Shoftim 21:02 · unit 4

TT #350 · 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 Sotah 45a.

TT lemma: וְיָצְאוּ.

Core Text

וְיָצְאוּ – וְלֹא שְׁלוּחֵיהֶם.

English: ‘They shall go out’ – and not their agents.

On the daf / in context: The elders themselves must go, or at least a formal delegation is required.

Derash on personal participation (Bavli) — the language implies the elders’ own presence.

The measurement is performed by the elders and judges themselves (or their formal representatives of high standing).