Derasha 2 on Bereishis 3:14

TT #130 · Parashas Bereishis · Third Aliyah · Passuk 14

Complete Passuk

וַיֹּ֩אמֶר֩ יְהֹוָ֨ה אֱלֹהִ֥ים ׀ אֶֽל־הַנָּחָשׁ֮ כִּ֣י עָשִׂ֣יתָ זֹּאת֒ אָר֤וּר אַתָּה֙ מִכָּל־הַבְּהֵמָ֔ה וּמִכֹּ֖ל חַיַּ֣ת הַשָּׂדֶ֑ה עַל־גְּחֹנְךָ֣ תֵלֵ֔ךְ וְעָפָ֥ר תֹּאכַ֖ל כָּל־יְמֵ֥י חַיֶּֽיךָ׃

Chabad / Judaica Press

Source Citation

TT points to Sanhedrin 29a (verified).

E-Daf image (Sanhedrin 29a)

Core Text

Core Textמִכָּאן שֶׁאֵין טוֹעֲנִין לַמַּסִּית, וּמַאי הֲוֵי לֵיהּ לְטַעֲוֹן? דִּבְרֵי הָרַב וְדִבְרֵי הַתַּלְמִיד דִּבְרֵי מִי שׁוֹמְעִין — דִּבְרֵי הָרַב שׁוֹמְעִין.
English of Core Text: From here [we learn] that one does not plead on behalf of an inciter. And what could he have claimed? “The words of the master and the words of the disciple — whose words does one heed? One heeds the words of the master.”
On the daf / in context: The serpent is not given an opportunity to defend himself; this becomes the paradigm that an inciter (mesit) is not entitled to the usual judicial advocacy.
Type of Learning: Custom (no advocacy for a mesit)
What Is Learned: An inciter is not granted the right of defense that others receive; the serpent’s case is the source.