Commentary for Sanhedrin 97:3

אמר ליה לא יכיל ליה א"ל השתא בדופן חמישית כיון ליה דכתיב (שמואל ב ב, כג) ויכהו אבנר באחרי החנית אל החומש וא"ר יוחנן בדופן חמישית במקום שמרה וכבד תלויין בו באחד מאיבריו לא יכיל ליה

'Even so,' answered he; 'but he [Abner] should havesaved himself at the cost of one of his [Asahel's] limbs.'<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' And so incapacitate him, instead of inflicting a mortal wound. V. infra 74a: If one can injure his adversary in self-defence, but kills him instead, he is guilty of murder. ');">⁷</span> 'Yet perhapshe could not do so, remonstrated [Solomon]. 'If he could aim exactly at thefifth rib,' he retorted, ('even as it is written, Abner with the hinder endof the spear smote him at thewaist;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' II Sam. II, 23 [H] 'loins', 'waist', means also 'fifth'. Hence R. Johanan's interpretation. ');">⁸</span> concerning which R. Johanansaid: It was at the fifth rib, where the gall-bladder and liver are suspended.)— could he not have aimed at one of his limbs?' Thereupon [Solomon] said:'Let us drop [the incident of] Abner; why didst thou kill Amasa?'<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Son of Abigail, King David's sister, who commanded the rebel army of Absalom. Subsequently he was pardoned by David and given the command of the army when the rebellion of Shebah broke out (II Sam. XX). On that account Joab saw a dangerous rival in him. II Sam. XVII, 25; XIX, 14. ');">⁹</span>

Explore commentary for Sanhedrin 97:3. In-depth commentary and analysis from classical Jewish sources.