Ki Seitzei 22:02 · unit 2

TT #114 · Parashas Ki Seitzei · Second Aliyah · Passuk 22:02

The Complete Passuk

וְאִם־לֹא קָרוֹב אָחִיךָ אֵלֶיךָ וְלֹא יְדַעְתּוֹ וַאֲסַפְתּוֹ אֶל־תּוֹךְ בֵּיתֶךָ וְהָיָה עִמְּךָ עַד דְּרֹשׁ אָחִיךָ אֹתוֹ וַהֲשֵׁבֹתוֹ לוֹ׃

And if your brother is not near you, or you do not know him, then you shall bring it into your house, and it shall remain with you until your brother seeks it, and you shall restore it to him.

Chabad.org — 22:02

Source Citation

Torah Temimah points to Bava Metzia 28b.

Sefaria — Bava Metzia 28b

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
עַד דְּרֹשׁ אָחִיךָ אֹתוֹ – עַד שֶׁתִּדְרֹשׁ אֶת אָחִיךָ אִם הוּא רַמַּאי אִם לָאו.

English: “Until your brother seeks it” — until you investigate your brother, whether he is a swindler or not.

On the daf / in context: The Sages require the finder to verify the claimant’s honesty before returning the animal, to prevent fraud.

Type of Learning

Derash interpreting “until your brother seeks it” as requiring investigation of the claimant.

What Is Learned

The finder is obligated to examine whether the person claiming the animal is trustworthy before restoring it.