Pisqa’ 280395H:272;JN2:228. 1. “Fathers shall not be put to death by reason of the sons” (Dt.24:16). Now, what is the verse trying to teach us— that father’s shall not be put to death because of the [deeds of their] sons, nor sons because of their fathers? But isn’t it already stated [in this very verse]: “A person shall die for his own sin” (Dt.24:16)? Actually, [the point us that] fathers shall not be put to death on the testimony of their sons, nor sons on the testimony of their fathers.
When He states: “Nor sons” (Dt.24:16)— this is to excuse close relatives [from testifying against each other]. Now, who are considered close relatives? His brother, and his paternal uncle, and his maternal uncle, and his paternal brother-in-law and his maternal brother-in-law, and his aunt’s husband, and his mother’s husband, and his father-in-law, and his brother-in-law.396=M. San. 3:4.
(דברים כד טז) לֹא יוּמְתוּ אָבוֹת עַל בָּנִים, וְכִי מָה בָּא הַכָּתוּב לְלַמְּדֵנוּ שֶׁלֹּא יוּמְתוּ אָבוֹת עַל יְדֵי בָנִים וְלֹא בָנִים עַל יְדֵי אָבוֹת, וַהֲלֹא כְּבָר נֶאֱמַר אִישׁ בְּחֶטְאוֹ יוּמָתוּ אֶלָּא שֶׁלֹּא יוּמְתוּ אָבוֹת בְּעֵדוּת בָּנִים וְלֹא בָנִים בְּעֵדוּת אָבוֹת.
Pisqa’ 280395H:272;JN2:228.
1. “Fathers shall not be put to death by reason of the sons” (Dt.24:16).
Now, what is the verse trying to teach us—
that father’s shall not be put to death
because of the [deeds of their] sons,
nor sons because of their fathers?
But isn’t it already stated [in this very verse]:
“A person shall die for his own sin” (Dt.24:16)?
Actually, [the point us that]
fathers shall not be put to death
on the testimony of their sons,
nor sons on the testimony of their fathers.
כְּשֶׁהוּא אוֹמֵר וּבָנִים לְרַבּוֹת אֶת הַקְּרוֹבִים, וְאֵלּוּ הֵם הַקְּרוֹבִים: אָחִיו וַאֲחִי אָבִיו וַאֲחִי אִמּוֹ וּבַעַל אֲחוֹתוֹ וּבַעַל אֲחוֹת אָבִיו וּבַעַל אֲחוֹת אִמּוֹ וּבַעַל אִמּוֹ וְחָמִיו וְגִיסוֹ.
When He states:
“Nor sons” (Dt.24:16)—
this is to excuse close relatives
[from testifying against each other].
Now, who are considered close relatives?
His brother, and his paternal uncle,
and his maternal uncle,
and his paternal brother-in-law
and his maternal brother-in-law,
and his aunt’s husband,
and his mother’s husband,
and his father-in-law,
and his brother-in-law.396=M. San. 3:4.
אִישׁ בְּחֶטְאוֹ יוּמָתוּ, אָבוֹת מֵתִים בַּעֲוֹן עַצְמָם וּבָנִים מֵתִים בַּעֲוֹן עַצְמָם.
“A person shall die for his own sin” (Dt.24:26)—
fathers shall die for their own transgression,
and sons shall die for their own transgression.