Shoftim 19:07 · unit 1

TT #213 · Parashas Shoftim · Fifth Aliyah · Passuk 19:07

The Complete Passuk

עַל־כֵּן֙ אָנֹכִ֣י מְצַוְּךָ֔ לֵאמֹ֑ר שָׁלֹ֥שׁ עָרִ֖ים תַּבְדִּ֣יל לָֽךְ׃

Therefore I command you, saying: You shall set aside three cities for yourself.

Chabad / Judaica Press

Source Citation

Torah Temimah points to Sifrei Devarim 184.

TT lemma: עַל כֵּן אָנֹכִי מְצַוְּךָ.

Sefaria — Sifrei Devarim 184

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
עַל כֵּן אָנֹכִי מְצַוְּךָ – מִצְוָה עָלֶיךָ לְהַבְדִּיל.

English: ‘Therefore I command you’ – it is a mitzvah upon you to set them aside.

On the daf / in context: The designation of the cities is itself a positive commandment.

Type of Learning

Derash classifying the mitzvah (Sifrei) — the language creates an ongoing obligation to maintain the cities.

What Is Learned

Designating and maintaining the three cities of refuge is a positive commandment.