Derasha 4 on Behaalosecha 9:10

Parashas Behaalosecha · Aliyah 3 · Passuk 10

The Complete Passuk

דַּבֵּ֛ר אֶל־בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לֵאמֹ֑ר אִ֣ישׁ אִ֣ישׁ כִּי־יִהְיֶֽה־טָמֵ֣א ׀ לָנֶ֡פֶשׁ אוֹ֩ בְדֶ֨רֶךְ רְחֹקָ֜ה לָכֶ֗ם א֚וֹ לְדֹרֹ֣תֵיכֶ֔ם וְעָ֥שָׂה פֶ֖סַח לַיהֹוָֽה׃

Chabad.org — English translation + Rashi

Source Citation

Torah Temimah (Pesachim 93b): the distant journey is measured from the entrance of the Azarah (or, according to another view, from a fixed distance).

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
אֵיזוֹ הִיא דֶּרֶךְ רְחוֹקָה? מִן הַמּוֹדִיעִים וְלַחוּץ, וּכְמִדָּתָהּ לְכׇל רוּחַ, דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא. רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר אוֹמֵר: מֵאִיסְקוּפַּת הָעֲזָרָה וְלַחוּץ.

English: What is a distant road? From Modi’im and outward, and the same measure in every direction — the words of Rabbi Akiva. Rabbi Eliezer says: from the threshold of the Azarah and outward.

Type of Learning

Definition of distance — the verse’s “distant road” receives a concrete geographic measure in the Oral Law.

What Is Learned

Physical distance from the place of the offering is itself a recognized ground for the second opportunity.