Derasha 8 on Shoftim 17:11

TT #76 · Parashas Shoftim · First Aliyah · Passuk 11

The Complete Passuk

עַל־פִּ֨י הַתּוֹרָ֜ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר יוֹר֗וּךָ וְעַל־הַמִּשְׁפָּ֛ט אֲשֶׁר־יֹאמְר֥וּ לְךָ֖ תַּעֲשֶׂ֑ה לֹ֣א תָס֗וּר מִן־הַדָּבָ֛ר אֲשֶׁר־יַגִּ֥ידֽוּ לְךָ֖ יָמִ֥ין וּשְׂמֹֽאל׃

You shall act in accordance with the instructions given you and the ruling handed down to you; you must not deviate from the verdict that they announce to you either to the right or to the left.

Chabad / Judaica Press

Source Citation

Torah Temimah points to Sanhedrin / Sifrei.

Sefaria

Core Text of Chazal

ימין ושמאל. אפילו נראה בעיניך על ימין שהוא שמאל ועל שמאל שהוא ימין.

English: Right and left — even if it appears in your eyes that right is left and left is right.

On the daf / in context

Reinforcement of the absolute character of the duty of obedience.

Type of Learning

Derash on the verse (Sifrei) — not a formal named middah of the 13.

What Is Learned

Personal perception that the court has reversed right and left does not authorize deviation from its ruling.