Reeh 13:15 · unit 1

TT #159 · Parashas Reeh · Third Aliyah · Passuk 13:15

The Complete Passuk

וְדָרַשְׁתָּ֧ וְחָקַרְתָּ֧ וְשָׁאַלְתָּ֖ הֵיטֵ֑ב וְהִנֵּ֤ה אֱמֶת֙ נָכ֣וֹן הַדָּבָ֔ר נֶעֶשְׂתָ֛ה הַתּוֹעֵבָ֥ה הַזֹּ֖את בְּקִרְבֶּֽךָ׃

And you shall inquire and investigate and ask thoroughly, and behold, the matter is true and certain—this abomination has been done in your midst.

Chabad.org — 13:15

Source Citation

Torah Temimah points to Sanhedrin.

Sefaria — Sanhedrin

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
וְדָרַשְׁתָּ וְחָקַרְתָּ וְשָׁאַלְתָּ הֵיטֵב – מִנַּלַּן דְּעָבְדִינַן שֶׁבַע חֲקִירוֹת בְּעֵדִים, דִּכְתִיב וְדָרַשְׁתָּ וְחָקַרְתָּ וְשָׁאַלְתָּ הֵיטֵב, וּכְתִיב וְדָרַשְׁתָּ הֵיטֵב, וּכְתִיב וְדָרְשׁוּ הַשּׁוֹפְטִים הֵיטֵב.

English: “And you shall inquire and investigate and ask thoroughly” — From where do we know that we perform seven interrogations of the witnesses? From the verses “and you shall inquire and investigate and ask thoroughly,” “and you shall inquire thoroughly,” and “and the judges shall inquire thoroughly.”

On the daf / in context: The multiple expressions of thorough investigation in the Torah are counted to yield the seven formal questions that must be put to witnesses in capital cases.

Type of Learning

Derash on the verse (Sanhedrin) — the source of the seven chakiros.

What Is Learned

The seven formal interrogations of witnesses are derived from the repeated language of thorough inquiry in the Torah.