Reeh 13:14 · unit 3

TT #149 · Parashas Reeh · Third Aliyah · Passuk 13:14

The Complete Passuk

יָצְא֞וּ אֲנָשִׁ֤ים בְּנֵֽי־בְלִיַּ֙עַל֙ מִקִּרְבֶּ֔ךָ וַיַּדִּ֛יחוּ אֶת־יֹשְׁבֵ֥י עִירָ֖ם לֵאמֹ֑ר נֵלְכָ֗ה וְנַעַבְדָ֛ה אֱלֹהִ֥ים אֲחֵרִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹא־יְדַעְתֶּֽם׃

Men, base fellows, have gone out from your midst and have led astray the inhabitants of their city, saying, “Let us go and serve other gods” that you have not known.

Chabad.org — 13:14

Source Citation

Torah Temimah points to Sanhedrin.

Sefaria — Sanhedrin

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
בְּנֵי בְלִיַּעַל – בָּנִים שֶׁפָּרְקוּ עֹל שָׁמַיִם מִצַּוְּארֵיהֶם.

English: “Base fellows” — sons who have cast off the yoke of Heaven from their necks.

On the daf / in context: The expression “benei beliya’al” is expounded as those who have removed the yoke of divine authority.

Type of Learning

Derash on the verse (Sanhedrin) — defining the character of the seducers.

What Is Learned

The seducers of an ir ha-nidachas are those who have thrown off the yoke of Heaven.