“Our hands have not spilled this blood” (Dt.21:7)— now, who could imagine that elders of the court might be murderers? Rather, their point is: Never did he approach us, that we sent him off [without provisions],372The clauses. “without provisions” and ‘to travel unaccompanied” appear to be scribal interpolations based upon the text of M. Sot.9:6. And never did we see him, That we left him [to travel unaccompanied]!
When He continues: “Whom You have redeemed, HASHEM” (Dt.21:8)— this teaches that the formula of absolution even absolves the blood-guilt of those [unwitting killers] who left Egypt [but died before the rite was taught to Moses].374Cf. T. Sotah 9:2.
5
כַּפֵּר לְעַמְּךָ – אֵלּוּ הַחַיִּים;
2. “Grant absolution to Your people” (Dt.21:8)— this refers to the living.
“Whom You have redeemed” (Dt.21:8)— referring to the dead. This explains that even the dead need absolution. We turn out to learn that The blood-spiller’s sin even affects those who left Egypt!
“Whom you have redeemed” (Dt.21:8)— for this reason did You redeem us, so that there not be among us anyone guilty of spilling innocent blood! Another word: For this reason did You redeem us, so that when we sin, You can absolve us!
“And may you expunge the innocent blood From your midst” (Dt.21:9)— that is, expunge the evil-doers from Israel!376A similar formula based upon the root, bo`er (“expunge”) appears widely scattered throughout Sifre. See Pisqa’ot 151.1, 155.1, 187.3, 220, 240, 241
(דברים כא ז) וְעָנוּ וְאָמְרוּ, בִּלְשׁוֹן הַקֹּדֶשׁ.
Pisqa’ 210370H:223;JN2:108.
1. “And they shall respond, saying:” (Dt.21:7)—
in the Holy Tongue.371//Sifre Nu, 39, s.v., bileshon haqodesh; Mech.ISH, bakhodesh, par.2, s.v., koh bileshon haqodesh..
יָדֵינוּ לֹא שָׁפְכָה, וְכִי עָלָת עַל לִבֵּנוּ שֶׁזִּקְנֵי בֵּית דִּין שׁוֹפְכֵי דָמִים הֵם? אֶלָּא שֶׁלֹּא בָא לְיָדֵינוּ וּפְטַרְנוּהוּ בְּלֹא מְזוֹנוֹת, וְלֹא רְאִינוּהוּ וְהִנַּחְנוּהוּ בְּלֹא לְוָיָה.
“Our hands have not spilled this blood” (Dt.21:7)—
now, who could imagine that
elders of the court might be murderers?
Rather, their point is:
Never did he approach us,
that we sent him off [without provisions],372The clauses. “without provisions” and ‘to travel unaccompanied” appear to be scribal interpolations based upon the text of M. Sot.9:6.
And never did we see him,
That we left him [to travel unaccompanied]!
(דברים כא ח) הַכֹּהֲנִים אוֹמְרִים: כַּפֵּר לְעַמְּךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל.
The Priests then say:
“Grant absolution to Your people, Israel!” (Dt.21:8).373//M. Sotah 9:6.
כְּשֶׁהוּא אוֹמֵר אֲשֶׁר פָּדִיתָ ה׳, מְלַמֵּד שֶׁכַּפָּרָה זוֹ מְכַפֶּרֶת עַל יוֹצְאֵי מִצְרַיִם.
When He continues:
“Whom You have redeemed, HASHEM” (Dt.21:8)—
this teaches that the formula of absolution
even absolves the blood-guilt of those [unwitting killers]
who left Egypt [but died before the rite was
taught to Moses].374Cf. T. Sotah 9:2.
כַּפֵּר לְעַמְּךָ – אֵלּוּ הַחַיִּים;
2. “Grant absolution to Your people” (Dt.21:8)—
this refers to the living.
אֲשֶׁר פָּדִיתָ – אֵלּוּ הַמֵּתִים, מַגִּיד שֶׁהַמֵּתִים צְרִיכִים כַּפָּרָה. נִמְצִינוּ לְמֵדִים שֶׁשּׁוֹפֵךְ דָּמִים חוֹטֵא עַד יוֹצְאֵי מִצְרַיִם.
“Whom You have redeemed” (Dt.21:8)—
referring to the dead.
This explains that
even the dead need absolution.
We turn out to learn that
The blood-spiller’s sin even
affects those who left Egypt!
אֲשֶׁר פָּדִיתָ – עַל מְנָת כֵּן פְּדִיתָנוּ, שֶׁלֹּא יִהְיוּ בֵּינֵינוּ שׁוֹפְכֵי דָמִים. דָּבָר אַחֵר: עַל מְנָת כֵּן פְּדִיתָנוּ, שֶׁאִם נֶחֱטָא – אַתָּה מְכַפֵּר עָלֵינוּ.
“Whom you have redeemed” (Dt.21:8)—
for this reason did You redeem us,
so that there not be among us anyone
guilty of spilling innocent blood!
Another word:
For this reason did You redeem us,
so that when we sin, You can absolve us!
וְרוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ אוֹמֶרֶת: כָּל זְמַן שֶׁתַּעֲשׂוּ כָּכָה – הַדָּם מִתְכַּפֵּר לָכֶם.
And the Holy Spirit says:
Whenever you perform this rite,
the blood of the calf will grant you absolution! 375//M. Sotah 9:6. See F:244, n.4.
(דברים כא ט) וְאַתָּה תְּבַעֵר – בַּעֵר עוֹשֵׂי הָרָעוֹת מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל!
“And may you expunge the innocent blood
From your midst” (Dt.21:9)—
that is, expunge the evil-doers from Israel!376A similar formula based upon the root, bo`er (“expunge”) appears widely scattered throughout Sifre. See Pisqa’ot 151.1, 155.1, 187.3, 220, 240, 241