Shoftim 21:06 · unit 4

TT #379 · 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.

Chabad / Judaica Press

Source Citation

Torah Temimah points to Sifrei Devarim 209.

TT lemma: הַקְּרֹבִים אֶל הֶחָלָל.

Sefaria — Sifrei Devarim 209

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
הַקְּרֹבִים אֶל הֶחָלָל – שֶׁהֵם הַקְּרוֹבִים.

English: ‘Who are nearest to the slain person’ – those who are the nearest.

On the daf / in context: The same city that was measured as nearest performs the washing.

Type of Learning

Derash confirming the identity of the elders (Sifrei) — the same group that was charged by the measurement.

What Is Learned

The elders who wash are those of the city that the measurement identified as nearest to the body.