Pisqa’ 941
1
“Then you must utterly strike down with the sword’s blade” (Dt.13:16).
On what basis do we know that
if you are unable to execute [the inciter]
with the method stipulated for his crime
[i.e., beheading],
then you must execute him with
any of the other methods,
[e.g., strangulation, burning, or stoning,]
whether the methods are for
lesser or greater crimes?2
The Teaching states:
“Then you must utterly strike down” (Dt.13:16).
On what basis do we know that
if he’s escaped your hand [with his life],
he has not escaped my hand?
The Teaching states:
“Then you must utterly strike down” (Dt.13:16)—
[anyone can take his life].
2
“The residents of that city” (Dt.13:16).
On this basis they taught:
we do not permit the children to survive3
Abba Hanan says:
“The fathers shall not die because of the children
nor children be put to death because of their fathers” (Dt.24:16)—
Scripture here speaks about the condemned city.4
“Then you must utterly strike down the residents of that city” (Dt.13:16)—
but not the residents of another city.
On this basis they taught:
a mule train or a camel caravan
that migrates from place to place,
indeed, they spare the city.5
“With the sword’s blade” (Dt.13:16)—
this means, use the flat part of the blade
so as not to disfigure their corpses.6
“Lay waste to it” (Dt.13:16)—
with the exception of the property of the Righteous
which is beyond it.
“And everything that is in it” (Dt.13:16)—
including the property of the Righteous
which is within it.
On this basis they taught:
The property of the Righteous
which is within it is lost,
but what is beyond it is rescued.
As for the property of the Wicked,
whether within it or beyond it,
it is lost.7
“As well as its cattle” (Dt.13:16)—
but not cattle that has been consecrated.8