Shoftim 21:06 · unit 1

TT #376 · Parashas Shoftim · Seventh Aliyah · Passuk 21:06

The Complete Passuk

וְכֹ֗ל זִקְנֵי֙ הָעִ֣יר הַהִ֔וא הַקְּרֹבִ֖ים אֶל־הֶחָלָ֑ל יִרְחֲצוּ֙ אֶת־יְדֵיהֶ֔ם עַל־הָעֶגְלָ֖ה הָעֲרוּפָ֥ה בַנָּֽחַל׃

And all the elders of that city who are nearest to the slain person shall wash their hands over the heifer whose neck was broken in the valley.

Torah Temimah points to Sotah 46b–47a.

TT lemma: יִרְחֲצוּ אֶת יְדֵיהֶם.

Core Text

יִרְחֲצוּ אֶת יְדֵיהֶם – בְּמַיִם.

English: ‘They shall wash their hands’ – with water.

On the daf / in context: The hand-washing is a formal part of the rite.

Derash on the washing (Bavli) — the elders perform a ritual washing over the heifer.

All the elders of the nearest city wash their hands over the heifer whose neck has been broken.