Sanhedrin 168

Chapter 168

א מתני׳ <big><strong>אלו</strong></big> הן הנחנקין המכה אביו ואמו וגונב נפש מישראל וזקן ממרא ע"פ ב"ד ונביא השקר והמתנבא בשם עבודת כוכבים והבא על אשת איש וזוממי בת כהן ובועלה:
1 <b><i>MISHNAH</i></b>. THE FOLLOWING ARE STRANGLED: HE WHO STRIKES HIS FATHER OR MOTHER; OR KIDNAPS A JEW [TO SELL AS A SLAVE]; AN ELDER REBELLING AGAINST THE RULING OF <i>BETH DIN</i>; A FALSE PROPHET; ONE WHO PROPHESIES IN THE NAME OF AN IDOL; ONE WHO COMMITS ADULTERY; WITNESSES WHO TESTIFIED FALSELY [TO THE ADULTERY OF] A PRIEST'S DAUGHTER, AND HER PARAMOUR.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' If she was nesu'ah, cf. supra 51b. ');"><sup>1</sup></span>
ב <big><strong>גמ׳</strong></big> מכה אביו ואמו מנלן דכתיב (שמות כא, טו) מכה אביו ואמו מות יומת וכל מיתה האמורה בתורה סתם אינה אלא חנק
2 <b><i>GEMARA</i></b>. Whence do we know it of him who strikes his father or mother? — From the verse, And he that smiteth his father or mother shall surely be put to death:<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ex. XXI, 15. ');"><sup>2</sup></span>
ג אימא עד דקטיל ליה מיקטל ס"ד קטל חד בסייף ואביו בחנק
3 and by every unspecified death sentence decreed in the Torah strangulation is meant. But say! perhaps it is only if he kills [not merely strikes] them? — You surely cannot think so: for killing any other person he is decapitated, whilst for his father's murder he is [only] strangled! Now, this [answer] is correct on the view that strangulation is more lenient: but on the view that the sword is more lenient, what canst thou say? — But since it is written, He that smiteth a man, so that he dies, shall surely be put to death:<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ibid. 12. ');"><sup>3</sup></span>
ד הניחא למ"ד חנק קל אלא למאן דאמר חנק חמור מאי איכא למימר
4 and also, or in enmity smite him with his hand, that he die,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Num. XXXV, 21. ');"><sup>4</sup></span>
ה אלא מדכתיב (שמות כא, יב) מכה איש ומת מות יומת וכתיב (במדבר לה, כא) או באיבה הכהו בידו וימות שמע מינה כל היכא דאיכא הכאה סתם לאו מיתה הוא
5 it follows that whenever an unqualified smiting is mentioned, it does not mean slaying.
ו ואצטריך למיכתב מכה איש ואיצטריך למכתב כל מכה נפש דאי כתב רחמנא מכה איש ומת הוה אמינא איש דבר מצוה אין קטן לא כתב רחמנא כל מכה נפש ואי כתב רחמנא כל מכה נפש הוה אמינא אפילו נפלים אפילו בן שמונה צריכי
6 Now, it is necessary that both 'He that smiteth a man' and 'whoso killeth any soul etc.'<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ibid. 30. ');"><sup>5</sup></span>
ז ואימא אע"ג דלא עביד ביה חבורה אלמה תנן המכה אביו ואמו אינו חייב עד שיעשה בהן חבורה
7 be written. For had the Divine Law written only, 'He that smiteth a man, that he die', I should have thought that it applies to the slaying of an adult [ish]<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' [H] a man, an adult. ');"><sup>6</sup></span>
ח אמר קרא (ויקרא כד, כא) מכה אדם ומכה בהמה מה מכה בהמה עד דעביד בה חבורה דכתיב בה נפש אף מכה אדם עד דעביד חבורה
8 only, since such is himself bound by law, but not [to the slaying of] a minor; therefore the Divine Law writes, 'Whoso killeth any soul.' Whilst had the Divine Law written only. 'Who killeth any soul,' I should have thought that it applies even to a nefel<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'born of miscarriage', a term applied to all non-viable births. ');"><sup>7</sup></span>
ט מתקיף לה רב ירמיה אלא מעתה הכחישה באבנים הכי נמי דלא מיחייב אלא אם אינו ענין לנפש בהמה דהא אי נמי הכחישה באבנים חייב תניהו ענין לנפש אדם
9 or an 'eight months' child:<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., one born after eight months of pregnancy. The Talmud regards such as nonviable, though a seven months' child is. ');"><sup>8</sup></span>
י אלא הקישא למה לי לכדתניא דבי חזקיה
10 therefore the former verse is necessary too [to exclude these].
יא הניחא למאן דאית ליה תנא דבי חזקיה אלא למאן דלית ליה תנא דבי חזקיה היקישא למה לי
11 [Now, reverting to the main question:] Let us say that even if he [smote his father] without wounding him [he is executed]: Why have we learnt, He who strikes his father or his mother is liable only if he wounds them? — The Writ saith, And he that killeth a beast, he shall restore it; and he that killeth a man, he shall be put to death:<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lev. XXIV, 21. ');"><sup>9</sup></span>
יב מה מכה בהמה לרפואה פטור אף מכה אדם לרפואה פטור
12 just as for smiting an animal [there is no liability] unless it is wounded, since <i>nefesh</i> ['soul'] is written in connection therewith;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' And he that smiteth the nefesh of a beast shall make it good. Ibid. 18. Nefesh is elsewhere associated with the blood (e.g. Gen. IX, 4) and therefore denotes here that the blood of the animal is affected by the wounding stroke. ');"><sup>10</sup></span>
יג דאיבעיא להו בן מהו שיקיז דם לאביו רב מתנא אמר (ויקרא יט, יח) ואהבת לרעך כמוך רב דימי בר חיננא אמר מכה אדם ומכה בהמה מה מכה בהמה לרפואה פטור אף מכה אדם לרפואה פטור
13 so also, no liability is incurred for smiting a man [i.e., one's parent] unless there is a wound. R. Jeremiah objected: If so, if one [permanently] impaired its [sc. the animal's] strength by [loading] stones upon it, [yet not wounding it], is he then not liable [for its loss in value]? — But [say thus]: Since <i>nefesh</i>, written in connection with an animal, is irrelevant there, for even if one impaired its strength by loading stones upon it he is liable, transfer Its teachings to man.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Nefesh, which indicates that the blow must wound, is irrelevant in respect of an animal: therefore its teaching must be transferred to the smiting of man, sc. one's parent. On this method of interpretation, v. p. 368 n. 7. ');"><sup>11</sup></span>
יד רב לא שביק לבריה למישקל ליה סילוא מר בריה דרבינא לא שביק לבריה למיפתח ליה כוותא דילמא חביל והוה ליה שגגת איסור
14 Then what need is there of the analogy?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' In view of this latter suggested interpretation. ');"><sup>12</sup></span>
טו אי הכי אחר נמי אחר שיגגת לאו בנו שגגת חנק
15 For that which was taught in the school of Hezekiah.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Supra 79b. ');"><sup>13</sup></span>
טז והדתנן מחט של יד ליטול בה את הקוץ ליחוש דילמא חביל והויא לה שגגת סקילה
16 Now, this is well according to the view which accepts this teaching: but on the view that rejects it, why is the analogy required? [To teach:] just as one who smites an animal to heal it is not liable for any damage, so if one wounds a man [sc. his parent] to heal him he is not liable [for any damage that may ensue]. For the scholars propounded: May a son let blood for his father?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Since he thereby inflicts a wound on him. ');"><sup>14</sup></span>
יז התם מקלקל הוא
17 — R. Mathna ruled: But thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lev. XIX, 18; i.e., since he would desire it to be done to himself, if necessary, he may do it to another, even his father. ');"><sup>15</sup></span>
יח הניחא למאן דאמר מקלקל פטור אלא למ"ד חייב מאי איכא למימר
18 R. Dimi b. Hinena said: [The Writ saith,] And he that killeth a beast, he shall restore it: and he that killeth a man, he shall be put to death:<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lev. XXIV, 21. ');"><sup>16</sup></span>
יט מאן שמעת ליה דאמר מקלקל בחבורה חייב ר' שמעון היא
19 just as one who strikes an animal to heal it is not liable for damage, so if one wounds a man [sc. his parent] to heal him he is not liable. Rab would not permit his son to extract a thorn [from his flesh, since in drawing it out he would make a slight wound]. Mar, the son of Rabina, would not permit his son to lance a fester for him, lest he wound him, thereby unintentionally transgressing a prohibition. If so, even a stranger should be forbidden?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Since no man may wound another. ');"><sup>17</sup></span> — In the case of a stranger, the unintentional transgression is in respect of a mere negative precept: but his son's involves strangulation. But what of that which we learnt: A small needle [lit. 'hand-needle'] may be moved [on the Sabbath] for the purpose of extracting a thorn?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Some utensils may not be handled at all on the Sabbath, notably, those whose purpose is a manner of work forbidden on the Sabbath: others may be handled. This Mishnah enumerates various articles which may be handled, and for what purpose. ');"><sup>18</sup></span> But should we then not fear that a wound might be made [in extracting it], and thus a prohibition involving stoning be unintentionally transgressed? — There by so doing he effects damage.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' There is no punishment for committing an act of damage on the Sabbath, even deliberately. ');"><sup>19</sup></span> Now, this agrees with the view that one who does damage on the Sabbath is not liable [to punishment]: but on the view that he is, what can you say? — Whom have you heard maintaining that one who inflicts damage by means of a wound is liable [for the desecration of the Sabbath]? R. Simeon;