Parashas Vayeira · Passuk 20:3
And God came to Avimelech in a dream of the night and said to him, “Behold, you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is a man’s wife.”
Torah Temimah points to Makkos 9a.
TT lemma: הנך מת.
English: “Behold, you are a dead man.” By the hand of man. Even though it is written “I restrained you from sinning against Me,” nevertheless his judgment is given over to man. Likewise with Yosef: “and I would sin against God,” yet his judgment is given over to man. From here [we learn] that one who says “it is permitted” is close to intentional sin.
Derash on the verse (Bavli sugya) — not a formal named middah of the 13. The divine warning is read as authorizing human jurisdiction.
Avimelech’s death sentence was in the hands of human judges; one who acts on the claim “it is permitted” stands close to intentional guilt.