Pisqa’ 183227H:205-206; JN2: 64-65. 1. “And his hand wields the ax to cut down the tree” (Dt.19:5). On this basis you can teach: if he intended to fell the tree, but it fell on a person, killing him— indeed, this one is expelled from his city
[to the city of refuge].228//T. Mak.2:1. “And the iron ax-head slipped from the wood” (Dt.19:5)— that is, [from the wooden handle] wielded by the chopper. Rabbi says: from the wood being chopped.229//T. Mak.2:6. “And found his kinsman” (Dt.19:5)— this refers to [a victim] already in [harm’s] way.
2. On this basis R. Eliezer b. Jacob would say: [Where a person threw a stone in the public domain], if at the time the stone left his hand, someone stuck his head out of a window, and he took the blow— this stone-thrower is exempt [from the charge of murder].230=M. Mak.2:2. 181.5
“For his heart boiled in rage, yet he hadn’t hated him” (Dt.19:7)— So, if he’d hated him, he wouldn’t be expelled from his city?232//M. Mak.2:2. See also Pisqa’ 181.5.
וְנִדְּחָה יָדוֹ בַגַּרְזֶן לִכְרוֹת הָעֵץ, מִכָּן אַתָּה אוֹמֵר: נִתְכַּוֵּן לָקוּץ אֶת הָאִילָן וְנָפַל עַל אָדָם וַהֲרָגוֹ – הֲרֵי זֶה גּוֹלֶה.
Pisqa’ 183227H:205-206; JN2: 64-65.
1. “And his hand wields the ax to cut down the tree” (Dt.19:5).
On this basis you can teach:
if he intended to fell the tree,
but it fell on a person, killing him—
indeed, this one is expelled from his city
וְנָשַׁל הַבַּרְזֶל מִן הָעֵץ הַמְבַקֵּעַ, רַבִּי אוֹמֵר: מִן הָעֵץ הַמִּתְבַּקֵּעַ.
[to the city of refuge].228//T. Mak.2:1.
“And the iron ax-head slipped from the wood” (Dt.19:5)—
that is, [from the wooden handle] wielded by the chopper.
Rabbi says:
from the wood being chopped.229//T. Mak.2:6.
“And found his kinsman” (Dt.19:5)—
this refers to [a victim] already in [harm’s] way.
וּמָצָא, בַּמָּצוּי. מִכָּן הָיָה רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר בֶּן יַעֲקֹב אוֹמֵר: אִם מִשֶּׁיָּצָאת אֶבֶן מִיָּדוֹ הוֹצִיא הַלָּה אֶת רֹאשׁוֹ וְקִבְּלָהּ – הֲרֵי זֶה פָּטוּר.
2. On this basis
R. Eliezer b. Jacob would say:
[Where a person threw a stone in the public domain],
if at the time the stone left his hand,
someone stuck his head out of a window,
and he took the blow—
this stone-thrower is exempt
[from the charge of murder].230=M. Mak.2:2. 181.5
הוּא יָנוּס אֶל אַחַת הֶעָרִים הָאֵלֶּה וָחָי, שֶׁלֹּא יְהֵא גּוֹלֶה מֵעִיר לְעִיר.
“He shall take refuge in one of these cities and live” (Dt.19:5)—
so that he needn’t be expelled from city to city.231Cf. Pisqa’ 180.2
(דברים יט ו) פֶּן יִרְדֹּף גֹּאֵל הַדָּם אַחֲרֵי הָרוֹצֵחַ, מִצְוָה בְּיַד גּוֹאֵל הַדָּם לִרְדֹּף.
3. “Lest the blood-avenger pursue the unwitting killer” (Dt.19:6)—
the blood-avenger is responsible for pursuit.
כִּי יֵחַם לְבָבוֹ וְהוּא לֹא שֹׂנֵא הוּא לוֹ, הָא אִם שׂוֹנֵא – אֵינוֹ גוֹלֶה.
“For his heart boiled in rage, yet he hadn’t hated him” (Dt.19:7)—
So, if he’d hated him,
he wouldn’t be expelled from his city?232//M. Mak.2:2. See also Pisqa’ 181.5.
מִתְּמוֹל שִׁלְשׁוֹם, זוֹ שֶׁרַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר: תְּמוֹל – שְׁנַיִם; שִׁלְשׁוֹם – שְׁלֹשָׁה.
“Either yesterday or the day before” (Dt.19:7)—
R. Judah says:
Yesterday counts for two days;
The day before makes it three
(דברים יט ז) עַל כֵּן אָנֹכִי מְצַוְּךָ לֵאמֹר – לְהַזְהִיר בֵּית דִּין עַל כָּךְ.
“Therefore, I command you, saying” (Dt.19:7)—
this clause cautions the court
to be vigilant [in applying the rule].233Cf. Pisqa’ 171.1.