Pisqa’ 93¹

1

“Some . . . men went out” (Dt.13:14)—

[the tempters] must be men, but not women.

“Men” (Dt.13:14)—

they must be adults, and not children.

“Men” (Dt.13:14)—

the plural, men, indicates

not less than two tempters. ²

“Some rebellious (bli`al) men” (Dt.13:14)—

without any restraint (bli `ol).

that is, people who have

thrown off the yoke of the All-Present.³

“From among you” (Dt.13:14)—

but not from unprotected border-lands.⁴

“And have led astray the residents of their city” (Dt.13:14)—

but not the residents of another city.

“Saying” (Dt.13:14)—

[despite] having been cautioned against it,⁵

“Let us go and serve other gods which you have not known!

Then you shall seek out the truth, and investigate, and inquire diligently” (Dt.13:14-15).

Inferring from what is stated elsewhere:

“If it is reported to you, and you have heard it, then you shall seek out diligently” (Dt.17:4)—

diligently occurs here (Dt.13:15)

and diligently occurs elsewhere (Dt.17:4),

permitting an analogical inference.

It teaches that

we probe a witness with seven⁶ investigations.⁷

2

On what basis do I know that

[there is a formal procedure of] probing?

The Teaching states:

“And, indeed, the report is true and well-founded” (Dt.13:15)—

[necessitating a thorough probe].

But if we are eventually

going to include probings, (bediqot)

what is the point of the Teaching

that mentions investigations (khaqirot; Dt.13:15)?

Investigations implies that

if one witness [of two] testified: “I don’t know”—

the their testimony is nullified.

Probings implies that

if one witness testified: “I don’t know”—

and even if two testified: “we don’t know”—

their testimony is sustained.

Investigations and probings are alike

in that, when they are in conflict,

their testimony is nullified.

“That this abomination was done among you” (Dt.13:15)— 

including the participation of converts and freed [Hebrew] slaves.⁸

1. H:141-142; JN1:246-247.
2. Cf. T.San.14:2
3. Cf. Pisqa’ 117.1.
4. //T. San.14:1.
5. Cf. M. San.10:4; Sifre Nu.113.
6. According to a baraita quoted at Y. San. 5:1, 22c the total of seven is arrived at by adding the procedures enumerated at Dt. 13:15: seek out, investigate, inquire, diligently, true, well-founded, the matter.
7. //M.San.5:1.These investigations concern the date and circumstances of the crime:The witness must be able to identify the sabbatical cycle within the Jubilee, the year of the seven-year cycle, the month, the day of the month, the day of the week, the time of day, and the place.
8. Cf. Pisqa’ 149.1