Tanach
Devarim 21 דברים כ״א
Part of: ShoftimKi TeitzeiShoftim, Aliyah 7Ki Teitzei, Aliyah 1Ki Teitzei, Aliyah 2Petuchah, Deuteronomy 21:1Setumah, Deuteronomy 21:10Setumah, Deuteronomy 21:15Setumah, Deuteronomy 21:18Setumah, Deuteronomy 21:22
Reading: Hebrew · Simple EnglishHebrew · Faithful translationHebrew onlyHebrew · Simple EnglishHebrew · Faithful translationHebrew onlySimple English onlyFaithful translation onlySide by sideRashi
כִּי־יִמָּצֵא חָלָל בָּאֲדָמָה אֲשֶׁר יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ נֹתֵן לְךָ לְרִשְׁתָּהּ נֹפֵל בַּשָּׂדֶה לֹא נוֹדַע מִי הִכָּֽהוּ׃
If a corpse is found in the land that Adonoy, your God, is giving you to inherit, fallen in the field, it is not known who smote him.
If a corpse is found in the land that Adonoy, your God, is giving you to inherit, fallen in the field, it is not known who smote him.
וְיָצְאוּ זְקֵנֶיךָ וְשֹׁפְטֶיךָ וּמָדְדוּ אֶל־הֶעָרִים אֲשֶׁר סְבִיבֹת הֶחָלָֽל׃
Your elders shall go out—and your judges—and measure in the direction of the cities around the corpse.
Your elders shall go out—and your judges—and measure in the direction of the cities around the corpse.
Rashi
ומדדו. מִמָּקוֹם שֶׁהֶחָלָל שׁוֹכֵב:
And measure. From the spot where the corpse is lying.
אל הערים אשר סביבת החלל. לְכָל צַד וְצַד לֵידַע אֵי זוֹ קְרוֹבָה:
In the direction of the cities around the corpse. In every direction, in order to determine which is closest.
וְהָיָה הָעִיר הַקְּרֹבָה אֶל־הֶחָלָל וְלָֽקְחוּ זִקְנֵי הָעִיר הַהִוא עֶגְלַת בָּקָר אֲשֶׁר לֹֽא־עֻבַּד בָּהּ אֲשֶׁר לֹא־מָשְׁכָה בְּעֹֽל׃
Now, the city nearest the corpse—the elders of that city are to take a calf-heifer that has not been worked, that has not drawn [with] a yoke.
Now, the city nearest the corpse—the elders of that city are to take a calf-heifer that has not been worked, that has not drawn [with] a yoke.
וְהוֹרִדוּ זִקְנֵי הָעִיר הַהִוא אֶת־הָֽעֶגְלָה אֶל־נַחַל אֵיתָן אֲשֶׁר לֹא־יֵעָבֵד בּוֹ וְלֹא יִזָּרֵעַ וְעָֽרְפוּ־שָׁם אֶת־הָעֶגְלָה בַּנָּֽחַל׃
The elders of that city will take down the calf to a stony valley that is not to be tilled and not to be seeded, and they shall decapitate the calf in that valley.
The elders of that city will take down the calf to a stony valley that is not to be tilled and not to be seeded, and they shall decapitate the calf in that valley.
Rashi
אל נחל איתן. קָשֶׁה, שֶׁלֹּא נֶעֱבַד:
To a stony valley. Hard, which cannot be cultivated.
וערפו. קוֹצֵץ עָרְפָּהּ בְּקוֹפִיץ; אָמַר הַקָּבָּ"ה תָּבֹא עֶגְלָה בַת שְׁנָתָהּ שֶׁלֹּא עָשְׂתָה פֵרוֹת וְתֵעָרֵף בְּמָקוֹם שֶׁאֵינוֹ עוֹשֶׂה פֵרוֹת, לְכַפֵּר עַל הֲרִיגָתוֹ שֶׁל זֶה שֶׁלֹּא הִנִּיחוּהוּ לַעֲשׂוֹת פֵּרוֹת (סוטה מ"ו):
They shall decapitate. By severing the nape with an axe. The Holy One, may He be blessed, said, ‘Let a yearling calf, which never bore fruit, come and be decapitated in a place which cannot bear fruit, as atonement for the murder of the one who was not permitted to bear fruit.
וְנִגְּשׁוּ הַכֹּהֲנִים בְּנֵי לֵוִי כִּי בָם בָּחַר יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ לְשָׁרְתוֹ וּלְבָרֵךְ בְּשֵׁם יְהֹוָה וְעַל־פִּיהֶם יִהְיֶה כׇּל־רִיב וְכׇל־נָֽגַע׃
The kohanim, descendants of Levi, will approach; because them did Adonoy, your God, choose to serve Him and to bless in Adonoy’s Name; and they will decide every dispute and every nega.
The kohanim, descendants of Levi, will approach; because them did Adonoy, your God, choose to serve Him and to bless in Adonoy’s Name; and they will decide every dispute and every nega.
וְכֹל זִקְנֵי הָעִיר הַהִוא הַקְּרֹבִים אֶל־הֶחָלָל יִרְחֲצוּ אֶת־יְדֵיהֶם עַל־הָעֶגְלָה הָעֲרוּפָה בַנָּֽחַל׃
And all the elders of that city, those near the corpse, will wash their hands over the calf beheaded in that valley.
And all the elders of that city, those near the corpse, will wash their hands over the calf beheaded in that valley.
וְעָנוּ וְאָמְרוּ יָדֵינוּ לֹא (שפכה) [שָֽׁפְכוּ] אֶת־הַדָּם הַזֶּה וְעֵינֵינוּ לֹא רָאֽוּ׃
They will loudly declare, ‘‘Our hands have not spilled this blood and our eyes did not see.’’
They will loudly declare, ‘‘Our hands have not spilled this blood and our eyes did not see.’’
Rashi
ידינו לא שפכה. וְכִי עָלְתָה עַל לֵב שֶׁזִּקְנֵי בֵית דִּין שׁוֹפְכֵי דָמִים הֵם? אֶלָּא לֹא רְאִינוּהוּ וּפְטַרְנוּהוּ בְּלֹא מְזוֹנוֹת וּבְלֹא לְוָיָה (סוטה מ"ה). הַכֹּהֲנִים אוֹמְרִים כפר לעמך ישראל:
Our hands have not spilled. Is it possible to imagine that the elders of the court committed murder? Rather, ‘We did not observe him and dismiss him without food and escort.’ The kohanim then say:
כַּפֵּר לְעַמְּךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל אֲשֶׁר־פָּדִיתָ יְהֹוָה וְאַל־תִּתֵּן דָּם נָקִי בְּקֶרֶב עַמְּךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל וְנִכַּפֵּר לָהֶם הַדָּֽם׃
[The kohanim will say,] ‘‘Forgive Your people Yisroel, whom You, Adonoy, have redeemed; and do not allow innocent blood [liability] within Your people Yisroel.’’ The blood shall thus be atoned for in their behalf.
[The kohanim will say,] ‘‘Forgive Your people Yisroel, whom You, Adonoy, have redeemed; and do not allow innocent blood [liability] within Your people Yisroel.’’ The blood shall thus be atoned for in their behalf.
Rashi
ונכפר להם הדם. הַכָּתוּב מְבַשְּׂרָם, שֶׁמִּשֶּׁעָשׂוּ כֵן יְכֻפַּר לָהֶם הֶעָוֹן (שם):
Forgive your people Yisroel: The blood shall thus be atoned for in their behalf. Scripture informs them that once they have fulfilled this, the sin will be absolved.
וְאַתָּה תְּבַעֵר הַדָּם הַנָּקִי מִקִּרְבֶּךָ כִּֽי־תַעֲשֶׂה הַיָּשָׁר בְּעֵינֵי יְהֹוָֽה׃ {ס}
Still, you must eradicate the [liability for] innocent blood from within you, when you do what is upright in Adonoy’s eyes.
Still, you must eradicate the [liability for] innocent blood from within you, when you do what is upright in Adonoy’s eyes.
Rashi
ואתה תבער. מַגִּיד שֶׁאִם נִמְצָא הַהוֹרֵג אַחַר שֶׁנִּתְעָרְפָה הָעֶגְלָה הֲרֵי זֶה יֵהָרֵג וְהוּא הישר בעיני ה' (סוטה מ"ז; כתובות ל"ז):
Still, you must eradicate. This teaches that if the murderer is apprehended after the decapitation of the heifer, he must be executed. This is righteous in the eyes of God.
כִּֽי־תֵצֵא לַמִּלְחָמָה עַל־אֹיְבֶיךָ וּנְתָנוֹ יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ בְּיָדֶךָ וְשָׁבִיתָ שִׁבְיֽוֹ׃
If you should go to war against your enemies, and Adonoy, your God, puts them in your hand, and you capture prisoners from them;
If you should go to war against your enemies, and Adonoy, your God, puts them in your hand, and you capture prisoners from them;
Rashi
כי תצא למלחמה. בְּמִלְחֶמֶת הָרְשׁוּת הַכָּתוּב מְדַבֵּר, שֶׁבְּמִלְחֶמֶת אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל אֵין לוֹמַר וְשָׁבִיתָ שִׁבְיוֹ, שֶׁהֲרֵי כְבָר נֶאֱמַר (דברים כ') לֹא תְחַיֶּה כָּל נְשָׁמָה:
If you should go to war. Optional warfare is Scripture’s subject; for, with regard to the war for Eretz Yisroel, it would be inappropriate to say, “and you capture prisoner from them,” since it has already said, “Do not allow a soul to remain alive.”
ושבית שביו. לְרַבּוֹת כְּנַעֲנִים שֶׁבְּתוֹכָהּ וְאַעַ"פִּ שֶׁהֵם מִשִׁבְעָה אֻמּוֹת (ספרי; סוטה ל"ה):
And you capture prisoners from them. This includes the Canaanites among them, although they are members of the seven nations.
וְרָאִיתָ בַּשִּׁבְיָה אֵשֶׁת יְפַת־תֹּאַר וְחָשַׁקְתָּ בָהּ וְלָקַחְתָּ לְךָ לְאִשָּֽׁה׃
And you see among the prisoners a beautifully formed woman; if you desire her, you may take her as your wife.
And you see among the prisoners a beautifully formed woman; if you desire her, you may take her as your wife.
Rashi
אשת. אֲפִלּוּ אֵשֶׁת אִישׁ:
A wife. Even someone’s wife.
ולקחת לך לאשה. לֹא דִּבְּרָה תוֹרָה אֶלָּא כְּנֶגֶד יֵצֶר הָרַע, שֶׁאִם אֵין הַקָּבָּ"ה מַתִּירָהּ יִשָּׂאֶנָּה בְאִסּוּר, אֲבָל אִם נְשָׂאָהּ סוֹפוֹ לִהְיוֹת שׂוֹנְאָהּ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר אַחֲרָיו "כִּי תִהְיֶיןָ לְאִישׁ וְגוֹ'", וְסוֹפוֹ לְהוֹלִיד מִמֶּנָּה בֵּן סוֹרֵר וּמוֹרֶה, לְכָךְ נִסְמְכוּ פָּרָשִׁיּוֹת הַלָּלוּ (תנחומא):
You may take her as your wife. The Torah speaks only in deference to the wicked inclination, for if the Holy One, blessed is He, would not permit her, he would live with her illicitly. However, if he does marry her, he will ultimately hate her, as it is further said, “If a man has, etc.” And, ultimately, he will father, from her, a wayward, rebellious son. This is why these chapters adjoin one another.
וַהֲבֵאתָהּ אֶל־תּוֹךְ בֵּיתֶךָ וְגִלְּחָה אֶת־רֹאשָׁהּ וְעָשְׂתָה אֶת־צִפׇּרְנֶֽיהָ׃
You will bring her into your house and she will shave her head and allow her nails to grow.
You will bring her into your house and she will shave her head and allow her nails to grow.
Rashi
ועשתה את צפרניה. תְּגַדְּלֵם כְּדֵי שֶׁתִּתְנַוֵּל (ספרי; יבמות מ"ח):
And allow her nails to grow. She must allow them to grow so that she becomes ugly.
וְהֵסִירָה אֶת־שִׂמְלַת שִׁבְיָהּ מֵעָלֶיהָ וְיָֽשְׁבָה בְּבֵיתֶךָ וּבָכְתָה אֶת־אָבִיהָ וְאֶת־אִמָּהּ יֶרַח יָמִים וְאַחַר כֵּן תָּבוֹא אֵלֶיהָ וּבְעַלְתָּהּ וְהָיְתָה לְךָ לְאִשָּֽׁה׃
She must discard her prisoner’s garb from upon her, and she will remain in your home and weep for her father and her mother a month of days; and afterwards you may come to her and consummate with her, and she will become your wife.
She must discard her prisoner’s garb from upon her, and she will remain in your home and weep for her father and her mother a month of days; and afterwards you may come to her and consummate with her, and she will become your wife.
Rashi
והסירה את שמלת שביה. לְפִי שֶׁהֵם נָאִים, שֶׁהַגּוֹיִם בְּנוֹתֵיהֶם מִתְקַשְּׁטוֹת בַּמִּלְחָמָה בִּשְׁבִיל לְהַזְנוֹת אֲחֵרִים עִמָּהֶם (ספרי):
She must discard her prisoner’s garb. As they are attractive, since the young Gentile women beautify themselves during warfare, to invite promiscuous behaviour with them.
וישבה בביתך. בַּבַּיִת שֶׁמִּשְׁתַּמֵּשׁ בּוֹ, נִכְנָס וְנִתְקָל בָּהּ, יוֹצֵא וְנִתְקָל בָּה, רוֹאֶה בִּבְכִיָּתָהּ, רוֹאֶה בְּנִוּוּלָהּ, כְּדֵי שֶׁתִּתְגַנֶּה עָלָיו (ספרי):
And she will remain in your home. In the home he makes use of. He enters and stumbles over her, leaves and stumbles over her, notices her weeping and disgrace, so that she becomes repulsive to him.
ובכתה את אביה. כָּל כָּךְ לָמָּה? כְּדֵי שֶׁתְּהֵא בַּת יִשְׂרָאֵל שְׂמֵחָה וְזוֹ עֲצֵבָה, בַּת יִשְׂרָאֵל מִתְקַשֶּׁטֶת וְזוֹ מִתְנַוֶּלֶת (שם):
And weep for her father. Why to such an extent? So that the Israelite daughter may be joyous, while this one is melancholy; the Israelite daughter may beautify herself, while this one becomes ugly.
וְהָיָה אִם־לֹא חָפַצְתָּ בָּהּ וְשִׁלַּחְתָּהּ לְנַפְשָׁהּ וּמָכֹר לֹא־תִמְכְּרֶנָּה בַּכָּסֶף לֹא־תִתְעַמֵּר בָּהּ תַּחַת אֲשֶׁר עִנִּיתָֽהּ׃ {ס}
But it shall come to pass, that if you do not desire her you will send her free, but to sell—you may not sell her for money; you may not exploit her since you have oppressed her.
But it shall come to pass, that if you do not desire her you will send her free, but to sell—you may not sell her for money; you may not exploit her since you have oppressed her.
Rashi
והיה אם לא חפצת בה. הַכָּתוּב מְבַשֶּׂרְךָ שֶׁסּוֹפְךָ לִשְׂנֹאתָהּ (שם):
But it shall come to pass, that if you do not desire her. Scripture informs you that you will ultimately hate her.
לא תתעמר בה. לֹא תִּשְׁתַּמֵּשׁ בָּהּ, בִּלְשׁוֹן פַּרְסִי קוֹרִין לְעַבְדוּת וְשִׁמּוּשׁ "עִימְרָאָה", מִיסוֹדוֹ שֶׁל רַ' מֹשֶׁה הַדַּרְשָׁן לָמַדְתִּי כֵן:
You may not exploit her. You may not utilize her. In the Persian language, servitude and utilization is verbalized as imra’ah. From the commentary of R’ Moshe Hadarshan I have learned this.
כִּֽי־תִהְיֶיןָ לְאִישׁ שְׁתֵּי נָשִׁים הָאַחַת אֲהוּבָה וְהָאַחַת שְׂנוּאָה וְיָֽלְדוּ־לוֹ בָנִים הָאֲהוּבָה וְהַשְּׂנוּאָה וְהָיָה הַבֵּן הַבְּכֹר לַשְּׂנִיאָֽה׃
If a man has two wives, one loved and the other hated, and they bear him sons, the loved [one] and the hated [one], and the firstborn son will be the hated one’s.
If a man has two wives, one loved and the other hated, and they bear him sons, the loved [one] and the hated [one], and the firstborn son will be the hated one’s.
וְהָיָה בְּיוֹם הַנְחִילוֹ אֶת־בָּנָיו אֵת אֲשֶׁר־יִהְיֶה לוֹ לֹא יוּכַל לְבַכֵּר אֶת־בֶּן־הָאֲהוּבָה עַל־פְּנֵי בֶן־הַשְּׂנוּאָה הַבְּכֹֽר׃
When the day comes for him to will to his sons what he owns, he may not prefer the son of the loved one over the son of the hated one—the firstborn.
When the day comes for him to will to his sons what he owns, he may not prefer the son of the loved one over the son of the hated one—the firstborn.
כִּי אֶת־הַבְּכֹר בֶּן־הַשְּׂנוּאָה יַכִּיר לָתֶת לוֹ פִּי שְׁנַיִם בְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר־יִמָּצֵא לוֹ כִּי־הוּא רֵאשִׁית אֹנוֹ לוֹ מִשְׁפַּט הַבְּכֹרָֽה׃ {ס}
Rather, the firstborn son of the hated one is he to recognize to give him doublefold of all that he possesses; for he is the first of his power, he has the rights of primogeniture.
Rather, the firstborn son of the hated one is he to recognize to give him doublefold of all that he possesses; for he is the first of his power, he has the rights of primogeniture.
Rashi
פי שנים. כְּנֶגֶד שְׁנֵי אַחִים:
Doublefold. Equivalent to two brothers.
בכל אשר ימצא לו. מִכָּאן שֶׁאֵין הַבְּכוֹר נוֹטֵל פִּי שְׁנַיִם בָּרָאוּי לָבֹא לְאַחַר מִיתַת הָאָב כְּבַמֻּחְזָק (ספרי; בכורות נ"א):
Of all that he possesses. From here [we derive] that the firstborn does not inherit doublefold of receivables due after the father’s death, as he does of property in his possession.
כִּֽי־יִהְיֶה לְאִישׁ בֵּן סוֹרֵר וּמוֹרֶה אֵינֶנּוּ שֹׁמֵעַ בְּקוֹל אָבִיו וּבְקוֹל אִמּוֹ וְיִסְּרוּ אֹתוֹ וְלֹא יִשְׁמַע אֲלֵיהֶֽם׃
If a man has a wayward and rebellious son who does not obey his father and his mother; though they chasten him; he does not listen to them.
If a man has a wayward and rebellious son who does not obey his father and his mother; though they chasten him; he does not listen to them.
Rashi
סורר. סָר מִן הַדֶּרֶךְ:
Wayward. Who strays from the path.
ומורה. מְסָרֵב בְדִבְרֵי אָבִיו, לְשׁוֹן מַמְרִים (דברים ט'):
And rebellious. Who rebels against his father’s instructions. The word means the same as “rebels.”
ויסרו אתו. מַתְרִין בּוֹ בִּפְנֵי שְׁלוֹשָׁה וּמַלְקִין אוֹתוֹ (ספרי; סנהדרין ע"א); בֵּן סוֹרֵר וּמוֹרֶה אֵינוֹ חַיָּב עַד שֶׁיִּגְנֹב וְיֹאכַל תַּרְטֵימַר בָּשָׂר וְיִשְׁתֶּה חֲצִי לֹג יַיִן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "זוֹלֵל וְסֹבֵא", וְנֶאֱמַר (משלי כ"ג) "אַל תְּהִי בְּסֹבְאֵי יָיִן בְּזֹלְלֵי בָשָׂר לָמוֹ"; וּבֵן סוֹרֵר וּמוֹרֶה נֶהֱרָג עַל שֵׁם סוֹפוֹ, הִגִּיעָה תוֹרָה לְסוֹף דַּעְתּוֹ, סוֹף שֶׁמְּכַלֶּה מָמוֹן אָבִיו וּמְבַקֵּשׁ לִמּוּדוֹ וְאֵינוֹ מוֹצֵא, וְעוֹמֵד בְּפָרָשַׁת דְּרָכִים וּמְלַסְטֵם אֶת הַבְּרִיּוֹת, אָמְרָה תוֹרָה יָמוּת זַכַּאי וְאַל יָמוּת חַיָּב (ספרי; סנהדרין ע"א):
Though they chasten him. They warn him before three [magistrates] and have him flogged. The wayward, rebellious son is not liable unless he steals and consumes a tartamor of meat, and drinks half a log of wine, as it is said, “gluttonous and drunken,” and it is said, ”Do not be among the wine guzzlers, among those who gluttonously consume meat for themselves.” The wayward, rebellious son is executed in consideration of his ignoble end. The Torah penetrates to the logical conclusion of his thought — ultimately, he will squander his father’s fortune, attempt to apply himself to his studies and fail, station himself near an intersection and plunder his fellow creatures; the Torah declares: Let him die in innocence rather than die laden with guilt.
וְתָפְשׂוּ בוֹ אָבִיו וְאִמּוֹ וְהוֹצִיאוּ אֹתוֹ אֶל־זִקְנֵי עִירוֹ וְאֶל־שַׁעַר מְקֹמֽוֹ׃
His father and mother are to grasp him and take him out to the judges of his city and to the court in his location.
His father and mother are to grasp him and take him out to the judges of his city and to the court in his location.
וְאָמְרוּ אֶל־זִקְנֵי עִירוֹ בְּנֵנוּ זֶה סוֹרֵר וּמֹרֶה אֵינֶנּוּ שֹׁמֵעַ בְּקֹלֵנוּ זוֹלֵל וְסֹבֵֽא׃
They will say to the judges of his city, ‘‘This son of ours is wayward and rebellious—he does not obey—gluttonous and drunken.’’
They will say to the judges of his city, ‘‘This son of ours is wayward and rebellious—he does not obey—gluttonous and drunken.’’
וּרְגָמֻהוּ כׇּל־אַנְשֵׁי עִירוֹ בָֽאֲבָנִים וָמֵת וּבִֽעַרְתָּ הָרָע מִקִּרְבֶּךָ וְכׇל־יִשְׂרָאֵל יִשְׁמְעוּ וְיִרָֽאוּ׃ {ס}
And all the men of his city will stone him with stones so that he dies, and you will eliminate the evil within you; and let all Yisroel hear and be fearful.
And all the men of his city will stone him with stones so that he dies, and you will eliminate the evil within you; and let all Yisroel hear and be fearful.
Rashi
וכל ישראל ישמעו ויראו. מִכָּאן שֶׁצָּרִיךְ הַכְרָזָה בְּבֵית דִּין; "פְּלוֹנִי נִסְקָל עַל שֶׁהָיָה בֵן סוֹרֵר וּמוֹרֶה":
Let all Yisroel hear and be fearful. From here [we derive] that there must be a proclamation at the courthouse: ‘So-and-so was stoned for having been a wayward, rebellious son’!
וְכִֽי־יִהְיֶה בְאִישׁ חֵטְא מִשְׁפַּט־מָוֶת וְהוּמָת וְתָלִיתָ אֹתוֹ עַל־עֵֽץ׃
If a man is guilty of a capital offense and is executed; you shall hang him from a tree.
If a man is guilty of a capital offense and is executed; you shall hang him from a tree.
Rashi
וכי יהיה באיש חטא משפט מות. סְמִיכוּת הַפָּרָשִׁיּוֹת מַגִּיד שֶׁאִם חָסִים עָלָיו אָבִיו וְאִמּוֹ, סוֹף שֶׁיֵּצֵא לְתַרְבּוּת רָעָה וְיַעֲבֹר עֲבֵרוֹת וְיִתְחַיֵּב מִיתָה בְּבֵית דִּין (עי' תנחומא):
If a man is guilty of a capital offense. The proximity of the chapters teaches that if his mother and father take pity on him, he will ultimately develop into a degenerate, commit transgressions, and be sentenced to death by the courts.
ותלית אתו על עץ. רַבּוֹתֵינוּ אָמְרוּ, כָּל הַנִּסְקָלִין נִתְלִין, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "כִּי קִלְלַת אֱלֹהִים תָּלוּי", וְהַמְבָרֵךְ ה' בִּסְקִילָה (סנהדרין מ"ה):
You shall hang him from a tree. The Rabbis remark that all those who are stoned are also hung, for it is said, “for a hanging corpse is an affront to God,” and someone who curses God is stoned.
לֹא־תָלִין נִבְלָתוֹ עַל־הָעֵץ כִּֽי־קָבוֹר תִּקְבְּרֶנּוּ בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא כִּֽי־קִלְלַת אֱלֹהִים תָּלוּי וְלֹא תְטַמֵּא אֶת־אַדְמָתְךָ אֲשֶׁר יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ נֹתֵן לְךָ נַחֲלָֽה׃ {ס}
Do not leave his corpse overnight on the tree, but you are surely to bury him on that day, for a hanging corpse is an affront to God; so do not defile your land that Adonoy, your God, is giving you as territory.
Do not leave his corpse overnight on the tree, but you are surely to bury him on that day, for a hanging corpse is an affront to God; so do not defile your land that Adonoy, your God, is giving you as territory.
Rashi
כי קללת אלהים תלוי. זִלְזוּלוֹ שֶׁל מֶלֶךְ הוּא, שֶׁאָדָם עָשׂוּי בִּדְמוּת דְּיוֹקָנוֹ, וְיִשְׂרָאֵל הֵם בָּנָיו; מָשָׁל לִשְׁנֵי אַחִים תְּאוֹמִים שֶׁהָיוּ דּוֹמִים זֶה לָזֶה, אֶחָד נַעֲשָׂה מֶלֶךְ וְאֶחָד נִתְפַּס לְלִסְטִיּוּת וְנִתְלָה, כָּל הָרוֹאֶה אוֹתוֹ אוֹמֵר הַמֶּלֶךְ תָּלוּי. כָּל קְלָלָה שֶׁבַּמִּקְרָא לְשׁוֹן הָקֵל וְזִלְזוּל, כְּמוֹ (מלכים א ב') "וְהוּא קִלְלַנִי קְלָלָה נִמְרֶצֶת":
For a hanging corpse is an affront to God. It is an affront to the king, for man is fashioned in His image, and the Israelites are His children. This is compared to twin brothers who were identical to each other. One became king, and one was apprehended as a thief and hanged. Everyone who saw him exclaimed, ‘The king has been hanged!’ [The king issued a command, and he was brought down.] קְלָלָה throughout Scripture connotes slighting and insult, as in, “He insulted me explicitly.”
ויצאו זקניך. מְיֻחָדִים שֶׁבִּזְקֵנֶיךָ, אֵלּוּ סַנְהֶדְרֵי גְדוֹלָה (סוטה מ"ד):
Your elders shall go out. The most distinguished of your elders. This refers to the supreme Sanhedrin.