Devarim
Shoftim, Aliyah 1 שופטים, ראשון
Part of: ShoftimShoftim, Aliyah 1Chapter 16Chapter 17Petuchah, Deuteronomy 17:8Setumah, Deuteronomy 16:18Setumah, Deuteronomy 16:21Setumah, Deuteronomy 17:1Setumah, Deuteronomy 17:2
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Devarim 16
שֹׁפְטִים וְשֹֽׁטְרִים תִּֽתֶּן־לְךָ בְּכׇל־שְׁעָרֶיךָ אֲשֶׁר יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ נֹתֵן לְךָ לִשְׁבָטֶיךָ וְשָׁפְטוּ אֶת־הָעָם מִשְׁפַּט־צֶֽדֶק׃
Judges and police officers you shall appoint for yourself in all of your cities that Adonoy, your God, is giving you for your tribes; who will judge the people righteous justice.
Judges and police officers you shall appoint for yourself in all of your cities that Adonoy, your God, is giving you for your tribes; who will judge the people righteous justice.
Rashi
בכל שעריך. בְּכָל עִיר וָעִיר:
In all of your cities. In each and every city.
לשבטיך. מוּסָב עַל תתן לך – שׁוֹפְטִים וְשׁוֹטְרִים תִּתֶּן לְךָ לִשְׁבָטֶיךָ בְּכָל שְׁעָרֶיךָ אֲשֶׁר ה' אֱלֹהֶיךָ נֹתֵן לְךָ:
For your tribes. This continues from ‘You shall appoint for yourself’ — “Judges and police officers you shall appoint for yourself for your tribes, in all of your cities which Adonoy, your God, is giving you.”
לשבטיך. מְלַמֵּד שֶׁמּוֹשִׁיבִין דַּיָּנִין לְכָל שֵׁבֶט וָשֵׁבֶט וּבְכָל עִיר וָעִיר (ספרי; סנהדרין ט"ז):
For your tribes. This teaches that judges are to be seated for each and every tribe and in each and every city.
ושפטו את העם וגו'. מַנֵּה דַּיָּנִין מֻמְחִים וְצַדִּיקִים לִשְׁפֹּט צֶדֶק (עי' ספרי):
Who will judge the people, etc. Appoint competent, righteous judges, to judge righteously.
לֹא־תַטֶּה מִשְׁפָּט לֹא תַכִּיר פָּנִים וְלֹא־תִקַּח שֹׁחַד כִּי הַשֹּׁחַד יְעַוֵּר עֵינֵי חֲכָמִים וִֽיסַלֵּף דִּבְרֵי צַדִּיקִֽם׃
Do not pervert justice; do not display favoritism; and do not accept bribery, for bribery blinds the eyes of the wise and distorts words that are just.
Do not pervert justice; do not display favoritism; and do not accept bribery, for bribery blinds the eyes of the wise and distorts words that are just.
Rashi
לא תטה משפט. כְּמַשְׁמָעוֹ:
Do not pervert justice. This follows the obvious interpretation.
לא תכיר פנים. אַף בִּשְׁעַת הַטְּעָנוֹת; אַזְהָרָה לַדַּיָּן שֶׁלֹּא יְהֵא רַךְ לָזֶה וְקָשֶׁה לָזֶה, אֶחָד עוֹמֵד וְאֶחָד יוֹשֵׁב, לְפִי שֶׁכְּשֶׁרוֹאֶה זֶה שֶׁהַדַּיָּן מְכַבֵּד אֶת חֲבֵרוֹ מִסְתַּתְּמִין טַעֲנוֹתָיו:
Do not display favoritism. Not even during the arguments. This prohibits the judge from being gentle with one but harsh with the other, or from requiring one to stand while the other is seated; because when one notices the judge deferring to his fellow, his arguments are repressed.
ולא תקח שחד. אֲפִלּוּ לִשְׁפֹּט צֶדֶק (ספרי):
Do not accept bribery. Even to adjudicate fairly.
כי השחד יעור. מִשֶּׁקִּבֵּל שֹׁחַד מִמֶּנּוּ אִי אֶפְשָׁר שֶׁלֹּא יַטֶּה אֶת לִבּוֹ אֶצְלוֹ לַהֲפֹךְ בִּזְכוּתוֹ:
For bribery blinds. Once he has accepted his bribe, it is impossible for him not to be partial, and subvert the verdict in his favor.
דברי צדיקים. דְּבָרִים הַמְצֻדָּקִים – מִשְׁפְּטֵי אֱמֶת:
Words that are just. Words that are justified, true justice.
צֶדֶק צֶדֶק תִּרְדֹּף לְמַעַן תִּֽחְיֶה וְיָרַשְׁתָּ אֶת־הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר־יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ נֹתֵן לָֽךְ׃ {ס}
Pursue absolute justice so that you may live and inherit the land that Adonoy, your God, is giving you.
Pursue absolute justice so that you may live and inherit the land that Adonoy, your God, is giving you.
Rashi
צדק צדק תרדף. הַלֹּךְ אַחַר בֵּית דִּין יָפֶה (ספרי; סנהדרין ל"ב):
Pursue absolute justice. Follow after the pre-eminent tribunal.
למען תחיה וירשת. כְּדַאי הוּא מִנּוּי הַדַּיָּנִין הַכְּשֵׁרִים לְהַחֲיוֹת אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל וּלְהוֹשִׁיבָן עַל אַדְמָתָן (ספרי):
So that you may live and inherit. There is adequate merit in the appointment of ethical judges to bring life to the Israelites, and settle them on their land.
לֹֽא־תִטַּע לְךָ אֲשֵׁרָה כׇּל־עֵץ אֵצֶל מִזְבַּח יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ אֲשֶׁר תַּעֲשֶׂה־לָּֽךְ׃
Do not plant an Asherah for yourself [or] any tree near the altar of Adonoy, your God, that you will make for yourself.
Do not plant an Asherah for yourself [or] any tree near the altar of Adonoy, your God, that you will make for yourself.
Rashi
לא תטע לך אשרה. לְחַיְּבוֹ עָלֶיהָ מִשְּׁעַת נְטִיעָתָהּ, וַאֲפִלּוּ לֹא עֲבָדָהּ עוֹבֵר בְּלֹא תַעֲשֶׂה עַל נְטִיעָתָהּ (שם):
Do not plant an Asherah tree for yourself. This makes him liable from the time that it was planted. Even if he never worshipped it, he transgresses a negative commandment for the very planting.
לא תטע לך אשרה כל עץ אצל מזבח ה' אלהיך. אַזְהָרָה לְנוֹטֵעַ אִילָן וּלְבוֹנֶה בַיִת בְּהַר הַבַּיִת:
Do not plant an Asherah tree for yourself; any tree near the altar of Adonoy, your God. This prohibits planting a tree or building a structure on the Temple mount.
וְלֹֽא־תָקִים לְךָ מַצֵּבָה אֲשֶׁר שָׂנֵא יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֶֽיךָ׃ {ס}
And do not erect for yourself a monument that Adonoy, your God, detests.
And do not erect for yourself a monument that Adonoy, your God, detests.
Rashi
ולא תקים לך מצבה. מַצֶּבֶת אֶבֶן אַחַת לְהַקְרִיב עָלֶיהָ אֲפִלּוּ לַשָּׁמַיִם:
Do not erect for yourself a monument. A single-stone monument for sacrificial offerings, even for the sake of Heaven.
אשר שנא. מִזְבַּח אֲבָנִים וּמִזְבַּח אֲדָמָה צִוָּה לַעֲשׂוֹת, וְאֶת זוֹ שָׂנֵא, כִּי חֹק הָיְתָה לַכְּנַעֲנִיִּים, וְאַעַ"פִּ שֶׁהָיְתָה אֲהוּבָה לוֹ בִּימֵי הָאָבוֹת, עַכְשָׁיו שְׂנֵאָהּ מֵאַחַר שֶׁעֲשָׂאוּהָ אֵלּוּ חֹק לַעֲבוֹדָה זָרָה (עי' שם):
That [God] detests. An altar made of stones or an earthen altar is what He commanded, but He detests this, because it was in the canon of the Canaanites. Although He cherished it during the times of the patriarchs, He now detests it, since they included it in the idolatrous ritual.
Devarim 17
לֹא־תִזְבַּח לַיהֹוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ שׁוֹר וָשֶׂה אֲשֶׁר יִהְיֶה בוֹ מוּם כֹּל דָּבָר רָע כִּי תוֹעֲבַת יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ הֽוּא׃ {ס}
Do not sacrifice to Adonoy, your God, an ox or a lamb that has a blemish, any bad thing; for it is abominated by Adonoy, your God.
Do not sacrifice to Adonoy, your God, an ox or a lamb that has a blemish, any bad thing; for it is abominated by Adonoy, your God.
Rashi
לא תזבח … כל דבר רע. אַזְהָרָה לַמְפַגֵּל בַּקֳּדָשִׁים עַ"יְ דִּבּוּר רָע. וְעוֹד נִדְרְשׁוּ בוֹ שְׁאָר דְּרָשׁוֹת בִּשְׁחִיטַת קָדָשִׁים (זבחים ל"ו):
Do not sacrifice, etc., anything bad. This prohibits causing the pigul disqualification of the sacred offerings through a pernicious statement. Additional derivations are extrapolated from this in the tractate dealing with the slaughter of the sacred offerings.
כִּֽי־יִמָּצֵא בְקִרְבְּךָ בְּאַחַד שְׁעָרֶיךָ אֲשֶׁר־יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ נֹתֵן לָךְ אִישׁ אוֹ־אִשָּׁה אֲשֶׁר יַעֲשֶׂה אֶת־הָרַע בְּעֵינֵי יְהֹוָה־אֱלֹהֶיךָ לַעֲבֹר בְּרִיתֽוֹ׃
If there is found among you, in one of your cities that Adonoy, your God, is giving you, a man or a woman who does what is evil in the eyes of Adonoy, your God, by violating His covenant.
If there is found among you, in one of your cities that Adonoy, your God, is giving you, a man or a woman who does what is evil in the eyes of Adonoy, your God, by violating His covenant.
Rashi
לעבר בריתו. אֲשֶׁר כָּרַת אִתְּכֶם שֶׁלֹּא לַעֲבֹד עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה:
By violating His covenant. Which He established with them prohibiting idolatry.
וַיֵּלֶךְ וַֽיַּעֲבֹד אֱלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים וַיִּשְׁתַּחוּ לָהֶם וְלַשֶּׁמֶשׁ ׀ אוֹ לַיָּרֵחַ אוֹ לְכׇל־צְבָא הַשָּׁמַיִם אֲשֶׁר לֹא־צִוִּֽיתִי׃
He goes and serves other gods and bows to them—whether to the sun or to the moon or to any of the host of heaven that I did not command.
He goes and serves other gods and bows to them—whether to the sun or to the moon or to any of the host of heaven that I did not command.
Rashi
אשר לא צויתי. לְעָבְדָם (מגילה ט'):
That I did not command. To worship them.
וְהֻֽגַּד־לְךָ וְשָׁמָעְתָּ וְדָרַשְׁתָּ הֵיטֵב וְהִנֵּה אֱמֶת נָכוֹן הַדָּבָר נֶעֶשְׂתָה הַתּוֹעֵבָה הַזֹּאת בְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
When you are told and you understand, you are to inquire thoroughly. If in fact the report is authenticated and accurate—this abomination was committed within Yisroel.
When you are told and you understand, you are to inquire thoroughly. If in fact the report is authenticated and accurate—this abomination was committed within Yisroel.
Rashi
נכון. מְכֻוָּן הָעֵדוּת:
Authenticated. The testimony was consistent.
וְהֽוֹצֵאתָ אֶת־הָאִישׁ הַהוּא אוֹ אֶת־הָאִשָּׁה הַהִוא אֲשֶׁר עָשׂוּ אֶת־הַדָּבָר הָרָע הַזֶּה אֶל־שְׁעָרֶיךָ אֶת־הָאִישׁ אוֹ אֶת־הָאִשָּׁה וּסְקַלְתָּם בָּאֲבָנִים וָמֵֽתוּ׃
You are to take out that man or that woman who did this evil thing to your city—the man or the woman—and you are to stone them with stones so that they die.
You are to take out that man or that woman who did this evil thing to your city—the man or the woman—and you are to stone them with stones so that they die.
Rashi
והוצאת את האיש ההוא אל שעריך וגו'. הַמְתַרְגֵּם אֶל שְׁעָרֶיךָ "לִתְרַע בֵּית דִּינָךְ" טוֹעֶה, שֶׁכֵּן שָׁנִינוּ "אֶל שְׁעָרֶיךָ" — זֶה שַׁעַר שֶׁעָבַד בּוֹ, אוֹ אֵינוֹ אֶלָּא שַׁעַר שֶׁנִּדּוֹן בּוֹ? נֶאֱמַר "שְׁעָרֶיךָ" לְמַטָּה וְנֶאֱמַר "שְׁעָרֶיךָ" לְמַעְלָה, מַה שְּׁעָרֶיךָ הָאָמוּר לְמַעְלָה שַׁעַר שֶׁעָבַד בּוֹ, אַף שְׁעָרֶיךָ הָאָמוּר לְמַטָּה שַׁעַר שֶׁעָבַד בּוֹ, וְתַרְגּוּמוֹ "לְקִרְוָיךְ":
You are to take out that man . . . to your city, etc. Anyone who renders אֶל שְׁעָרֶיךָ as “to the gates of your tribunal” is mistaken, for we have learned the following: “to your gates” — this refers to the gate where he worshipped. But perhaps it refers to the gate in which he was tried? ”Your gates” is said below, and “your gates” is said above. Just as “your gates” above refers to the gate in which he worshipped, so does “your gates” below refer to the gate in which he worshipped. Targum [Onkelos] renders “to your city.”
עַל־פִּי ׀ שְׁנַיִם עֵדִים אוֹ שְׁלֹשָׁה עֵדִים יוּמַת הַמֵּת לֹא יוּמַת עַל־פִּי עֵד אֶחָֽד׃
By the speech of two witnesses or three witnesses is the guilty one to be executed; he is not to be executed by the oral testimonoy of one witness.
By the speech of two witnesses or three witnesses is the guilty one to be executed; he is not to be executed by the oral testimonoy of one witness.
Rashi
שנים עדים או שלשה. אִם מִתְקַיֶּמֶת עֵדוּת בִּשְׁנַיִם לָמָּה פֵּרֵט לְךָ בִשְׁלוֹשָׁה? לְהַקִּישׁ שְׁלוֹשָׁה לִשְׁנַיִם, מַה שְּׁנַיִם עֵדוּת אַחַת אַף שְׁלוֹשָׁה עֵדוּת אַחַת, וְאֵין נַעֲשִׂין זוֹמְמִין עַד שֶׁיִּזֹּמּוּ כֻלָּם (מכות ה'):
Two witnesses or three. If testimony is valid with two, why is three specified? To compare three to two. Just as two comprise a single entity, so three comprise a single entity — hence, none are liable as “conspiring witnesses” unless all are convicted as conspirators.
יַד הָעֵדִים תִּֽהְיֶה־בּוֹ בָרִאשֹׁנָה לַהֲמִיתוֹ וְיַד כׇּל־הָעָם בָּאַחֲרֹנָה וּבִֽעַרְתָּ הָרָע מִקִּרְבֶּֽךָ׃ {פ}
Let the hand of the witnesses be against him first to execute him, and the hand of the entire people afterward; and you will eliminate the evil from within you.
Let the hand of the witnesses be against him first to execute him, and the hand of the entire people afterward; and you will eliminate the evil from within you.
כִּי יִפָּלֵא מִמְּךָ דָבָר לַמִּשְׁפָּט בֵּֽין־דָּם ׀ לְדָם בֵּֽין־דִּין לְדִין וּבֵין נֶגַע לָנֶגַע דִּבְרֵי רִיבֹת בִּשְׁעָרֶיךָ וְקַמְתָּ וְעָלִיתָ אֶל־הַמָּקוֹם אֲשֶׁר יִבְחַר יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ בּֽוֹ׃
If a matter of law is too abstruse for you—between blood and blood, between decision and decision, or between leprosy and leprosy, matters under dispute in your city; you shall rise and ascend to the place that Adonoy, your God, will have chosen.
If a matter of law is too abstruse for you—between blood and blood, between decision and decision, or between leprosy and leprosy, matters under dispute in your city; you shall rise and ascend to the place that Adonoy, your God, will have chosen.
Rashi
כי יפלא. כָּל הַפְלָאָה לְשׁוֹן הַבְדָּלָה וּפְרִישָׁה, שֶׁהַדָּבָר נִבְדָּל וּמְכֻסֶּה מִמְּךָ:
If . . . is too abstruse. הַפְלָאָה always denotes separation, or setting apart — the matter is separated, concealed from you.
בין דם לדם. בֵּין דָּם טָמֵא לְדָם טָהוֹר (נדה י"ט):
Between blood and blood. Between ritually unclean blood and clean blood.
בין דין לדין. בֵּין דִּין זַכַּאי לְדִין חַיָּב:
Between decision and decision. Between a ‘not guilty’ decision, and a ‘guilty’ decision.
בין נגע לנגע. בֵּין נֶגַע טָמֵא לְנֶגַע טָהוֹר:
Or between leprosy and leprosy. Between ritually unclean leprosy, and clean leprosy.
דברי ריבת. שֶׁיִּהְיוּ חַכְמֵי הָעִיר חוֹלְקִים בַּדָּבָר, זֶה מְטַמֵּא וְזֶה מְטַהֵר, זֶה מְחַיֵּב וְזֶה מְזַכֶּה:
Matters under dispute. When the wise men of the city disagree over the matter, one finding that it is unclean, the other that it is clean; one ruling ‘guilty,’ the other ‘not guilty.’
וקמת ועלית. מְלַמֵּד שֶׁבֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ גָּבוֹהַּ מִכָּל הַמְּקוֹמוֹת (ספרי; סנהדרין פ"ז):
You shall rise and ascend. This teaches that the Beis Hamikdosh was loftier than all other places.
וּבָאתָ אֶל־הַכֹּהֲנִים הַלְוִיִּם וְאֶל־הַשֹּׁפֵט אֲשֶׁר יִהְיֶה בַּיָּמִים הָהֵם וְדָרַשְׁתָּ וְהִגִּידוּ לְךָ אֵת דְּבַר הַמִּשְׁפָּֽט׃
You are to come before the kohanim-the Levites and the judge officiating during those days; you will inquire and they will tell you the legal decision.
You are to come before the kohanim-the Levites and the judge officiating during those days; you will inquire and they will tell you the legal decision.
Rashi
הכהנים הלוים. הַכֹּהֲנִים שֶׁיָּצְאוּ מִשֵּׁבֶט לֵוִי:
The kohanim — the Levites — The kohanim, who are descended from the tribe of Levi.
ואל השפט אשר יהיה בימים ההם. וַאֲפִלּוּ אֵינוֹ כִּשְׁאָר שׁוֹפְטִים שֶׁהָיוּ לְפָנָיו, אַתָּה צָרִיךְ לִשְׁמֹעַ לוֹ – אֵין לְךָ אֶלָּא שׁוֹפֵט שֶׁבְּיָמֶיךָ (ראש השנה כ"ה):
And the judge officiating during those days. Even if he is not comparable to the other judges who preceded him, you must obey him — you have no one but the judge in your day.
וְעָשִׂיתָ עַל־פִּי הַדָּבָר אֲשֶׁר יַגִּידֽוּ לְךָ מִן־הַמָּקוֹם הַהוּא אֲשֶׁר יִבְחַר יְהֹוָה וְשָׁמַרְתָּ לַעֲשׂוֹת כְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר יוֹרֽוּךָ׃
You are to act according to the word that they tell you from that place that Adonoy will have chosen; and you are to be careful to fulfill exactly as they instruct you.
You are to act according to the word that they tell you from that place that Adonoy will have chosen; and you are to be careful to fulfill exactly as they instruct you.
עַל־פִּי הַתּוֹרָה אֲשֶׁר יוֹרוּךָ וְעַל־הַמִּשְׁפָּט אֲשֶׁר־יֹאמְרוּ לְךָ תַּעֲשֶׂה לֹא תָסוּר מִן־הַדָּבָר אֲשֶׁר־יַגִּידֽוּ לְךָ יָמִין וּשְׂמֹֽאל׃
In accord with the Torah that they instruct you and upon the law that they state to you, are you to act; do not deviate from the word they tell you, neither right or left.
In accord with the Torah that they instruct you and upon the law that they state to you, are you to act; do not deviate from the word they tell you, neither right or left.
Rashi
ימין ושמאל. אֲפִלּוּ אוֹמֵר לְךָ עַל יָמִין שֶׁהוּא שְׂמֹאל וְעַל שְׂמֹאל שֶׁהוּא יָמִין, וְכָל שֶׁכֵּן שֶׁאוֹמֵר לְךָ עַל יָמִין יָמִין וְעַל שְׂמֹאל שְׂמֹאל (ספרי):
Neither right or left. Even if he tells you that right is left or left is right; certainly, if he tells you that right is right and left is left.
וְהָאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר־יַעֲשֶׂה בְזָדוֹן לְבִלְתִּי שְׁמֹעַ אֶל־הַכֹּהֵן הָעֹמֵד לְשָׁרֶת שָׁם אֶת־יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ אוֹ אֶל־הַשֹּׁפֵט וּמֵת הָאִישׁ הַהוּא וּבִֽעַרְתָּ הָרָע מִיִּשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
But the man who acts deliberately to not heed the kohein who stands to serve there Adonoy, your God, or the judge; that man is to be executed and you will eliminate the evil from Yisroel.
But the man who acts deliberately to not heed the kohein who stands to serve there Adonoy, your God, or the judge; that man is to be executed and you will eliminate the evil from Yisroel.
וְכׇל־הָעָם יִשְׁמְעוּ וְיִרָאוּ וְלֹא יְזִידוּן עֽוֹד׃ {ס}
Let all the people hear and fear, and not sin deliberately again.
Let all the people hear and fear, and not sin deliberately again.
Rashi
וכל העם ישמעו. מִכָּאן שֶׁמַּמְתִּינִין לוֹ עַד הָרֶגֶל וּמְמִיתִין אוֹתוֹ בָּרֶגֶל (סנהדרין פ"ט):
Let all the people hear. From here it is derived that we wait with him until the festival, then execute him during the festival.
שפטים ושטרים. שׁוֹפְטִים – דַּיָּנִים הַפּוֹסְקִים אֶת הַדִּין, וְשׁוֹטְרִים – הָרוֹדִין אֶת הָעָם אַחַר מִצְוָתָם (שֶׁמַּכִּין וְכוֹפְתִין) בְּמַקֵּל וּבִרְצוּעָה עַד שֶׁיְּקַבֵּל עָלָיו אֶת דִּין הַשּׁוֹפֵט:
Judges and police officers. Judges: Magistrates who render legal decisions. Police officers — who compel the people to abide by their instructions by administering corporal punishment with cudgels and whips, until they accept the judge’s decision.