Shoftim 21:04 · unit 2

TT #362 · Parashas Shoftim · Seventh Aliyah · Passuk 21:04

The Complete Passuk

וְהוֹרִ֡דוּ זִקְנֵי֩ הָעִ֨יר הַהִ֤וא אֶת־הָעֶגְלָה֙ אֶל־נַ֣חַל אֵיתָ֔ן אֲשֶׁ֛ר לֹא־יֵעָבֵ֥ד בּ֖וֹ וְלֹ֣א יִזָּרֵ֑עַ וְעָֽרְפוּ־שָׁם֙ אֶת־הָ֣עֶגְלָ֔ה בַּנָּ֖חַל׃

And the elders of that city shall bring the heifer down to a hard valley that has not been worked and has not been sown, and they shall break the neck of the heifer there in the valley.

Chabad / Judaica Press

Source Citation

Torah Temimah points to Sotah 46b.

TT lemma: אֲשֶׁר לֹא יֵעָבֵד בּוֹ וְלֹא יִזָּרֵעַ.

Sefaria — Sotah 46b

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
אֲשֶׁר לֹא יֵעָבֵד בּוֹ וְלֹא יִזָּרֵעַ – לְשֶׁעָבַר.

English: ‘That has not been worked and has not been sown’ – in the past.

On the daf / in context: The valley itself must have a history free of cultivation.

Type of Learning

Derash on the condition of the valley (Bavli) — past non-use is required.

What Is Learned

The valley chosen for the rite must never have been worked or sown.