Shoftim 21:03 · unit 5

TT #357 · Parashas Shoftim · Seventh Aliyah · Passuk 21:03

The Complete Passuk

וְהָיָ֣ה הָעִ֔יר הַקְּרֹבָ֖ה אֶל־הֶחָלָ֑ל וְלָֽקְח֡וּ זִקְנֵי֩ הָעִ֨יר הַהִ֜וא עֶגְלַ֣ת בָּקָ֗ר אֲשֶׁ֤ר לֹֽא־עֻבַּד֙ בָּ֔הּ אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹא־מָשְׁכָ֖ה בְּעֹֽל׃

And it shall be, the city nearest to the slain person – the elders of that city shall take a heifer of the herd that has not been worked and that has not drawn a yoke.

Chabad / Judaica Press

Source Citation

Torah Temimah points to Sifrei Devarim 206.

TT lemma: וְלָקְחוּ זִקְנֵי הָעִיר הַהִוא.

Sefaria — Sifrei Devarim 206

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
וְלָקְחוּ זִקְנֵי הָעִיר הַהִוא – מִשֶּׁל אַנְשֵׁי הָעִיר.

English: ‘The elders of that city shall take’ – from the property of the people of the city.

On the daf / in context: The cost is borne by the nearest city.

Type of Learning

Derash on the source of the animal (Sifrei) — the city itself supplies the heifer.

What Is Learned

The elders of the nearest city take a heifer that belongs to (or is purchased by) the people of that city.