Shoftim 21:02 · unit 3

TT #349 · Parashas Shoftim · Seventh Aliyah · Passuk 21:02

The Complete Passuk

וְיָצְא֥וּ זְקֵנֶ֖יךָ וְשֹׁפְטֶ֑יךָ וּמָדְדוּ֙ אֶל־הֶ֣עָרִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֖ר סְבִיבֹ֥ת הֶחָלָֽל׃

Then your elders and your judges shall go out and measure to the cities that are around the slain person.

Torah Temimah points to Sifrei Devarim 205.

TT lemma: אֲשֶׁר סְבִיבֹת הֶחָלָל.

Core Text

אֲשֶׁר סְבִיבֹת הֶחָלָל – הַקְּרוֹבוֹת.

English: ‘That are around the slain person’ – the nearby ones.

On the daf / in context: Only the surrounding cities are measured.

Derash limiting the cities measured (Sifrei) — distant cities are not included.

The elders measure only to the cities in the vicinity of the body; the nearest city is the one that performs the rite.