Reeh 13:16 · unit 2

TT #163 · Parashas Reeh · Third Aliyah · Passuk 13:16

The Complete Passuk

הַכֵּ֣ה תַכֶּ֗ה אֶת־יֹֽשְׁבֵ֛י הָעִ֥יר הַהִ֖וא לְפִי־חָ֑רֶב הַחֲרֵ֨ם אֹתָ֧הּ וְאֶת־כׇּל־אֲשֶׁר־בָּ֛הּ וְאֶת־בְּהֶמְתָּ֖הּ לְפִי־חָֽרֶב׃

You shall surely strike the inhabitants of that city with the edge of the sword; you shall devote it and all that is in it and its animals to destruction with the edge of the sword.

Chabad.org — 13:16

Source Citation

Torah Temimah points to Sanhedrin.

Sefaria — Sanhedrin

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
אֶת יוֹשְׁבֵי הָעִיר – הַחַמָּרֶת וְהַגַּמֶּלֶת הָעוֹבֶרֶת מִמָּקוֹם לְמָקוֹם שֶׁשָּׁהוּ בָּעִיר שְׁלֹשִׁים יוֹם הֲרֵי הֵם כְּיוֹשְׁבֵי הָעִיר וּמַצִּילִין אוֹתָהּ.

English: “The inhabitants of the city” — Donkey-drivers and camel-drivers who travel from place to place and who stayed in the city thirty days are regarded as inhabitants of the city and can save it.

On the daf / in context: Temporary residents who have remained for thirty days count toward the population; if they form the majority that did not worship, they prevent the city from being condemned.

Type of Learning

Derash on the verse (Sanhedrin) — thirty-day sojourners are counted as residents.

What Is Learned

Traveling merchants who stayed thirty days are treated as inhabitants and may tip the majority that saves the city.