Commentary for Bava Kamma 172:23

תניא אידך ר' יהודה אומר סומא אין לו בושת

just as there<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' In the case of witnesses. ');">¹⁷</span> blind persons are not included<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' For since a blind person could not see he is disqualified from giving evidence, on the strength of Lev. v, 1; cf. Tosaf, B.B. 129a, s.v. [H], and Asheri B.B. VIII, 24; but v. also Shebu. 33b. ');">¹⁸</span> so also here<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' In the case of Degradation. ');">¹⁹</span> blind persons should not be included. The exemption from the liability to be exiled is derived as taught: Seeing him not<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Num. XXXV, 23. ');">²⁰</span> excepts a blind person;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' From being subject to the law of exile. ');">²¹</span> so R. Judah. R. Meir on the other hand says that it includes a blind person.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Mak. 9b. ');">²²</span> What is the reason of R. Judah? — He might say to you [as Scripture says]: 'As when a man goeth into the wood with his neighbour to hew wood',<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Deut. XIX, 5. ');">²³</span> which might include even a blind person. The Divine Law therefore says 'Seeing him not' to exclude [him]. But R. Meir might contend that as the Divine Law inserted 'Seeing him not' [which implies] an exception, and the Divine Law further inserted unawares'<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ibid. 4. ');">²⁴</span> [which similarly implies] an exception, we have thus a limitation followed by another limitation, and the established rule is that a limitation followed by another limitation is intended to amplify.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Cf. supra p. 259. ');">²⁵</span> And R. Judah? — He could argue that the word 'unawares' came to be inserted to except a case of intention. [Exemption from] liability to be put to death by a court of law is derived [from comparing the term] 'murderer' [used in the section dealing with capital punishment<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Num. XXXV, 31. ');">²⁶</span> with the term] 'murderer' [used in the section setting out] the liability to be exiled.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Deut. XIX, 3. ');">²⁷</span> [Exemption from] liability of lashes is learnt [by comparing the term] 'wicked' [occurring in the Section dealing with lashes<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Deut. XXV, 2. ');">²⁸</span> with the term] 'wicked'<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Num. XXXV, 31. ');">²⁶</span> occurring in the case of those who are liable to be put to death by a court of law. Another [Baraitha] taught: R. Judah says: A blind person is not subject to [the law of] Degradation.

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