Derasha on Bamidbar 35:20 · TT unit 1

Parashas Masei · Passuk 35:20 · TT note 1

The Complete Passuk

וְאִם־בְּשִׂנְאָ֖ה יֶהְדָּפֶ֑נּוּ אֽוֹ־הִשְׁלִ֥יךְ עָלָ֛יו בִּצְדִיָּ֖ה וַיָּמֹֽת׃

Chabad.org — English translation + Rashi

Source Citation

Torah Temimah points to Sifrei (TT note on “וְאִם בְּשִׂנְאָה יֶהְדָּפֶנּוּ”).

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text — Sifrei
וְאִם בְּשִׂנְאָה יֶהְדָּפֶנּוּ — אֵין לִי אֶלָּא שֶׁהִכָּהוּ בִּכְלִי בַּרְזֶל בְּאֶבֶן יָד אוֹ בִּכְלִי עֵץ, מִנַּיִן שֶׁאִם דְּחָפוֹ מֵרֹאשׁ הַגַּג וְנָפַל וּמֵת שֶׁהוּא חַיָּב, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר וְאִם בְּשִׂנְאָה יֶהְדָּפֶנּוּ — מִכׇּל מָקוֹם.

English: “And if in hatred he pushes him” — I have only [liability for] striking with an iron implement, a hand-stone or a wooden implement; from where [do we know] that if he pushed him from a rooftop and he fell and died he is liable? Scripture says “and if in hatred he pushes him” — in any case.

Type of Learning

Expansion of liability from instrument-strikes to intentional pushing from a height.

What Is Learned

An intentional push from a roof that causes death is capital murder, just as striking with iron, stone or wood.