Derasha on Bo 12:9 — Torah Temimah note 13

Parashas Bo · Shemos 12:9 · TT note 13

The Complete Passuk

אַל־תֹּאכְל֤וּ מִמֶּ֙נּוּ֙ נָ֔א וּבָשֵׁ֥ל מְבֻשָּׁ֖ל בַּמָּ֑יִם כִּ֣י אִם־צְלִי־אֵ֔שׁ רֹאשׁ֥וֹ עַל־כְּרָעָ֖יו וְעַל־קִרְבּֽוֹ׃

Source Citation

Torah Temimah on Shemos 12:9, note 13 (on כִּי אִם צְלִי אֵשׁ) points to Mechilta.

Sefaria — Exodus 12:9
Sefaria — Torah Temimah on Exodus 12:9
Sefaria — Mechilta

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text — Mechilta (via Torah Temimah)
מַה תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר ״כִּי אִם״? שֶׁיָּכוֹל הָרָאוּי לִשְׁלוֹק יִשְׁלוֹק וְהָרָאוּי לִצְלִי יִצְלֶה — תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: כִּי אִם צְלִי אֵשׁ.

English: Why does it say “but”? One might think that what is fit for boiling may be boiled and what is fit for roasting may be roasted — therefore it says “but roasted with fire.”

Type of Learning

Exclusionary derash: no option to boil; the only permitted preparation is fire-roasting.

What Is Learned

One may not choose boiling for any part of the Pesach; the entire offering is fire-roasted.