Derasha on Bamidbar 35:31 · TT unit 3

Parashas Masei · Passuk 35:31 · TT note 3

The Complete Passuk

וְלֹֽא־תִקְח֥וּ כֹ֙פֶר֙ לְנֶ֣פֶשׁ רֹצֵ֔חַ אֲשֶׁר־ה֣וּא רָשָׁ֖ע לָמ֑וּת כִּי־מ֖וֹת יוּמָֽת׃

Chabad.org — English translation + Rashi

Source Citation

Torah Temimah points to Sifrei (TT note on “רָשָׁע לָמוּת”).

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text — Sifrei
לְפִיכָךְ הַיּוֹצֵא לֵהָרֵג אַחַר שֶׁנִּגְמַר דִּינוֹ וְחָבְלוּ בּוֹ אֲחֵרִים אוֹ הֲרָגוּהוּ פָּטוּר.

English: Therefore one who is going out to be executed after his verdict has been completed, and others wounded him or killed him — they are exempt.

Type of Learning

Once the capital verdict is final, intervening harm or killing by others incurs no liability.

What Is Learned

A person already sentenced to death is treated as legally “dead”; subsequent injury or killing by third parties is not actionable.