Derasha on Bo 12:4 — Torah Temimah note 4

Parashas Bo · Shemos 12:4 · TT note 4

The Complete Passuk

וְאִם־יִמְעַ֣ט הַבַּ֘יִת֮ מִהְי֣וֹת מִשֶּׂה֒ וְלָקַ֣ח ה֗וּא וּשְׁכֵנ֛וֹ הַקָּרֹ֥ב אֶל־בֵּית֖וֹ בְּמִכְסַ֣ת נְפָשֹׁ֑ת אִ֚ישׁ לְפִ֣י אׇכְל֔וֹ תָּכֹ֖סּוּ עַל־הַשֶּֽׂה׃

Source Citation

Torah Temimah on Shemos 12:4, note 4 (on וּשְׁכֵנוֹ הַקָּרֹב אֶל־בֵּיתוֹ) points to Mechilta.

Sefaria — Exodus 12:4
Sefaria — Torah Temimah on Exodus 12:4
Sefaria — Mechilta

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text — Mechilta (via Torah Temimah)
וְלָקַח הוּא וּשְׁכֵנוֹ — שׁוֹמֵעַ אֲנִי שְׁכֵנוֹ שֶׁבְּגַגּוֹ, אוֹ אֵינוֹ אֶלָּא שְׁכֵנוֹ שֶׁבְּצִדּוֹ? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: הַקָּרֹב אֶל בֵּיתוֹ.

English: “He and his neighbor shall take” — I might think [only] his neighbor on his roof, or is it only his neighbor beside him? Therefore it says: “who is near to his house.”

Type of Learning

Clarifying derash: proximity of houses, not only a shared wall, defines who may join.

What Is Learned

Neighbors who live near the house may join for the Pesach when the household is too small.