Reeh 13:16 · unit 4

TT #165 · 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
בְּהֶמְתָּהּ לְפִי חָרֶב – בָּעֵי רַב חִסְדָּא, שְׁחָטָהּ מַהוּ לְטָהֲרָהּ מִידֵי נְבֵלָה, מִי אָמְרִינַן לְפִי חָרֶב אָמַר רַחֲמָנָא לֹא שְׁנָא שְׁחָטָהּ לֹא שְׁנָא קְטָלָהּ, אוֹ דִּלְמָא קְטָלָהּ דַּוְקָא, תֵּיקוּ.

English: “Its animals with the edge of the sword” — Rav Chisda asked: If one slaughtered it, does that purify it from the status of a neveilah? Do we say that the Merciful One said “with the edge of the sword” — it makes no difference whether one slaughtered it or killed it — or perhaps only killing is intended? The question remains unresolved.

On the daf / in context: The verse’s language “lefi cherev” leaves open whether a ritual slaughter performed on an animal of the condemned city removes the impurity of neveilah.

Type of Learning

Unresolved inquiry (Sanhedrin) — the effect of shechitah on animals of an ir ha-nidachas.

What Is Learned

It is unresolved whether slaughtering an animal of an ir ha-nidachas removes the status of neveilah; the practical ruling follows the stringent possibility.