Derasha on Bamidbar 35:15 · TT unit 1

Parashas Masei · Passuk 35:15 · TT note 1

The Complete Passuk

לִבְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל וְלַגֵּ֤ר וְלַתּוֹשָׁב֙ בְּתוֹכָ֔ם תִּהְיֶ֛ינָה שֵׁשׁ־הֶעָרִ֥ים הָאֵ֖לֶּה לְמִקְלָ֑ט לָנ֣וּס שָׁ֔מָּה כׇּל־מַכֵּה־נֶ֖פֶשׁ בִּשְׁגָגָֽה׃

Chabad.org — English translation + Rashi

Source Citation

Torah Temimah points to Makkos 9a (TT note on “וְלַגֵּר וְלַתּוֹשָׁב”).

E-Daf — Makkos 9a · Sefaria

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text — Makkos 9a
וְלַגֵּר וְלַתּוֹשָׁב — וּלְמַעְלָה הוּא אוֹמֵר וְהָיוּ לָכֶם הֶעָרִים לְמִקְלָט, לָכֶם וְלֹא לְגֵרִים, הָא כֵּיצַד? כָּאן בְּגֵר תּוֹשָׁב שֶׁהָרַג יִשְׂרָאֵל, כָּאן בְּגֵר תּוֹשָׁב שֶׁהָרַג גֵּר תּוֹשָׁב.

English: “And for the sojourner and the resident” — yet above it says “the cities shall be for you as refuge,” for you and not for sojourners. How is this resolved? Here [this verse] concerns a ger toshav who killed an Israelite; there [the earlier verse] concerns a ger toshav who killed a ger toshav.

Type of Learning

Halakhic distinction of who is protected by the cities of refuge according to the status of killer and victim.

What Is Learned

A ger toshav who accidentally kills an Israelite flees to a city of refuge; a ger toshav who kills another ger toshav is treated under a different rule derived from the earlier “for you.”