Shoftim 21:07 · unit 4
TT #384 · Parashas Shoftim · Seventh Aliyah · Passuk 21:07
The Complete Passuk
וְעָנ֖וּ וְאָמְר֑וּ יָדֵ֗ינוּ לֹ֤א (שפכה) [שָֽׁפְכוּ֙] אֶת־הַדָּ֣ם הַזֶּ֔ה וְעֵינֵ֖ינוּ לֹ֥א רָאֽוּ׃
And they shall declare and say: Our hands did not shed this blood, and our eyes did not see.
Chabad / Judaica Press
Source Citation
Torah Temimah points to Sotah 47a.
TT lemma: יָדֵינוּ לֹא שָׁפְכוּ.
Sefaria — Sotah 47a
Core Text of Chazal
Core Text
יָדֵינוּ לֹא שָׁפְכוּ – לֹא הוּא נֶהֱרַג עַל יָדֵינוּ.
English: ‘Our hands did not shed’ – he was not killed by our hands.
On the daf / in context: Direct responsibility is denied.
Type of Learning
Derash on the literal layer (Bavli) — the elders also affirm that they themselves did not kill.
What Is Learned
The declaration includes the plain meaning: the elders themselves did not shed the blood.