Derasha on Bamidbar 35:30 · TT unit 1

Parashas Masei · Passuk 35:30 · TT note 1

The Complete Passuk

כָּל־מַכֵּה־נֶ֗פֶשׁ לְפִ֣י עֵדִ֔ים יִרְצַ֖ח אֶת־הָרֹצֵ֑חַ וְעֵ֣ד אֶחָ֔ד לֹא־יַעֲנֶ֥ה בְנֶ֖פֶשׁ לָמֽוּת׃

Chabad.org — English translation + Rashi

Source Citation

Torah Temimah points to Sanhedrin 84b (TT note on “כָּל מַכֵּה נֶפֶשׁ”).

E-Daf — Sanhedrin 84b · Sefaria

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text — Sanhedrin 84b
כָּל מַכֵּה נֶפֶשׁ — יָכוֹל אֲפִלּוּ נְפָלִים אֲפִלּוּ בֶּן שְׁמוֹנָה, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר מַכֵּה אִישׁ.

English: “Anyone who strikes a person” — one might think even fetuses or an eight-month [premature infant]; Scripture says “one who strikes a man.”

Type of Learning

Limitation of capital homicide to a viable “man,” not fetus or non-viable neonate.

What Is Learned

The death penalty for murder applies only when the victim is a fully viable person, not a fetus or an eight-month neonate.