Derasha on Bamidbar 35:3 · TT unit 1

Parashas Masei · Passuk 35:3 · TT note 1

The Complete Passuk

וְהָי֤וּ הֶֽעָרִים֙ לָהֶ֔ם לָשָׁ֑בֶת וּמִגְרְשֵׁיהֶ֗ם יִהְי֤וּ לִבְהֶמְתָּם֙ וְלִרְכֻשָׁ֔ם וּלְכֹ֖ל חַיָּתָֽם׃

Chabad.org — English translation + Rashi

Source Citation

Torah Temimah points to Nedarim 81a (TT note on “וּלְכֹל חַיָּתָם”).

E-Daf — Nedarim 81a · Sefaria

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text — Nedarim 81a
וּלְכֹל חַיָּתָם — מַאי חַיָּתָם? אִילֵּימָא חַיָּה, וַהֲלֹא חַיָּה בִּכְלַל בְּהֵמָה, וְאֶלָּא מַאי חַיָּתָם מַמָּשׁ — פְּשִׁיטָא, אֶלָּא מַאי חַיָּתָם — כְּבִיסָה, דְּאִיכָּא צַעֲרָא דְּעַרְבּוּבִיתָא.

English: “And for all their living” — what is “their living”? If you say wild animals, but wild animals are already included in “beasts.” And if it means literally their life — that is obvious. Rather, “their living” means laundry, because there is the distress of dirt.

Type of Learning

Halakhic definition of the migrash — laundry space is included in the open land around the Levitical cities.

What Is Learned

The migrash of the Levitical cities is not only for animals and goods; it also provides space for washing clothes so that the inhabitants are not distressed by filth.