Ki Seitzei 21:23 · unit 3

TT #95 · Parashas Ki Seitzei · Second Aliyah · Passuk 21:23

The Complete Passuk

לֹא־תָלִין נִבְלָתוֹ עַל־הָעֵץ כִּי־קָבוֹר תִּקְבְּרֶנּוּ בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא כִּי־קִלְלַת אֱלֹהִים תָּלוּי וְלֹא תְטַמֵּא אֶת־אַדְמָתְךָ אֲשֶׁר יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ נֹתֵן לְךָ נַחֲלָה׃

His body shall not remain overnight on the tree; rather you shall bury him on that same day, for a hanging person is a curse of God, and you shall not defile your land that Hashem your God is giving you as an inheritance.

Chabad.org — 21:23

Source Citation

Torah Temimah points to Sanhedrin 46b (and parallel in Sifrei).

Sefaria — Sanhedrin 46b

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
כִּי קִלְלַת אֱלֹהִים תָּלוּי – כְּלוֹמַר מִפְּנֵי מָה זֶה תָּלוּי? מִפְּנֵי שֶׁקִּלֵּל אֶת הַשֵּׁם, וְנִמְצָא שֵׁם שָׁמַיִם מִתְחַלֵּל.

English: “For a hanging person is a curse of God” — meaning, why is this one hanging? Because he cursed the Name, and thus the Name of Heaven is desecrated.

On the daf / in context: One classic reading of the verse explains that the hanging itself causes a desecration of God’s Name, because passers-by see the body and are reminded of the blasphemy.

Type of Learning

Derash on the phrase “kilelat Elokim talui” explaining the reason for prompt burial.

What Is Learned

The body of one who cursed God must be taken down promptly so that the Name of Heaven not remain in a state of public disgrace.