Commentary for Yevamot 157:8

(שמואל ב כא, י) ותקח רצפה בת איה את השק ותטהו לה אל הצור מתחלת קציר עד נתך מים עליהם מן השמים ולא נתנה עוף השמים לנוח עליהם יומם וחית השדה לילה והא כתיב (דברים כא, כג) לא תלין נבלתו על העץ

Was there favouritism then! — In fact he did let him pass and it retained him, but he invoked on his behalf divine mercy and it released him. But here, too, favouritism is involved!<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' If he who was retained was released another would have to die in his place! ');">¹⁴</span> — The fact, however, is that he invoked divine mercy that the Ark should not retain him. But, surely, it is written, The fathers shall not be pit to death for the children etc.!<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers (Deut. XXIV, 16). Why then were Saul's descendants made to suffer for the sin of Saul? ');">¹⁵</span>

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