Pisqa’ 240¹

1

“Now, the men of her city shall pelt² her with stones” (Dt.22:21).

Now, can all the men of her city

actually pummel her?

Rather, they appoint a deputation

from among all the men of her city.

 

“With stones” (Dt.22:21)—

is it possible to say that many stones are used?

The Teaching states:

“With stone” (Lv.20:2).

 

If “with stone”—

is it possible to say, then, that only one stone is used?

The Teaching states:

“with stones” (Dt.22:21)!

From this you may conclude that

if she doesn’t die from the first stone,

let her die from the second!³

2

“For she has committed an outrage in Israel” (Dt.22:21)—

not only has she disgraced herself,

but all the maidens of Israel as well.

“By fornicating in the house of her father” (Dt.22:21).

Her father is mentioned here (Dt.22:21),

And her father is mentioned elsewhere (Lv.21:9).⁴

Just as her father elsewhere is mentioned

in the context of fornication that

violates the connection to her husband,

so, too, her father is mentioned here,⁵

in the context of fornication that

violates the connection to her husband.⁶

“And you shall expunge the evil from your midst” (Dt.22:21)—

expunge the evil-doers from Israel.⁷

1. H:247;JN2:159.
2. Heb: seqaluhah. See Dt.21:21 and Pisqa’ 220.1.
3. // Sifre Nu., 114. Cf. Pisqa’ 220.1
4. The question is: why mention the father in connection with the daughter’s breach of marriage to her husband?
5. On the text, see H:472, Pisqa’ 240, n.3
6. //Sifra, ‘emor, per.1:15.
7. This common exegetical trope first appears in Pisqa’ 86.2 and is repeated in SD frequently.