Shoftim 19:04 · unit 3

TT #201 · Parashas Shoftim · Fifth Aliyah · Passuk 19:04

The Complete Passuk

וְזֶה֙ דְּבַ֣ר הָרֹצֵ֔חַ אֲשֶׁר־יָנ֥וּס שָׁ֖מָּה וָחָ֑י אֲשֶׁ֨ר יַכֶּ֤ה אֶת־רֵעֵ֙הוּ֙ בִּבְלִי־דַ֔עַת וְה֛וּא לֹא־שֹׂנֵ֥א ל֖וֹ מִתְּמֹ֥ל שִׁלְשֹֽׁם׃

And this is the matter of the killer who shall flee there and live: one who strikes his fellow without knowledge, and he was not an enemy to him from yesterday and the day before.

Chabad / Judaica Press

Source Citation

Torah Temimah points to Sifrei Devarim 183.

TT lemma: וָחָי.

Sefaria — Sifrei Devarim 183

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
וָחָי – לְלַמֵּד שֶׁמַּצִּילִין אוֹתוֹ.

English: ‘And live’ – to teach that they save him.

On the daf / in context: The purpose of the city is to preserve the life of the accidental killer.

Type of Learning

Derash on the purpose of refuge (Sifrei) — ‘and live’ is the goal of the institution.

What Is Learned

The city of refuge exists so that the accidental killer may live; its function is protective.