Shoftim 19:05 · unit 8

TT #210 · Parashas Shoftim · Fifth Aliyah · Passuk 19:05

The Complete Passuk

וַאֲשֶׁר֩ יָבֹ֨א אֶת־רֵעֵ֥הוּ בַיַּעַר֮ לַחְטֹ֣ב עֵצִים֒ וְנִדְּחָ֨ה יָד֤וֹ בַגַּרְזֶן֙ לִכְרֹ֣ת הָעֵ֔ץ וְנָשַׁ֤ל הַבַּרְזֶל֙ מִן־הָעֵ֔ץ וּמָצָ֥א אֶת־רֵעֵ֖הוּ וָמֵ֑ת ה֗וּא יָנ֛וּס אֶל־אַחַ֥ת הֶעָרִים־הָאֵ֖לֶּה וָחָֽי׃

And one who comes with his fellow into the forest to chop wood, and his hand swings with the axe to cut the tree, and the iron slips from the wood and finds his fellow and he dies – he shall flee to one of these cities and live.

Chabad / Judaica Press

Source Citation

Torah Temimah points to Sifrei Devarim 183.

TT lemma: בַּיַּעַר.

Sefaria — Sifrei Devarim 183

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
בַּיַּעַר – לְרַבּוֹת כׇּל מָקוֹם.

English: ‘In the forest’ – to include every place.

On the daf / in context: The example of the forest is not exclusive.

Type of Learning

Derash expanding the location (Sifrei) — the forest is an illustration, not a limitation.

What Is Learned

Accidental killing in any place, not only in a forest, can qualify for the protection of the city of refuge.