אָדָם אֲפִלּוּ נְפָלִים בְּמַשְׁמָע, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמָר מַכֵּה אִישׁ, אֵינוֹ חַיָּב עַד שֶׁיַּכֶּה בֶן קַיָּמָא הָרָאוּי לִהְיוֹת אִישׁ (מכילתא):
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| 13But one who did not stalk [him], but God brought [it] about into his hand, I will make a place for you to which he shall flee. |
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יגוַֽאֲשֶׁר֙ לֹ֣א צָדָ֔ה וְהָֽאֱלֹהִ֖ים אִנָּ֣ה לְיָד֑וֹ וְשַׂמְתִּ֤י לְךָ֙ מָק֔וֹם אֲשֶׁ֥ר יָנ֖וּס שָֽׁמָּה: |
| But one who did not stalk [him]: He did not lie in wait for him, and he did not intend [to kill him]. -[From Sifrei, Num. 35:22] |
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וַֽאֲשֶׁר לֹא צָדָה:
לֹא אָרַב לוֹ וְלֹא נִתְכַּוֵּן:
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| stalk: Heb. צָדָה, an expression meaning “lie in wait.” And so does Scripture say: “but you are stalking (צֹדֶה) my soul to take it” (I Sam. 24:12). It is, however, impossible to say that צָדָה is an expression [that is] related to [hunting animals as in the following verse:] “the one who hunted game צַיִד) (הַצָּד ” (Gen. 27:33) [and to render: he did not hunt him down], because in [the expression of] hunting beasts, there is no “hey” in its verb, and the noun related to it is צַיִד, whereas the noun in this case is צְדִיָּה (Num. 35:20), and its verb is צוֹדֶה, but the verb of this one [namely hunting] is צָּד. I say, [therefore,] that this is to be interpreted as the Targum [Onkelos] renders: But he who did not stalk [him]. Menachem, however, classified it (Machbereth Menachem, p. 148) in the grouping along with הַצָּד צַיִד, but I disagree with him. If it is at all possible to classify it in one of the groupings of צד [enumerated by Menachem], we may classify it in the grouping of “on the side (צַד) you shall be borne” (Isa. 66:12); “I shall shoot to the side (צִדָּה) ” (I Sam. 20:20); “And he will speak words against [lit., to the side of] (לְצַד) the Most High” (Dan. 7:25). Here, too, אִשֶׁר לֹא צָדָה means that he did not look sideways (צִדֵּד) to find for him some occasion [lit., side] to kill him. This [interpretation] too is questionable. In any case, it is an expression of stalking. |
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צָדָה:
לְשׁוֹן אָרַב, וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר "וְאַתָּה צֹדֶה אֶת נַפְשִׁי" (שמואל א כ"ד); וְלֹא יִתָּכֵן לוֹמַר צָדָה לְשׁוֹן "הַצָּד צַיִד" (בראשית כ"ז), שֶׁצִּידַת חַיּוֹת אֵין נוֹפֵל ה"א בְּפֹעַל שֶׁלָּהּ, וְשֵׁם דָּבָר בָּהּ צַיִד, וְזֶה שֵׁם דָּבָר בּוֹ צְדִיָּה, וּפֹעַל שֶׁלּוֹ צוֹדֶה, וְזֶה הַפֹּעַל שֶׁלּוֹ צָד. וְאוֹמֵר אֲנִי פִּתְרוֹנוֹ כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ – וּדְלָא כְמַן לֵהּ. וּמְנַחֵם חִבְּרוֹ בְּחֵלֶק צָד צַיִד, וְאֵין אֲנִי מוֹדֶה לוֹ; וְאִם יֵשׁ לְחַבְּרוֹ בְּאַחַת מִמַּחְלָקוֹת שֶׁל צָד, נְחַבְּרֶנּוּ בְחֵלֶק "עַל צַד תִּנָּשֵׂאוּ" (ישעיהו ס"ו), "צִדָּה אוֹרֶה" (שמואל א כ'), "וּמִלִּין לְצַד עִלָּאָה יְמַלֵּל" (דניאל ז'), אַף כָּאן אֲשֶׁר לֹא צָדָה – לֹא צִדֵּד לִמְצֹא לוֹ שׁוּם צַד מִיתָה; וְאַף זֶה יֵשׁ לְהַרְהֵר עָלָיו, מִכָּל מָקוֹם לְשׁוֹן אוֹרֵב הוּא:
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| but God brought [it] about into his hand: Heb. אִנָּה, made it ready for his hand, an expression similar to “No harm will be prepared (תְאוּנֶּה) for you” (Ps. 91:10); No wrong shall be prepared (יְאוּנֶּה) (Prov. 12:21); [and] “he is preparing himself (מִתְאַנֶה) against me” (II Kings 5:7), [meaning that] he is preparing himself to find a pretext against me.. |
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וְהָֽאֱלֹהִים אִנָּה לְיָדוֹ:
זִמֵּן לְיָדוֹ, לְשׁוֹן "לֹא תְאֻנֶּה אֵלֶיךָ רָעָה" (תהילים צ"א), "לֹא יְאֻנֶּה לַצַּדִּיק כָּל אָוֶן" (משלי י"ב), "מִתְאַנֶּה הוּא לִי" (מלכים ב ה') – מִזְדַּמֵּן לִמְצֹא לִי עִלָּה:
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| but God brought [it] about into his hand: Now why should this go out from before Him? That is what David said, “As the proverb of the Ancient One says, ‘From the wicked comes forth wickedness’” (I Sam. 24:14). The proverb of the Ancient One is the Torah, which is the proverb of the Holy One, blessed is He, Who is the Ancient One of the world. Now where did the Torah say, “From the wicked comes forth wickedness?” [This refers to:] “but God brought [it] about into his hand.” To what is the text referring? To two people, one who killed unintentionally and one who killed intentionally, but there were no witnesses who would testify to the matter. This one [who killed intentionally] was not executed, and that one [who killed unintentionally] was not exiled [to the refuge cities]. So the Holy One, blessed is He, brings them [both] to one inn. The one who killed intentionally sits under a ladder, and the one who killed unintentionally is ascending the ladder, and he falls on the one who had killed intentionally and kills him, and witnesses testify about him and sentence him to exile. The result is that the one who killed unintentionally is exiled, and the one who killed intentionally was killed. -[From Mechilta, Makkoth 10b] |
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וְהָֽאֱלֹהִים אִנָּה לְיָדוֹ:
וְלָמָּה תֵצֵא זֹאת מִלְּפָנָיו? הוּא שֶׁאָמַר דָּוִד "כַּאֲשֶׁר יֹאמַר מְשַׁל הַקַּדְמֹנִי מֵרְשָׁעִים יֵצֵא רֶשַׁע" (שמואל א כ"ד); וּמְשַׁל הַקַּדְמוֹנִי הִיא הַתּוֹרָה, שֶׁהִיא מְשַׁל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא שֶׁהוּא קַדְמוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם; וְהֵיכָן אָמְרָה תוֹרָה מֵרְשָׁעִים יֵצֵא רֶשַׁע? וְהָאֱלֹהִים אִנָּה לְיָדוֹ. בַּמֶּה הַכָּתוּב מְדַבֵּר? בִּשְׁנֵי בְנֵי אָדָם, אֶחָד הָרַג שׁוֹגֵג וְאֶחָד הָרַג מֵזִיד, וְלֹא הָיוּ עֵדִים בַּדָּבָר שֶׁיָּעִידוּ, זֶה לֹא נֶהֱרַג, וְזֶה לֹא גָלָה, וְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מְזַמְּנָן לְפֻנְדָק אֶחָד, זֶה שֶׁהָרַג בְּמֵזִיד יוֹשֵׁב תַּחַת הַסֻּלָּם וְזֶה שֶׁהָרַג שׁוֹגֵג עוֹלֶה בַּסֻּלָּם וְנוֹפֵל עַל זֶה שֶׁהָרַג בְּמֵזִיד וְהוֹרְגוֹ, וְעֵדִים מְעִידִים עָלָיו וּמְחַיְּבִים אוֹתוֹ לִגְלוֹת, נִמְצָא זֶה שֶׁהָרַג בְּשׁוֹגֵג גּוֹלֶה, וְזֶה שֶׁהָרַג בְּמֵזִיד נֶהֱרָג (מכות י'):
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| I will make a place for you: Even in the desert, where he [the man who has murdered] shall flee, and what place affords him asylum? This is the camp of the Levites. -[From Mechilta, Mak. 12b] |
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וְשַׂמְתִּי לְךָ מָקוֹם:
אַף בַּמִּדְבָּר, שֶׁיָּנוּס שָׁמָּה, וְאֵי זֶה מָקוֹם קוֹלְטוֹ? זֶה מַחֲנֵה לְוִיָּה (מכילתא):
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| 14But if a man plots deliberately against his friend to slay him with cunning, [even] from My altar you shall take him to die. |
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ידוְכִֽי־יָזִ֥ד אִ֛ישׁ עַל־רֵעֵ֖הוּ לְהָרְג֣וֹ בְעָרְמָ֑ה מֵעִ֣ם מִזְבְּחִ֔י תִּקָּחֶ֖נּוּ לָמֽוּת: |
| But if… plots deliberately: Why was this said? Because it said: “One who strikes [a man so that he dies shall surely be put to death]” (verse 12), I [may] understand [this to apply to] a physician [who killed a patient], the agent of the court who killed by [administering] forty lashes, the father who strikes his son, the teacher who disciplines his pupil, and the unintentional [killer]. Therefore, the Torah states: “But if [a man] plots deliberately,” but not the unintentional [killer]; “to slay him with cunning,” but not the agent of the court, the physician, or the one who disciplines his son or his pupil, for although they are intentional [in striking], they do not act with cunning. -[From Mechilta] |
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וְכִֽי־יָזִד:
לָמָּה נֶאֱמַר? לְפִי שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר מַכֵּה אִישׁ וְגוֹ' שׁוֹמֵעַ אֲנִי אֲפִלּוּ גּוֹי, וְרוֹפֵא שֶׁהֵמִית וּשְׁלִיחַ בֵּית דִּין שֶׁהֵמִית בְּמַלְקוּת אַרְבָּעִים, וְהָאָב הַמַּכֶּה אֶת בְּנוֹ וְהָרַב הָרוֹדֶה אֶת תַּלְמִידוֹ, וְהַשּׁוֹגֵג, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמָר וְכִי יָזִד – וְלֹא שׁוֹגֵג, עַל רֵעֵהוּ – וְלֹא עַל גּוֹי, לְהָרְגוֹ בְעָרְמָה – וְלֹא שְׁלִיחַ בֵּית דִּין וְהָרוֹפֵא וְרוֹדֶה בְנוֹ וְתַלְמִידוֹ, שֶׁאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהֵם מְזִידִין אֵין מַעֲרִימִין (מכילתא):
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| [even] from My altar: if he were a kohen and wanted to perform the [sacrificial] service, you shall take him to die. [From Mechilta, Yoma 85a] |
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מֵעִם מִזְבְּחִי:
אִם הָיָה כֹהֵן וְרוֹצֶה לַעֲבֹד עֲבוֹדָה תִּקָּחֶנוּ לָמוּת (יומא פ"ה):
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| 15And one who strikes his father or his mother shall surely be put to death. |
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טווּמַכֵּ֥ה אָבִ֛יו וְאִמּ֖וֹ מ֥וֹת יוּמָֽת: |
| And one who strikes his father or his mother: Since we learned that one who strikes one’s fellow is liable to make monetary compensation (Exod. 21:18, 19, 24, 25), but he is not liable to death, the text had to state that one who strikes his father is liable to the death penalty, but he is not liable except for a blow that causes a wound. -[From Mechilta, Sanh. 84b] |
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וּמַכֵּה אָבִיו וְאִמּוֹ:
לְפִי שֶׁלִּמְּדָנוּ עַל הַחוֹבֵל בַּחֲבֵרוֹ שֶׁהוּא בְתַשְׁלוּמִין וְלֹא בְמִיתָה, הֻצְרַךְ לוֹמַר עַל הַחוֹבֵל בְּאָבִיו שֶׁהוּא בְמִיתָה, וְאֵינוֹ חַיָּב אֶלָּא בְהַכָּאָה שֶׁיֵּשׁ בָּהּ חַבּוּרָה (סנהדרין פ"ה):
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| his father or his mother: Either this one or that one. -[From Mechilta, Sanh. 85b] |
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אָבִיו וְאִמּוֹ:
אוֹ זֶה אוֹ זֶה:
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| shall surely be put to death: by strangulation. -[From Mechilta, Sanh. 85b] |
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מוֹת יוּמָֽת:
בְּחֶנֶק (מכילתא):
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| 16And whoever kidnaps a man and sells him, and he is found in his possession, shall surely be put to death. |
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טזוְגֹנֵ֨ב אִ֧ישׁ וּמְכָר֛וֹ וְנִמְצָ֥א בְיָד֖וֹ מ֥וֹת יוּמָֽת: |
| And whoever kidnaps a man: Why was this said [here since the law of kidnapping is mentioned elsewhere (Ho’il Moshe)]? Since it says (Deut. 24:7): “Should a man be found stealing a person from among his brothers” [meaning from the children of Israel, and he has worked with him and sold him, that thief shall die, and you shall clear away the evil from your midst]. [From here] I know only [that] a man who kidnapped a person [is liable to death]. How do I know if a woman, one of indeterminate sex, or a hermaphrodite kidnap [a person, that they too are liable to death]? Therefore, the Torah states: “And whoever kidnaps a man and sells him…” And since it says here: “And whoever kidnaps a man,” I know only that one who kidnaps a man [is liable to death]. How do I know that if one kidnaps a woman [he is also liable… to death]? Therefore, the Torah states (Deut. 24: 7): “stealing a person.” Therefore, both of them [both verses] were needed; what one [verse] left out the other [verse] filled in [lit., revealed]. -[From Mechilta, Sanh. 85b] |
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וְגֹנֵב אִישׁ וּמְכָרוֹ:
לָמָּה נֶאֱמַר? לְפִי שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר כִּי יִמָּצֵא אִישׁ גּוֹנֵב נֶפֶשׁ מֵאֶחָיו (דברים כ"ד), אֵין לִי אֶלָּא אִישׁ שֶׁגָּנַב נֶפֶשׁ, אִשָּׁה אוֹ טֻמְטוּם אוֹ אַנְדְּרוֹגִינוֹס שֶׁגָּנְבוּ מִנַּיִן? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמָר וְגֹנֵב אִישׁ וּמְכָרוֹ. וּלְפִי שֶׁנֶּאֱ' כָּאן וְגֹנֵב אִישׁ, אֵין לִי אֶלָּא גּוֹנֵב אִישׁ, גּוֹנֵב אִשָּׁה מִנַּיִן? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמָר גֹּנֵב נֶפֶשׁ, לְכָךְ הֻצְרְכוּ שְׁנֵיהֶם, מַה שֶּׁחִסֵּר זֶה גִּלָּה זֶה (סנהדרין שם):
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| and he is found in his possession: [I.e., this means] that witnesses saw him that he kidnapped him and sold him, and he [the kidnapped man] was found in his hand prior to the sale. -[From Mechilta] |
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וְנִמְצָא בְיָדוֹ:
שֶׁרָאוּהוּ עֵדִים שֶׁגְּנָבוֹ וּמְכָרוֹ, וְנִמְצָא כְבָר בְּיָדוֹ קֹדֶם מְכִירָה (שם):
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| shall surely be put to death: By strangulation. Every death penalty mentioned in the Torah without qualification is strangulation (Mechilta, Sanh. 84b). [God] interrupts the subject [of discussing sins against parents] and writes, “and whoever kidnaps a man” between [the verses] “one who strikes his father or his mother” and “one who curses his father or his mother.” It appears to me that that is [the underlying reason for] the controversy [found in Sanh. 85], that one Tannaic master believes that we are comparing striking [someone] to cursing [i.e., just as one is liable only if one curses a person who keeps the commandments as befits a Jew (see Exod. 22:27), so too is one liable only for striking a person who keeps the commandments, but not for striking a Cuthite], and the other master believes that we do not compare cursing to striking [and thus one would be liable for striking a Cuthite even though he does not keep the commandments]. -[Rashi, referring to Sanh. 85b] |
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מוֹת יוּמָֽת:
בְּחֶנֶק; כָּל מִיתָה הָאֲמוּרָה בַתּוֹרָה סְתָם חֶנֶק הִיא (וְהִפְסִיק הָעִנְיָן וְכָתַב וְגֹנֵב אִישׁ בֵּין מַכֵּה אָבִיו וְאִמּוֹ לִמְקַלֵּל אָבִיו, וְנִרְאֶה לִי הַיְנוּ פְּלוּגְתָּא, דְּמַר סָבַר מַקְּשִׁינַן הַכָּאָה לִקְלָלָה וּמַר סָבַר לָא מַקְּשִׁינַן (שם)):
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| 17And one who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death. |
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יזוּמְקַלֵּ֥ל אָבִ֛יו וְאִמּ֖וֹ מ֥וֹת יוּמָֽת: |
| And one who curses his father or his mother: Why was this said? Since [Scripture] says: “any man, any man who curses his father [or his mother shall surely be put to death]” (Lev. 20:9). [From there] I know only that if a man curses his father [he is liable to death]. How do I know that if a woman curses her father [she too is liable to death]? Therefore, Scripture says [here]: “And one who curses his father or his mother….” It makes an unqualified statement, meaning whether it is a man or a woman. If so, why does it say, “any man who curses?” [In order] to exclude a minor. -[From Mechilta] |
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וּמְקַלֵּל אָבִיו וְאִמּוֹ:
לָמָּה נֶאֱמַר? לְפִי שֶׁהוּא אוֹמֵר אִישׁ אִישׁ אֲשֶׁר יְקַלֵּל אֶת אָבִיו (ויקרא כ'), אֵין לִי אֶלָּא אִישׁ שֶׁקִּלֵּל אֶת אָבִיו, אִשָּׁה שֶׁקִּלְּלָה אֶת אָבִיהָ מִנַּיִן? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמָר וּמְקַלֵּל אָבִיו וְאִמּוֹ סְתָם, בֵּין אִישׁ וּבֵין אִשָּׁה, אִם כֵּן לָמָּה נֶאֱמַר אִישׁ אֲשֶׁר יְקַלֵּל? לְהוֹצִיא אֶת הַקָּטָן (מכילתא):
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| shall surely be put to death: By stoning. Wherever it says: “his blood is upon him,” [it means that he is to be put to death] by stoning. The model for all of them is “with rocks they shall stone them; their blood is upon them” (Lev. 20:27). Regarding the one who curses his father, it says: “his blood is upon him” (Lev. 20:9). -[From Mechilta; Sanh. 66a; Sifra, end of Kedoshim] |
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מוֹת יוּמָֽת:
בִּסְקִילָה; וְכָל מָקוֹם שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר דָּמָיו בּוֹ בִּסְקִילָה, וּבִנְיַן אָב לְכֻלָּם בָּאֶבֶן יִרְגְּמוּ אֹתָם דְּמֵיהֶם בָּם (ויקרא כ'), וּבִמְקַלֵּל אָבִיו וְאִמּוֹ נֶאֱמַר דָּמָיו בּוֹ:
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| 18And if men quarrel, and one strikes the other with a stone or with a fist, and he does not die but is confined to [his] bed, |
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יחוְכִֽי־יְרִיבֻ֣ן אֲנָשִׁ֔ים וְהִכָּה־אִישׁ֙ אֶת־רֵעֵ֔הוּ בְּאֶ֖בֶן א֣וֹ בְאֶגְרֹ֑ף וְלֹ֥א יָמ֖וּת וְנָפַ֥ל לְמִשְׁכָּֽב: |
| And if men quarrel: Why was this said? Since it says: “An eye for an eye” (Exod. 21:24), we learn only [that if one assaults his fellow, he must pay] the value of his limbs [which he amputated or rendered permanently useless], but [payment for] idleness and healing we have not [yet] learned. Therefore, this section, [which delineates those payments,] was stated. -[From Mechilta] |
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וְכִֽי־יְרִיבֻן אֲנָשִׁים:
לָמָּה נֶאֱמַר? לְפִי שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר עַיִן תַּחַת עַיִן, לֹא לָמַדְנוּ אֶלָּא דְּמֵי אֵבָרָיו אֲבָל שֶׁבֶת וְרִפּוּי לֹא לָמַדְנוּ, לְכָךְ נֶאֶמְרָה פָּרָשָׁה זוֹ:
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| but is confined to [his] bed: Heb. וְנָפַל לְמִשְׁכָּב, as the Targum [Onkelos] renders: לְבוּטְלָן, and he falls into idleness, [meaning] into an illness that prevents him from working. |
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וְנָפַל לְמִשְׁכָּֽב:
כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ וְיִפֵּל לְבוּטְלָן – לְחֹלִי שֶׁמְּבַטְּלוֹ מִמְּלַאכְתּוֹ:
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| 19if he gets up and walks about outside on his support, the assailant shall be cleared; he shall give only [payment] for his [enforced] idleness, and he shall provide for his cure. |
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יטאִם־יָק֞וּם וְהִתְהַלֵּ֥ךְ בַּח֛וּץ עַל־מִשְׁעַנְתּ֖וֹ וְנִקָּ֣ה הַמַּכֶּ֑ה רַ֥ק שִׁבְתּ֛וֹ יִתֵּ֖ן וְרַפֹּ֥א יְרַפֵּֽא: |
| on his support: Heb. עַל-מִשְׁעַנְתּוֹ, with his health and his strength. -[From Mechilta]. |
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עַל־מִשְׁעַנְתּוֹ:
עַל בֻּרְיוֹ וְכֹחוֹ (מכילתא):
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| the assailant shall be cleared: Now would it enter your mind that one who did not kill should be killed? But rather, [the Torah] teaches you here that they imprison him until it becomes apparent whether this one [the victim] will get well, and this is its meaning: When this one gets up and walks on his support, then the assailant shall be cleared, but before this one [the victim] gets up, the assailant shall not be cleared. -[From Keth. 33b] |
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וְנִקָּה הַמַּכֶּה:
וְכִי תַעֲלֶה עַל דַּעְתְּךָ שֶׁיֵּהָרֵג זֶה שֶׁלֹּא הָרַג? אֶלָּא לִמֶּדְךָ כָאן שֶׁחוֹבְשִׁים אוֹתוֹ עַד שֶׁנִּרְאֶה אִם יִתְרַפֵּא זֶה; וְכֵן מַשְׁמָעוֹ: כְּשֶׁקָּם זֶה וְהוֹלֵךְ עַל מִשְׁעַנְתּוֹ אָז נִקָּה הַמַּכֶּה, אֲבָל עַד שֶׁלֹּא יָקוּם זֶה לֹא נִקָּה הַמַּכֶּה (כתובות ל"ג):
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| only [payment] for his [enforced] idleness: Heb. שִׁבְתּוֹ, the [enforced] idleness from his work due to the illness. If he cut off his hand or his foot, we assess [payment for] the idleness as if he were a watchman of a cucumber field, because even after [recovery from] the illness, he is not fit for work that requires a hand or foot, and he [the assailant] already gave him as payment for his damage the value of his hand and his foot, as it is said: “a hand for a hand, a foot for a foot” (Exod. 21:24). -[From B.K. 83b, 85b, Tosefta B.K. 9:1] |
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רַק שִׁבְתּוֹ:
בִּטּוּל מְלַאכְתּוֹ מֵחֲמַת הַחֹלִי; אִם קָטַע יָדוֹ אוֹ רַגְלוֹ, רוֹאִין בִּטּוּל מְלַאכְתּוֹ מֵחֲמַת הַחֹלִי כְאִלּוּ שׁוֹמֵר קִשּׁוּאִין, שֶׁהֲרֵי אַף לְאַחַר הַחֹלִי אֵינוֹ רָאוּי לִמְלֶאכֶת יָד וָרֶגֶל, וְהוּא כְבָר נָתַן לוֹ מֵחֲמַת נִזְקוֹ דְּמֵי יָדוֹ וְרַגְלוֹ, שֶׁנֶּ' יָד תַּחַת יָד רֶגֶל תַּחַת רָגֶל:
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| and he shall provide for his cure: As the Targum [Onkelos] renders: and he shall pay the physician’s fee. |
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וְרַפֹּא יְרַפֵּֽא:
כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ – יְשַׁלֵּם שְׂכַר הָרוֹפֵא:
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