Pisqa’ 206356H:221; JN2:101-102. 1. “After the city closest to the murder victim has been determined” (Dt.21:3). This refers to the nearest among the near. On this basis they taught: If the murder victim is found exactly between two cities, each of them brings two calves [one for itself and one for its neighbor]. But sages say: One city brings one calf, and two cities do not bring two calves.357=T, Neg.1:13 But residents of Jerusalem are under no obligation to bring a Beheaded-calf for the rite [because Jerusalem falls within no tribal inheritance].358=M. Sotah 9:2.
A calf qualifies [for the rite] in its first year, While a heifer qualifies [for the rite of the Red Heifer359See Nu.19:1ff.] in its second. But sages say: A calf qualifies in its second year, While a heifer qualifies in its third or fourth.360=M. Par.1:1; cf. T, Par.1:1, Sifre Nu, 123, s.v., r ‘eli`ezer ‘omer. Another word: “A calf of the herd” (Dt.21:3)— one that has two distinguishing traits. And what might these be? It must be two years old, And it must be a calf361So F:242. Pardo emends to parah, “heifer.” of the herd.
Another word: Rinsing the hands is the task of elders (Dt.21:6), while the absolution is the task of Priests (Dt.21:5-7)362These two paragraphs are identified by F:242, n.3 as extraneous to Sifre’s “core”. Cf. M.Sotah 9:6.
“Which had never been worked” (Dt.21:3)— Can this mean any work at all? How do I know that this refers to bearing a yoke? The Teaching states: “Which has never carried a yoke”363Cf. T.Par.3:4. (Dt.21:3)
(דברים כא ג) וְהָיָה הָעִיר הַקְּרֹבָה – הַקְּרוֹבָה שֶׁבַּקְּרוֹבוֹת. מִכָּן אָמְרוּ (סוטה ט ב): נִמְצָא מְכֻוָּן בֵּין שְׁתֵּי עֲיָירוֹת – שְׁתֵּיהֶן מְבִיאוֹת שְׁתֵּי עֶגְלוֹת, דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר. וַחֲכָמִים אוֹמְרִים: עִיר אַחַת מְבִיאָה, וְאֵין שְׁתֵּי עֲיָירוֹת מְבִיאוֹת שְׁתֵּי עֶגְלוֹת, וְאֵין יְרוּשָׁלִַם מְבִיאָה עֶגְלָה עֲרוּפָה.
Pisqa’ 206356H:221; JN2:101-102.
1. “After the city closest to the murder victim has been determined” (Dt.21:3).
This refers to the nearest among the near.
On this basis they taught:
If the murder victim is found
exactly between two cities,
each of them brings two calves
[one for itself and one for its neighbor].
But sages say:
One city brings one calf,
and two cities do not bring two calves.357=T, Neg.1:13
But residents of Jerusalem are
under no obligation to bring a Beheaded-calf for the rite
[because Jerusalem falls within no tribal inheritance].358=M. Sotah 9:2.
וְלָקְחוּ זִקְנֵי הָעִיר הַהִיא – וְלֹא זִקְנֵי יְרוּשָׁלִַם.
2. “Then, the elders of that city shall purchase” (Dt.21:3)—
but not the elders of Jerusalem.
“A calf of the herd” (Dt.21:3).
R. Eliezer says:
עֶגְלַת בָּקָר, רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר אוֹמֵר: עֶגְלָה בַּת שְׁנָתָהּ, וּפָרָה בַּת שְׁתַּיִם. וַחֲכָמִים אוֹמְרִים: עֶגְלָה בַּת שְׁתַּיִם, וּפָרָה בַּת שָׁלֹשׁ וּבַת אַרְבַּע. דָּבָר אַחֵר: עֶגְלַת בָּקָר – שֶׁיְּהֵא בָּהּ שְׁנֵי דְרָכִים. הָא כֵּיצַד? בַּת שְׁתַּיִם עֶגְלַת בָּקָר.
A calf qualifies [for the rite] in its first year,
While a heifer qualifies [for the rite of the Red Heifer359See Nu.19:1ff.] in its second.
But sages say:
A calf qualifies in its second year,
While a heifer qualifies in its third or fourth.360=M. Par.1:1; cf. T, Par.1:1, Sifre Nu, 123, s.v., r ‘eli`ezer ‘omer.
Another word:
“A calf of the herd” (Dt.21:3)—
one that has two distinguishing traits.
And what might these be?
It must be two years old,
And it must be a calf361So F:242. Pardo emends to parah, “heifer.” of the herd.
דָּבָר אַחֵר: רְחִיצָה בַּזְּקֵנִים וְכַפָּרָה בַּכֹּהֲנִים.
Another word:
Rinsing the hands is the task of elders (Dt.21:6),
while the absolution is the task of Priests (Dt.21:5-7)362These two paragraphs are identified by F:242, n.3 as extraneous to Sifre’s “core”. Cf. M.Sotah 9:6.
אֲשֶׁר לֹא עֻבַּד בָּהּ – כָּל עֲבוֹדָה. מִנַּיִן בְּעוֹל? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: אֲשֶׁר לֹא מָשְׁכָה בְּעֹל.
“Which had never been worked” (Dt.21:3)—
Can this mean any work at all?
How do I know that
this refers to bearing a yoke?
The Teaching states:
“Which has never carried a yoke”363Cf. T.Par.3:4. (Dt.21:3)