Derasha on Bamidbar 35:20 · TT unit 2

Parashas Masei · Passuk 35:20 · TT note 2

The Complete Passuk

וְאִם־בְּשִׂנְאָ֖ה יֶהְדָּפֶ֑נּוּ אֽוֹ־הִשְׁלִ֥יךְ עָלָ֛יו בִּצְדִיָּ֖ה וַיָּמֹֽת׃

Torah Temimah points to Sifrei (TT note on “בִּצְדִיָּה”).

Core Text — Sifrei

הִשְׁלִיךְ עָלָיו בִּצְדִיָּה — בִּצְדִיָּה, שֶׁצָּדָה לוֹ וּמִתְכַּוֵּן לוֹ.

English: “Or throws something upon him with intent” — “with intent” means that he laid in wait for him and intended [to kill] him.

Definition of intentional ambush (tzediyah) as a capital act.

Throwing an object that kills only incurs capital liability when the thrower deliberately ambushed and aimed at the victim.