Ki Seitzei 21:23 · unit 8

TT #100 · 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.

Sefaria — Sanhedrin 46b

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
כָּל הַמֵּלִין אֶת מֵתוֹ עוֹבֵר בְּלֹא תַעֲשֶׂה. הֱלִינוֹ לְכָבוֹדוֹ לְהָבִיא לוֹ אָרוֹן וְתַכְרִיכִין – אֵינוֹ עוֹבֵר עָלָיו.

English: Whoever leaves his dead overnight transgresses a negative commandment. If he left it overnight for the sake of the deceased’s honor — to bring a coffin or shrouds — he does not transgress.

On the daf / in context: The Gemara qualifies the prohibition: delay for the dignity of the deceased (proper preparations) is permitted.

Type of Learning

Halakhic qualification of the negative commandment.

What Is Learned

Leaving a body overnight is forbidden, but a delay that serves the honor of the deceased (obtaining a coffin or shrouds) does not violate the prohibition.