Pisqa’ 15154H:189; JN2:16 1. “The hand of the witnesses shall be the first at him, to execute him” (Dt.17:7). Thus, it is required that the witnesses execute him.55//Sifre Nu. 114.
How do I know that if he doesn’t die at the hand of the witnesses, he may be put to death at the hand of any other person? The Teaching states: “And the hand of all the people afterwards”56//M. San.6:4; Sifre Nu 114(Dt.17:7).
(דברים יז ז) יַד הָעֵדִים תִּהְיֶה בּוֹ בָרִאשֹׁנָה לַהֲמִיתוֹ – מִצְוָה בָּעֵדִים לַהֲמִיתוֹ.
Pisqa’ 15154H:189; JN2:16
1. “The hand of the witnesses shall be the first at him,
to execute him” (Dt.17:7).
Thus, it is required that
the witnesses execute him.55//Sifre Nu. 114.
מִנַּיִן לֹא מֵת בְּיַד הָעֵדִים – יָמוּת בְּיַד כָּל אָדָם? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: וְיַד כָּל הָעָם בָּאַחֲרֹנָה.
How do I know that
if he doesn’t die at
the hand of the witnesses,
he may be put to death at
the hand of any other person?
The Teaching states:
“And the hand of all
the people afterwards”56//M. San.6:4; Sifre Nu 114 (Dt.17:7).
וּבִעַרְתָּ הָרָע מִקִּרְבֶּךָ – בַּעֵר עוֹשֵׂי הָרָעוֹת מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל!
“And you must expunge this evil from your midst” (Dt.17:7)—
that is, expunge the evil-doers from Israel.57Cf. Pisqa’ 86.1, 155.1, 187.3, 220.2, etc