Bamidbar (Numbers) Chapter 35

9God spoke to Moses, saying:   טוַיְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶל־משֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר:
10“Speak to the Israelites and say to them, ‘When you cross the Jordan River, into Canaan,   ידַּבֵּר֙ אֶל־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְאָֽמַרְתָּ֖ אֲלֵהֶ֑ם כִּ֥י אַתֶּ֛ם עֹֽבְרִ֥ים אֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּ֖ן אַ֥רְצָה כְּנָֽעַן:
11you must designate cities for yourselves that will be cities of refuge for you: a murderer who killed a person unintentionally must flee there.   יאוְהִקְרִיתֶ֤ם לָכֶם֙ עָרִ֔ים עָרֵ֥י מִקְלָ֖ט תִּֽהְיֶ֣ינָה לָכֶ֑ם וְנָ֥ס שָׁ֨מָּה֙ רֹצֵ֔חַ מַכֵּה־נֶ֖פֶשׁ בִּשְׁגָגָֽה:
וְהִקְרִיתֶם - You must designate. The form הַקְרָיָה always denotes preparation. Similarly it says: “because God, your God, arranged it (הִקְרָה) for me.” 1   וְהִקְרִיתֶם.  אֵין הַקְרָיָה אֶלָּא לְשׁוֹן הַזְמָנָה, וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר "כִּי הִקְרָה ה' אֱלֹהֶיךָ לְפָנָי" (בראשית כ"ז):
12These cities must serve you as a refuge from an avenger, so that the murderer not die until he stands in judgment before the community.   יבוְהָי֨וּ לָכֶ֧ם הֶֽעָרִ֛ים לְמִקְלָ֖ט מִגֹּאֵ֑ל וְלֹ֤א יָמוּת֙ הָֽרֹצֵ֔חַ עַד־עָמְד֛וֹ לִפְנֵ֥י הָֽעֵדָ֖ה לַמִּשְׁפָּֽט:
מִגֹּאֵל - From an avenger - i.e., for one fleeing from the blood avenger, who is a relative of the murdered person.   מִגֹּאֵל.  מִפְּנֵי גּוֹאֵל הַדָּם, שֶׁהוּא קָרוֹב לַנִּרְצָח:
13The cities that you provide will function as six cities of refuge for you.   יגוְהֶֽעָרִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר תִּתֵּ֑נוּ שֵֽׁשׁ־עָרֵ֥י מִקְלָ֖ט תִּֽהְיֶ֥ינָה לָכֶֽם:
שֵֽׁשׁ־עָרֵי מִקְלָט - Six cities of refuge. This tells us that although Moses separated three cities on the other side of the Jordan during his lifetime, they did not provide refuge until the three that Joshua appointed in Canaan were designated.   שֵֽׁשׁ־עָרֵי מִקְלָט.  מַגִּיד שֶׁאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהִבְדִּיל מֹשֶׁה בְּחַיָּיו שָׁלוֹשׁ עָרִים בְּעֵבֶר הַיַּרְדֵּן, לֹא הָיוּ קוֹלְטוֹת עַד שֶׁנִּבְחֲרוּ שָׁלֹשׁ שֶׁנָּתַן יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בְּאֶרֶץ כְּנַעַן (ספרי; מכות ט'):
14You must provide three of the cities in Transjordan and three of the cities in Canaan to serve as cities of refuge.   ידאֵ֣ת | שְׁל֣שׁ הֶֽעָרִ֗ים תִּתְּנוּ֙ מֵעֵ֣בֶר לַיַּרְדֵּ֔ן וְאֵת֙ שְׁל֣שׁ הֶֽעָרִ֔ים תִּתְּנ֖וּ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ כְּנָ֑עַן עָרֵ֥י מִקְלָ֖ט תִּֽהְיֶֽינָה:
אֵת שְׁלשׁ הֶֽעָרִים וגו' - Three of the cities… Although in the land of Canaan there were nine tribes, and here, east of the Jordan, there were only two and a half, the number of refuge cities were equal, because murderers were more numerous in Gilead, as it says: “Gilead is a city of iniquitous people, of those who ambush for bloodshed.” 2   אֵת שְׁלשׁ הֶֽעָרִים וגו'.  אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁבְּאֶרֶץ כְּנַעַן תִּשְׁעָה שְׁבָטִים וְכָאן אֵינָן אֶלָּא שְׁנַיִם וָחֵצִי, הִשְׁוָה מִנְיַן עָרֵי הַמִּקְלָט שֶׁלָּהֶם, מִשּׁוּם דִּבְגִלְעָד נְפִישֵׁי רוֹצְחִים, דִּכְתִיב (הושע ו') "גִּלְעָד קִרְיַת פֹּעֲלֵי אָוֶן עֲקֻבָּה מִדָּם" (שם):
15These six cities will provide refuge for the Israelites and for the convert and resident alien among them, so that anyone who unintentionally kills a person can flee there.   טולִבְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל וְלַגֵּ֤ר וְלַתּוֹשָׁב֙ בְּתוֹכָ֔ם תִּֽהְיֶ֛ינָה שֵֽׁשׁ־הֶֽעָרִ֥ים הָאֵ֖לֶּה לְמִקְלָ֑ט לָנ֣וּס שָׁ֔מָּה כָּל־מַכֵּה־נֶ֖פֶשׁ בִּשְׁגָגָֽה:
16If he struck him with an iron instrument and he died, he is a murderer; the murderer must be put to death.   טזוְאִם־בִּכְלִ֨י בַרְזֶ֧ל | הִכָּ֛הוּ וַיָּמֹ֖ת רֹצֵ֣חַ ה֑וּא מ֥וֹת יוּמַ֖ת הָֽרֹצֵֽחַ:
וְאִם־בִּכְלִי בַרְזֶל הִכָּהוּ - If he struck him with an iron instrument. This does not refer to one who kills inadvertently, to whose case it is juxtaposed, but to one who kills intentionally. It teaches us that regarding someone who kills with an object, that object must be of the size that can kill, as it says regarding all of them: אֲשֶׁר יָמוּת בּוֹ, which Onkelos translates as: דְּהוּא כְמִסַּת דִּימוּת בֵּהּ “that has the measure by which he can die.” The exception is iron, for it is clear to the Holy One, blessed be He, that even a minute amount of iron can kill, even a needle, and therefore the Torah did not give a measure for it, to write about it: אֲשֶׁר יָמוּת בּוֹ “that can cause death.” Should you say that Scripture is indeed speaking of one who kills inadvertently, I answer that below it says: “or he threw down any deadly stone at him without seeing,” 3 which by inference teaches us that the verses stated above are speaking of one who kills intentionally.   וְאִם־בִּכְלִי בַרְזֶל הִכָּהוּ.  אֵין זֶה מְדַבֵּר בְּהוֹרֵג בְּשׁוֹגֵג הַסָּמוּךְ לוֹ, אֶלָּא בְּהוֹרֵג בְּמֵזִיד, וּבָא לְלַמֵּד שֶׁהַהוֹרֵג בְּכָל דָּבָר צָרִיךְ שֶׁיְּהֵא בוֹ שִׁעוּר כְּדֵי לְהָמִית, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בְּכֻלָּם "אֲשֶׁר יָמוּת בּוֹ", דִּמְתַּרְגְּמִינַן "דְּהִיא כְמִסַּת דִּימוּת בֵּיהּ", חוּץ מִן הַבַּרְזֶל, שֶׁגָּלוּי וְיָדוּעַ לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא שֶׁהַבַּרְזֶל מֵמִית בְּכָל שֶׁהוּא, אֲפִלּוּ מַחַט, לְפִיכָךְ לֹא נָתְנָה בוֹ תּוֹרָה שִׁעוּר לִכְתֹּב בּוֹ אֲשֶׁר יָמוּת בּוֹ; וְאִם תֹּאמַר בְּהוֹרֵג בְּשׁוֹגֵג הַכָּתוּב מְדַבֵּר, הֲרֵי הוּא אוֹמֵר לְמַטָּה אוֹ בכל אבן אשר ימות בה בלא ראות וְגוֹ', לִמֵּד עַל הָאֲמוּרִים לְמַעְלָה שֶׁבְּהוֹרֵג בְּמֵזִיד הַכָּתוּב מְדַבֵּר:
17If he struck him with a deadly fist-sized stone and he dies, he is a murderer; the murderer must be put to death.   יזוְאִ֡ם בְּאֶ֣בֶן יָד֩ אֲשֶׁר־יָמ֨וּת בָּ֥הּ הִכָּ֛הוּ וַיָּמֹ֖ת רֹצֵ֣חַ ה֑וּא מ֥וֹת יוּמַ֖ת הָֽרֹצֵֽחַ:
בְּאֶבֶן יָד - (lit.) With a stone of a hand - means: that it is of a size that fills a hand.   בְּאֶבֶן יָד.  שֶׁיֵּשׁ בָּהּ מְלֹא יָד (ספרי):
אֲשֶׁר־יָמוּת בָּהּ - i.e., that has the measure that can cause death, as Onkelos translates it. For since it says: “and one man strikes the other with a stone,” 4 but does not give its measure, I might think that it means even of minute size. It therefore says here: אֲשֶׁר יָמוּת בָּהּ “that can cause death.”   אֲשֶׁר־יָמוּת בָּהּ.  שֶׁיֵּשׁ בָּהּ שִׁעוּר לְהָמִית, כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ; לְפִי שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "וְהִכָּה אִישׁ אֶת רֵעֵהוּ בְּאֶבֶן" (שמות כ"א), וְלֹא נָתַן בָּהּ שִׁעוּר, יָכוֹל כָּל שֶׁהוּא, לְכָךְ נֶאֱמַר אשר ימות בה:
18Or if he struck him with a deadly fist-sized wooden instrument and he dies, he is a murderer; the murderer must be put to death.   יחא֡וֹ בִּכְלִ֣י עֵץ־יָד֩ אֲשֶׁר־יָמ֨וּת בּ֥וֹ הִכָּ֛הוּ וַיָּמֹ֖ת רֹצֵ֣חַ ה֑וּא מ֥וֹת יוּמַ֖ת הָֽרֹצֵֽחַ:
אוֹ בִּכְלִי עֵץ־יָד - Or…with a fist-size wooden instrument. Since it says: “If a man strikes his bondman or bondwoman with a rod,” 5 I might think that it means even one of minute size. It therefore says here regarding wood: אֲשֶׁר יָמוּת בּוֹ “that can cause death,” i.e., that it must have the size that can cause death.   אוֹ בִּכְלִי עֵץ־יָד.  לְפִי שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שם) "וְכִי יַכֶּה אִישׁ אֶת עַבְדּוֹ אוֹ אֶת אֲמָתוֹ בַּשֵּׁבֶט", יָכוֹל כָּל שֶׁהוּא, לְכָךְ נֶאֱמַר "בְּעֵץ אֲשֶׁר יָמוּת בּוֹ" — שֶׁיְּהֵא בּוֹ כְּדֵי לְהָמִית (ספרי):
19The blood avenger will kill the murderer; he may kill him wherever he meets him.   יטגֹּאֵ֣ל הַדָּ֔ם ה֥וּא יָמִ֖ית אֶת־הָֽרֹצֵ֑חַ בְּפִגְעוֹ־ב֖וֹ ה֥וּא יְמִתֶֽנּוּ:
בְּפִגְעוֹ־בוֹ - Wherever he meets him - even within the cities of refuge.   בְּפִגְעוֹ־בוֹ.  אֲפִלּוּ בְּתוֹךְ עָרֵי מִקְלָט:
20If, out of hatred, he pushed him or threw something at him in ambush, and he died,   כוְאִם־בְּשִׂנְאָ֖ה יֶהְדֳּפֶ֑נּוּ אֽוֹ־הִשְׁלִ֥יךְ עָלָ֛יו בִּצְדִיָּ֖ה וַיָּמֹֽת:
בִּצְדִיָּה - Its meaning is as Onkelos translates it: בְּכַמְנָא “by ambush.”   בִּצְדִיָּה.  כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ, "בְּכָמְנָא" — בְּמַאֲרָב:
21or if he maliciously struck him with his hand and he died, the assailant must be put to death; he is a murderer. The blood avenger may kill the murderer wherever he meets him.   כאא֣וֹ בְאֵיבָ֞ה הִכָּ֤הוּ בְיָדוֹ֙ וַיָּמֹ֔ת מֽוֹת־יוּמַ֥ת הַמַּכֶּ֖ה רֹצֵ֣חַ ה֑וּא גֹּאֵ֣ל הַדָּ֗ם יָמִ֛ית אֶת־הָֽרֹצֵ֖חַ בְּפִגְעוֹ־בֽוֹ:
22If he pushed him accidentally, without malice, or threw an object at him not in ambush,   כבוְאִם־בְּפֶ֥תַע בְּלֹֽא־אֵיבָ֖ה הֲדָפ֑וֹ אֽוֹ־הִשְׁלִ֥יךְ עָלָ֛יו כָּל־כְּלִ֖י בְּלֹ֥א צְדִיָּֽה:
בְּפֶתַע - means: accidentally. Onkelos translates it as: בִּתְכֵיף “close by,” i.e., the victim was near him and he did not have time to be careful about him.   בְּפֶתַע.  בְּאֹנֶס, וְתַרְגּוּמוֹ "בִּתְכֵיף", שֶׁהָיָה סָמוּךְ לוֹ וְלֹא הָיָה לוֹ שָׁהוּת לְהִזָּהֵר עָלָיו:
23or he threw down any deadly stone at him without seeing and it killed him, but he was not his enemy and bore him no malice,   כגא֣וֹ בְכָל־אֶ֜בֶן אֲשֶׁר־יָמ֥וּת בָּהּ֙ בְּלֹ֣א רְא֔וֹת וַיַּפֵּ֥ל עָלָ֖יו וַיָּמֹ֑ת וְהוּא֙ לֹֽא־אוֹיֵ֣ב ל֔וֹ וְלֹ֥א מְבַקֵּ֖שׁ רָֽעָתֽוֹ:
אוֹ בְכָל־אֶבֶן אֲשֶׁר־יָמוּת בָּהּ - (lit.) Or with any deadly stone - he struck him.   אוֹ בְכָל־אֶבֶן אֲשֶׁר־יָמוּת בָּהּ.  הִכָּהוּ:
בְּלֹא רְאוֹת - Without seeing. i.e., he did not see him.   בְּלֹא רְאוֹת.  שֶׁלֹּא רָאָהוּ:
וַיַּפֵּל עָלָיו - He threw down…at him. Based on this, our sages said: 6 Someone who kills accidentally with a downward movement is exiled, but someone who does so with an upward movement is not exiled.   וַיַּפֵּל עָלָיו.  מִכָּאן אָמְרוּ הַהוֹרֵג דֶּרֶךְ יְרִידָה גּוֹלֶה, דֶּרֶךְ עֲלִיָּה אֵינוֹ גוֹלֶה (מכות ז:):
24the community must judge between the assailant and the blood avenger, on the basis of these judgments.   כדוְשָֽׁפְטוּ֙ הָֽעֵדָ֔ה בֵּ֚ין הַמַּכֶּ֔ה וּבֵ֖ין גֹּאֵ֣ל הַדָּ֑ם עַ֥ל הַמִּשְׁפָּטִ֖ים הָאֵֽלֶּה:
25The community must protect the murderer from the hand of the blood avenger, and the community must return him to the city of refuge to which he had fled. He must remain there until the high priest, who was anointed with the sacred oil, dies.   כהוְהִצִּ֨ילוּ הָֽעֵדָ֜ה אֶת־הָֽרֹצֵ֗חַ מִיַּד֘ גֹּאֵ֣ל הַדָּם֒ וְהֵשִׁ֤יבוּ אֹתוֹ֙ הָֽעֵדָ֔ה אֶל־עִ֥יר מִקְלָט֖וֹ אֲשֶׁר־נָ֣ס שָׁ֑מָּה וְיָ֣שַׁב בָּ֗הּ עַד־מוֹת֙ הַכֹּהֵ֣ן הַגָּדֹ֔ל אֲשֶׁר־מָשַׁ֥ח אֹת֖וֹ בְּשֶׁ֥מֶן הַקֹּֽדֶשׁ:
עַד־מוֹת הַכֹּהֵן הגדול - Until the high priest dies - as by his service he enables the Divine Presence to rest among Israel and lengthens their lives, whereas the murderer, by his actions, causes the Divine Presence to be banished from Israel and shortens their lives, so it is not fitting that he be in the presence of the high priest. Another explanation: this time is given because the high priest should have prayed that this misfortune not occur among Israel during his lifetime.   עַד־מוֹת הַכֹּהֵן הגדול.  שֶׁהוּא בָא לְהַשְׁרוֹת שְׁכִינָה בְיִשְׂרָאֵל וּלְהַאֲרִיךְ יְמֵיהֶם, וְהָרוֹצֵחַ בָּא לְסַלֵּק אֶת הַשְּׁכִינָה מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל וּמְקַצֵּר אֶת יְמֵי הַחַיִּים, אֵינוֹ כְדַאי שֶׁיְּהֵא לִפְנֵי כֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל (ספרי); דָּבָר אַחֵר — לְפִי שֶׁהָיָה לוֹ לְכֹהֵן גָּדוֹל לְהִתְפַּלֵּל שֶׁלֹּא תֶאֱרַע תַּקָּלָה זוֹ לְיִשְׂרָאֵל בְּחַיָּיו (עי' מכות י"א):
אֲשֶׁר־מָשַׁח אותו בְּשֶׁמֶן הַקֹּֽדֶשׁ - (lit.) Who anointed him with the sacred oil. According to its contextual meaning, it is an abbreviated verse, for it does not specify who anointed him. Rather, it is as if it was written: “whom the anointer anointed with the sacred oil.” But our sages expounded it in Tractate Makot 7 to demonstrate a ruling, namely, to teach us that if the high priest died before the murderer’s trial was completed and another was appointed in his place and only after that was his verdict pronounced, he returns home only upon the death of the second high priest, as it says: אֲשֶׁר מָשַׁח אֹתוֹ “who anointed him.” Now, did he anoint the high priest, or did the priest anoint him?! Rather, it is stated to include the high priest who was anointed during his days as a murderer, implying that he allows him to return home through his death.   אֲשֶׁר־מָשַׁח אותו בְּשֶׁמֶן הַקֹּֽדֶשׁ.  לְפִי פְשׁוּטוֹ מִן הַמִּקְרָאוֹת הַקְּצָרִים הוּא, שֶׁלֹּא פֵּרֵשׁ מִי מְשָׁחוֹ, אֶלָּא כְּמוֹ אֲשֶׁר מְשָׁחוֹ הַמּוֹשֵׁחַ אוֹתוֹ בְּשֶׁמֶן הַקֹּדֶשׁ; וְרַבּוֹתֵינוּ דְרָשׁוּהוּ בְמַסֶּכֶת מַכּוֹת (שם) לִרְאָיַת דָּבָר, לְלַמֵּד שֶׁאִם עַד שֶׁלֹּא נִגְמַר דִּינוֹ מֵת הַכֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל וּמִנּוּ אַחֵר תַּחְתָּיו, וּלְאַחַר מִכָּאן נִגְמַר דִּינוֹ, חוֹזֵר בְּמִיתָתוֹ שֶׁל שֵׁנִי, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר אשר משח אתו, וְכִי הוּא מוֹשְׁחוֹ לַכֹּהֵן אוֹ הַכֹּהֵן מָשַׁח אוֹתוֹ? אֶלָּא לְהָבִיא אֶת הַנִּמְשָׁח בְּיָמָיו שֶׁמַּחֲזִירוֹ בְּמִיתָתוֹ:
26But if the murderer goes beyond the border of the city of refuge to which he had fled,   כווְאִם־יָצֹ֥א יֵצֵ֖א הָֽרֹצֵ֑חַ אֶת־גְּבוּל֙ עִ֣יר מִקְלָט֔וֹ אֲשֶׁ֥ר יָנ֖וּס שָֽׁמָּה:
27and the blood avenger finds him outside the limits of his city of refuge, the blood avenger must slay the murderer, for it is as if he is already dead and has no blood,   כזוּמָצָ֤א אֹתוֹ֙ גֹּאֵ֣ל הַדָּ֔ם מִח֕וּץ לִגְב֖וּל עִ֣יר מִקְלָט֑וֹ וְרָצַ֞ח גֹּאֵ֤ל הַדָּם֙ אֶת־הָ֣רֹצֵ֔חַ אֵ֥ין ל֖וֹ דָּֽם:
אֵין לוֹ דָּֽם - He has no blood - i.e., he is like one who killed a dead man, who has no blood.   אֵין לוֹ דָּֽם.  הֲרֵי הוּא כְּהוֹרֵג אֶת הַמֵּת, שֶׁאֵין לוֹ דָּם:
28for he must remain in his city of refuge until the high priest dies. After the high priest has died, the murderer may return to the land which is his estate.   כחכִּ֣י בְעִ֤יר מִקְלָטוֹ֙ יֵשֵׁ֔ב עַד־מ֖וֹת הַכֹּהֵ֣ן הַגָּדֹ֑ל וְאַֽחֲרֵי־מוֹת֙ הַכֹּהֵ֣ן הַגָּדֹ֔ל יָשׁוּב֙ הָֽרֹצֵ֔חַ אֶל־אֶ֖רֶץ אֲחֻזָּתֽוֹ:
29These laws will be a rule of justice for you, for all your generations, in all your dwelling places.   כטוְהָי֨וּ אֵ֧לֶּה לָכֶ֛ם לְחֻקַּ֥ת מִשְׁפָּ֖ט לְדֹרֹֽתֵיכֶ֑ם בְּכֹ֖ל מֽוֹשְׁבֹֽתֵיכֶֽם:
בְּכֹל מֽוֹשְׁבֹֽתֵיכֶֽם - In all your dwelling places. This teaches us that a minor Sanhedrin (of 23 judges) may function outside the Land of Israel whenever the great Sanhedrin is functioning in the Land of Israel.   בְּכֹל מֽוֹשְׁבֹֽתֵיכֶֽם.  לִמֵּד שֶׁתְּהֵא סַנְהֶדְרִין קְטַנָּה נוֹהֶגֶת בְּחוּצָה לָאָרֶץ כָּל זְמַן שֶׁנּוֹהֶגֶת בְּאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל (מכות ז'):
30Regarding whoever kills a person, he must slay the murderer on the testimony of witnesses. The testimony of a single witness must not be accepted to convict a person of the death penalty.   לכָּל־מַ֨כֵּה־נֶ֔פֶשׁ לְפִ֣י עֵדִ֔ים יִרְצַ֖ח אֶת־הָֽרֹצֵ֑חַ וְעֵ֣ד אֶחָ֔ד לֹא־יַֽעֲנֶ֥ה בְנֶ֖פֶשׁ לָמֽוּת:
כָּל־מַכֵּה־נֶפֶשׁ וגו' - Regarding whoever kills a person…. i.e., someone who comes to kill someone for having killed a person.   כָּל־מַכֵּה־נֶפֶשׁ וגו'.  הַבָּא לְהָרְגוֹ עַל שֶׁהִכָּה אֶת הַנֶּפֶשׁ (עי' ספרי):
לְפִי עֵדִים יִרְצַח - He must slay [the murderer] on the testimony of witnesses - i.e., who will testify that the murderer killed intentionally and after having been warned.   לְפִי עֵדִים יִרְצַח.  שֶׁיָּעִידוּ שֶׁבְּמֵזִיד וּבְהַתְרָאָה הֲרָגוֹ:
31You must not accept ransom for the life of a murderer who is guilty of death, for he must be put to death.   לאוְלֹֽא־תִקְח֥וּ כֹ֨פֶר֙ לְנֶ֣פֶשׁ רֹצֵ֔חַ אֲשֶׁר־ה֥וּא רָשָׁ֖ע לָמ֑וּת כִּי־מ֖וֹת יוּמָֽת:
וְלֹֽא־תִקְחוּ כֹפֶר - You must not accept ransom - i.e., he cannot be acquitted through money.   וְלֹֽא־תִקְחוּ כֹפֶר.  לֹא יִפָּטֵר בְּמָמוֹן (כתובות ל"ז):
32You must not accept ransom for one who has fled to his city of refuge, to allow him to return to live in the land before the high priest has died.   לבוְלֹֽא־תִקְח֣וּ כֹ֔פֶר לָנ֖וּס אֶל־עִ֣יר מִקְלָט֑וֹ לָשׁוּב֙ לָשֶׁ֣בֶת בָּאָ֔רֶץ עַד־מ֖וֹת הַכֹּהֵֽן:
וְלֹֽא־תִקְחוּ כֹפֶר לָנוּס אֶל־עִיר מִקְלָטוֹ - You must not accept ransom for one who has fled to his city of refuge - i.e., one who fled to a refuge city for having killed inadvertently is not exempted from exile through money, by giving a ransom in order to return and dwell elsewhere in the land before the high priest dies.   וְלֹֽא־תִקְחוּ כֹפֶר לָנוּס אֶל־עִיר מִקְלָטוֹ.  לְמִי שֶׁנָּס אֶל עִיר מִקְלָט, שֶׁהָרַג בְּשׁוֹגֵג, אֵינוֹ נִפְטָר מִגָּלוּת בְּמָמוֹן, לִתֵּן כֹּפֶר לשוב לשבת בארץ טֶרֶם יָמוּת הַכֹּהֵן (שם):
לָנוּס - is the equivalent of לְנָס “for one who fled,” similar to: שׁוּבֵי מִלְחָמָה “those who have returned from battle”; 8 and similarly: נוּגֵי מִמּוֹעֵד “those removed from the festivals”; 9 and similarly: כִּי מֻלִים הָיוּ “for they were circumcised.” 10 Just as you use the term שׁוּב about one who has already returned, and מוּל about one who is already circumcised, so, too, you say לָנוּס about one who has already fled, and he is termed נוּס, i.e., “one made to flee” (in the passive voice). Should you say that לָנוּס means “to flee,” and explain this phrase as meaning: “you must not accept ransom for one who has to flee” in order to exempt him from exile, then I do not know how it can say further: “to return to live in the land,” for he has not yet fled, so from where can he return?   לָנוּס.  כְּמוֹ לַנָּס, כְּמוֹ "שׁוּבֵי מִלְחָמָה" (מיכה ב') — שֶׁשָּׁבוּ מִן הַמִּלְחָמָה, וְכֵן "נוּגֵי מִמּוֹעֵד" (צפניה ג'), וְכֵן "כִּי מֻלִים הָיוּ" (יהושע ה'); כַּאֲשֶׁר תֹּאמַר שׁוּב עַל מִי שֶׁשָּׁב כְּבָר, וּמוּל עַל שֶׁמָּל כְּבָר, כֵּן תֹּאמַר לָנוּס עַל מִי שֶׁנָּס כְּבָר, וְקוֹרֵהוּ נוּס, כְּלוֹמַר מֻבְרָח. וְאִם תֹּאמַר לָנוּס — לִבְרֹחַ, וּתְפָרְשֵׁהוּ לֹא תִקְחוּ כֹפֶר לְמִי שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ לִבְרֹחַ לְפָטְרוֹ מִן הַגָּלוּת (עי' ספרי), לֹא יָדַעְתִּי הֵיאַךְ יֹאמַר לָשׁוּב לָשֶׁבֶת בָּאָרֶץ, הֲרֵי עֲדַיִן לֹא נָס, וּמֵהֵיכָן יָשׁוּב?:
33You must not render the land in which you live culpable, for the blood of the murdered renders the land culpable, and the blood that is shed in the land through murder cannot be atoned for except through the blood of the one who shed it.   לגוְלֹא־תַֽחֲנִ֣יפוּ אֶת־הָאָ֗רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֤ר אַתֶּם֙ בָּ֔הּ כִּ֣י הַדָּ֔ם ה֥וּא יַֽחֲנִ֖יף אֶת־הָאָ֑רֶץ וְלָאָ֣רֶץ לֹֽא־יְכֻפַּ֗ר לַדָּם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר שֻׁפַּךְ־בָּ֔הּ כִּי־אִ֖ם בְּדַ֥ם שֹֽׁפְכֽוֹ:
וְלֹא־תַֽחֲנִיפוּ - although חנף usually denotes flattery, the phrase here means: “you must not make guilty,” as Onkelos translates it: וְלָא תְחַיְּבוּן.   וְלֹא־תַֽחֲנִיפוּ.  לֹא תַרְשִׁיעוּ, כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ — "וְלָא תְחַיְבוּן":
34You must not defile the land where you reside, in which I dwell, for I am God, who dwells among the Israelites.”   לדוְלֹ֧א תְטַמֵּ֣א אֶת־הָאָ֗רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֤ר אַתֶּם֙ יֽשְׁבִ֣ים בָּ֔הּ אֲשֶׁ֥ר אֲנִ֖י שֹׁכֵ֣ן בְּתוֹכָ֑הּ כִּ֚י אֲנִ֣י יְהֹוָ֔ה שֹׁכֵ֕ן בְּת֖וֹךְ בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל:
אֲשֶׁר אֲנִי שֹׁכֵן בְּתוֹכָהּ - In which I dwell - i.e., so that you not thereby cause Me to dwell within its defilement.   אֲשֶׁר אֲנִי שֹׁכֵן בְּתוֹכָהּ.  שֶׁלֹּא תַשְׁכִּינוּ אוֹתִי בְטֻמְאָתָהּ:
כִּי אֲנִי ה' שֹׁכֵן בְּתוֹךְ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵֽל - For I am God, who dwells among the Israelites - for even while they are defiled, the Divine Presence rests among them.   כִּי אֲנִי ה' שֹׁכֵן בְּתוֹךְ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵֽל.  אַף בִּזְמַן שֶׁהֵם טְמֵאִים שְׁכִינָה בֵינֵיהֶם (ספרי):

Bamidbar (Numbers) Chapter 36

1The paternal heads of the family of the sons of Gilead son of Machir son of Manasseh, of the families of the sons of Joseph, approached and spoke before Moses and the princes, the paternal heads of the Israelites.   אוַיִּקְרְב֞וּ רָאשֵׁ֣י הָֽאָב֗וֹת לְמִשְׁפַּ֤חַת בְּנֵֽי־גִלְעָד֙ בֶּן־מָכִ֣יר בֶּן־מְנַשֶּׁ֔ה מִמִּשְׁפְּחֹ֖ת בְּנֵ֣י יוֹסֵ֑ף וַיְדַבְּר֞וּ לִפְנֵ֤י משֶׁה֙ וְלִפְנֵ֣י הַנְּשִׂאִ֔ים רָאשֵׁ֥י אָב֖וֹת לִבְנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל:
2They said, “God commanded my lord to give the land as an inheritance by lot to the Israelites, and my lord was commanded by God to give the inheritance of Tzelofchad our brother to his daughters.   בוַיֹּֽאמְר֗וּ אֶת־אֲדֹנִי֙ צִוָּ֣ה יְהֹוָ֔ה לָתֵ֨ת אֶת־הָאָ֧רֶץ בְּנַֽחֲלָ֛ה בְּגוֹרָ֖ל לִבְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַֽאדֹנִי֙ צֻוָּ֣ה בַֽיהֹוָ֔ה לָתֵ֗ת אֶת־נַֽחֲלַ֛ת צְלָפְחָ֥ד אָחִ֖ינוּ לִבְנֹתָֽיו:
3Now, if they marry a member of another tribe of the Israelites, their inheritance will be taken away from the inheritance of our fathers, and it will be added to the inheritance of the tribe into which they marry. Thus, their inheritance will be taken away from the lot of our inheritance.   גוְהָי֠וּ לְאֶחָ֞ד מִבְּנֵ֨י שִׁבְטֵ֥י בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵל֘ לְנָשִׁים֒ וְנִגְרְעָ֤ה נַֽחֲלָתָן֙ מִנַּֽחֲלַ֣ת אֲבֹתֵ֔ינוּ וְנוֹסַ֕ף עַ֚ל נַֽחֲלַ֣ת הַמַּטֶּ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר תִּֽהְיֶ֖ינָה לָהֶ֑ם וּמִגֹּרַ֥ל נַֽחֲלָתֵ֖נוּ יִגָּרֵֽעַ:
וְנוֹסַף עַל נַֽחֲלַת הַמַּטֶּה - And it will be added to the inheritance of the tribe - for her son inherits her, and the son’s lineage is determined by his father’s tribe.   וְנוֹסַף עַל נַֽחֲלַת הַמַּטֶּה.  שֶׁהֲרֵי בְנָהּ יוֹרְשָׁהּ, וְהַבֵּן מִתְיַחֵס עַל שֵׁבֶט אָבִיו:
4Even if the Israelites will observe a Jubilee year, their inheritance will be added to the inheritance of the tribe into which they marry. Their inheritance will be taken away from the inheritance of our fathers’ tribe.”   דוְאִם־יִֽהְיֶ֣ה הַיֹּבֵל֘ לִבְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵל֒ וְנֽוֹסְפָה֙ נַֽחֲלָתָ֔ן עַ֚ל נַֽחֲלַ֣ת הַמַּטֶּ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר תִּֽהְיֶ֖ינָה לָהֶ֑ם וּמִנַּֽחֲלַת֙ מַטֵּ֣ה אֲבֹתֵ֔ינוּ יִגָּרַ֖ע נַֽחֲלָתָֽן:
וְאִם־יִֽהְיֶה הַיֹּבֵל - (lit.) If [the Israelites] have the Jubilee year. From here Rabbi Yehudah derived that the Jubilee would later cease to be practiced.   וְאִם־יִֽהְיֶה הַיֹּבֵל.  מִכָּאן הָיָה רַ' יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר עָתִיד הַיּוֹבֵל שֶׁיִּפְסֹק (ספרא ויקרא ב'):
וְאִם־יִֽהְיֶה היובל - i.e., this is not a sale, which returns to its original owner in the Jubilee year, for an inheritance does not return in the Jubilee year, so even when the Jubilee year occurs, the inheritance does not revert to its original tribe; consequently, it will have been added to the inheritance of the tribe into which they marry.   וְאִם־יִֽהְיֶה היובל.  כְּלוֹמַר, אֵין זוֹ מְכִירָה שֶׁחוֹזֶרֶת בַּיּוֹבֵל, שֶׁהַיְרֻשָּׁה אֵינָהּ חוֹזֶרֶת, וַאֲפִלּוּ אִם יִהְיֶה הַיּוֹבֵל לֹא תַחֲזֹר הַנַּחֲלָה לְשִׁבְטוֹ, וְנִמְצָא שֶׁנּוֹסְפָה על נחלת המטה אשר תהיינה להם:
5Moses commanded the Israelites according to the word of God, saying, “The tribe of Joseph’s descendants speak justly.   הוַיְצַ֤ו משֶׁה֙ אֶת־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל עַל־פִּ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה לֵאמֹ֑ר כֵּ֛ן מַטֵּ֥ה בְנֵֽי־יוֹסֵ֖ף דֹּֽבְרִֽים:
6This is the word that God has commanded regarding Tzelofchad’s daughters: Let them marry whomever they please, but they must marry only someone from the family of their father’s tribe.   וזֶ֣ה הַדָּבָ֞ר אֲשֶׁר־צִוָּ֣ה יְהֹוָ֗ה לִבְנ֤וֹת צְלָפְחָד֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר לַטּ֥וֹב בְּעֵֽינֵיהֶ֖ם תִּֽהְיֶ֣ינָה לְנָשִׁ֑ים אַ֗ךְ לְמִשְׁפַּ֛חַת מַטֵּ֥ה אֲבִיהֶ֖ם תִּֽהְיֶ֥ינָה לְנָשִֽׁים:
7Thus, the inheritance of the Israelites will not be transferred from tribe to tribe, for each Israelite person will remain attached to the inheritance of his fathers’ tribe.   זוְלֹֽא־תִסֹּ֤ב נַֽחֲלָה֙ לִבְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל מִמַּטֶּ֖ה אֶל־מַטֶּ֑ה כִּ֣י אִ֗ישׁ בְּנַֽחֲלַת֙ מַטֵּ֣ה אֲבֹתָ֔יו יִדְבְּק֖וּ בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל:
8Every daughter from the tribes of the Israelites who inherits property must marry a member of a family of her father’s tribe, so every Israelite inherit the property of his forefathers   חוְכָל־בַּ֞ת יֹרֶ֣שֶׁת נַֽחֲלָ֗ה מִמַּטּוֹת֘ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵל֒ לְאֶחָ֗ד מִמִּשְׁפַּ֛חַת מַטֵּ֥ה אָבִ֖יהָ תִּֽהְיֶ֣ה לְאִשָּׁ֑ה לְמַ֗עַן יִֽירְשׁוּ֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אִ֖ישׁ נַֽחֲלַ֥ת אֲבֹתָֽיו:
וְכָל־בַּת יֹרֶשֶׁת נַֽחֲלָה - Every daughter who inherits property - because her father had no son.   וְכָל־בַּת יֹרֶשֶׁת נַֽחֲלָה.  שֶׁלֹּא הָיָה בֵן לְאָבִיהָ:
9and no inheritance will be transferred from one tribe to another tribe, for each person of the tribes of the Israelites must remain attached to his own inheritance.”   טוְלֹֽא־תִסֹּ֧ב נַֽחֲלָ֛ה מִמַּטֶּ֖ה לְמַטֵּ֣ה אַחֵ֑ר כִּי־אִישׁ֙ בְּנַ֣חֲלָת֔וֹ יִדְבְּק֕וּ מַטּ֖וֹת בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל:
10Tzelofchad’s daughters did as God had commanded Moses.   יכַּֽאֲשֶׁ֛ר צִוָּ֥ה יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶת־משֶׁ֑ה כֵּ֥ן עָשׂ֖וּ בְּנ֥וֹת צְלָפְחָֽד:
11Tzelof­chad’s daughters—Machlah, Tirtzah, Choglah, Milkah, and No’ah—married their cousins.   יאוַתִּֽהְיֶ֜ינָה מַחְלָ֣ה תִרְצָ֗ה וְחָגְלָ֧ה וּמִלְכָּ֛ה וְנֹעָ֖ה בְּנ֣וֹת צְלָפְחָ֑ד לִבְנֵ֥י דֹֽדֵיהֶ֖ן לְנָשִֽׁים:
מַחְלָה תִרְצָה וגו' - Machlah, Tirtzah… Here, it enumerates them in order of their greatness in years (i.e., their age), as they married in the order of their birth, but everywhere else in Scripture it enumerates them according to their wisdom. And this tells us that they were equal. End of Parashat Mas’ei   מַחְלָה תִרְצָה וגו'.  כָּאן מְנָאָן לְפִי גְדֻלָּתָן זוֹ מִזּוֹ בַּשָּׁנִים, וְנִשְּׂאוּ כְּסֵדֶר תּוֹלְדוֹתָן, וּבְכָל הַמִּקְרָא מְנָאָן לְפִי חָכְמָתָן, וּמַגִּיד שֶׁשְּׁקוּלוֹת זוֹ כְּזוֹ (עי' בבא בתרא ק"כ):
12They married into the families of the sons of Manasseh son of Joseph, and their inheritance remained with the tribe of their father’s family.   יבמִמִּשְׁפְּחֹ֛ת בְּנֵֽי־מְנַשֶּׁ֥ה בֶן־יוֹסֵ֖ף הָי֣וּ לְנָשִׁ֑ים וַתְּהִי֙ נַֽחֲלָתָ֔ן עַל־מַטֵּ֖ה מִשְׁפַּ֥חַת אֲבִיהֶֽן:
13These are the commandments and the ordinances that God commanded the Israelites through Moses in the plains of Moab, by the Jordan River, opposite Jericho.   יגאֵ֣לֶּה הַמִּצְו‍ֹ֞ת וְהַמִּשְׁפָּטִ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֨ר צִוָּ֧ה יְהֹוָ֛ה בְּיַד־משֶׁ֖ה אֶל־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל בְּעַרְבֹ֣ת מוֹאָ֔ב עַ֖ל יַרְדֵּ֥ן יְרֵחֽוֹ: