Pisqa’ 229112H:238-240; JN2:140-141. 1. “When you build a new house” (Dt.22:8)— I might infer only that this rule applies to one who builds a house. How do I know that it applies as well to one who buys, one who inherits or one who receives it as a gift? The Teaching states: “A house” (Dt.22:8)— However [you may have acquired it].113Cf. Pisqa’ 194.1.
“Do not pour blood on your house” (Dt.22:8)— I might infer only that this rule applies specifically to a residence (bayit). How do I know that it applies as well to a storage shed for straw (beit hateven), a cattle-barn (beit habaqar), a wood-shed (bet ha`eitzim), or a silo (bet ha‘otzarot)? The Teaching states:114Continues Pisqa’ 194.1 “Do not pour blood on your house” (Dt.22:8)— [on whatever is sturdy enough to be called a “house”].
Well, is it possible to say that this rule applies as well to one who builds A gate house (beit sha`ar), or an open-air portico, or a balcony? The Teaching states: “House” (Dt.22:8)— And just as a house is distinctive, in being a residential space (bet dirah), all these other structures are excluded, for they have no residential space.115Continues to parallel 194.1 as above.
2. “Then you shall build a railing for your roof” (Dt.22:8)— I might only infer that this rule applies to the roof. How do I know that it includes as well [a requirement] to cordon off cisterns, pits, cave-springs, crevasses and ditches? The Teaching states: “Do not pour blood on your house” (Dt.22:8)— [or any thing on your property]. If so, why does the verse specify the roof? To exclude from this requirement the Altar Ramp [which, at ten cubits in height, had no railing].116So M. Mid. 3:5. And why does the verse specify a house? — This is to include the Sanctuary under this rule.117So M. Mid.4:6. Thus the Sanctuary (heichal) is called the Holy Abode (beit hamiqdash), i.e., a “house.” Roof— To exclude the Forecourt [adjacent to the Sanctuary].118So Mid. 4:7.
3. “A new house” (Dt.22:8)— Rabbi says: while the house is still new, build a railing for it. Now, what are the dimensions of the railing? Where the roofers spread pitch,119Cf. M. Mak. 2:1.. the height is a minimum of three handbreadths, but along the walkway, the height is at least ten handbreadths.
“Then you shall build a railing for your roof” (Dt.22:8)— this is a prescriptive commandment. “Do not pour blood on your house” (Dt.22:8)— this is a proscriptive commandment.
4. “When the one prone to falling indeed falls from it” (Dt.22:8)— this guy must heave deserved a fall! Actually, they ascribe merit according to the deeds of the meritorious, and guilt according to the deeds of the guilty.120//T. YK. 5:12. Cf. Sifre Nu., 114.
“From it” (Dt.22:8)— [he fell from the roof, downward to the ground,] but not onto the roof from above it. For if a public domain was higher than the roof by ten handbreadths, and someone fell from there onto the roof— the householder is exempt from compensating the victim. As it is said: “From the roof” (Dt.22:8)— but not onto it from a space above it.
5. Another word: “When you build a new house” (Dt.22:8). R, Ishmael says: The verse comes to teach you that A person never knows how he will be judged. As it is said: “For a man does not know his allotted time, like a fish trapped in a net” (Ecc.9:12).
“A house” (Dt.22:8)— On this basis they taught: A house that is not at least four cubits square is exempt from the roof-railing, and from the doorpost amulet,121Heb: mezuzah. See Dt.6:10. and from [participation in] the blending of private domains.122Heb: ha`eruv; literally, “the mixture of domains” that enables carrying between Jewish households in a shared courtyard on the Sabbath. Cf. M. Eruv.6:1ff. And they do not use it [to mark] an expansion of a city’s borders,123The process of extending a city’s borders from a house beyond the established border is described in M. Eruv. 5:1-5. or to impose [upon produce] liability to the Tithe.124The role of the house or courtyard in establishing obligation to remove the Tithe from produce brought into t hat space is detailed at M. Maas.3:1, 5. And they don’t consider the four cubits of its entrance [as part of the contained space of the house]. Finally, one disavowing the comforts of home is permitted to live within [a house less than four cubits square]. But it does not contract uncleanness from plague-signs,125Plague-signs in homes are discussed at Lv.14:33ff. and M. Neg. 13:1-3. and it does not revert [to ancestral property] at the Jubilee year.126See Lv.25:13-17. and warriors may not return to their homes on its account.127The material at 229.5 is lacking in several mss and editions. See F:262, n.5.
(דברים כב ח) כִּי תִבְנֶה בַּיִת חָדָשׁ, אֵין לִי אֶלָּא בּוֹנֶה. לָקַח, יָרַשׁ, וְנִתַּן לוֹ בְּמַתָּנָה מִנַּיִן? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: בַּיִת, מִכָּל מָקוֹם.
Pisqa’ 229112H:238-240; JN2:140-141.
1. “When you build a new house” (Dt.22:8)—
I might infer only that this rule
applies to one who builds a house.
How do I know that it applies as well to
one who buys, one who inherits
or one who receives it as a gift?
The Teaching states:
“A house” (Dt.22:8)—
However [you may have acquired it].113Cf. Pisqa’ 194.1.
לֹא תָשִׂים דָּמִים בְּבֵיתֶךָ, אֵין לִי אֶלָּא בַּיִת. מִנַּיִן לְבוֹנֶה בֵּית הַתֶּבֶן, בֵּית הַבָּקָר, בֵּית הָעֵצִים, בֵּית הָאוֹצָרוֹת? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: וְלֹא תָשִׂים דָּמִים בְּבֵיתֶךָ.
“Do not pour blood on your house” (Dt.22:8)—
I might infer only that this rule
applies specifically to a residence (bayit).
How do I know that it applies as well to
a storage shed for straw (beit hateven),
a cattle-barn (beit habaqar), a wood-shed (bet ha`eitzim),
or a silo (bet ha‘otzarot)?
The Teaching states:114Continues Pisqa’ 194.1
“Do not pour blood on your house” (Dt.22:8)—
[on whatever is sturdy enough to be called a “house”].
יָכוֹל אַף הַבּוֹנֶה בֵּית שַׁעַר אַכְסַדְרָה וּמִרְפֶּסֶת? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: בַּיִת, מָה בַּיִת מְיֻחָד, שֶׁהוּא בֵּית דִּירָה – יָצְאוּ אֵלּוּ, שֶׁאֵינָם בֵּית דִּירָה.
Well, is it possible to say that
this rule applies as well to one who builds
A gate house (beit sha`ar),
or an open-air portico, or a balcony?
The Teaching states:
“House” (Dt.22:8)—
And just as a house is distinctive,
in being a residential space (bet dirah),
all these other structures are excluded,
for they have no residential space.115Continues to parallel 194.1 as above.
וְעָשִׂיתָ מַעֲקֶה לְגַגֶּךָ, אֵין לִי אֶלָּא גַּג. מִנַּיִן לְרַבּוֹת בּוֹרוֹת, שִׁיחִים, וּמְעָרוֹת, חֲרִיצִים וּנְעִיצִים? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: וְלֹא תָשִׂים דָּמִים בְּבֵיתֶךָ. אִם כֵּן לָמָּה נֶאֱמַר גַּג? פְּרָט לְכֶבֶשׁ. בַּיִת – לְרַבּוֹת הֵיכָל. גַּג – פְּרָט לָאוּלָם.
2. “Then you shall build a railing for your roof” (Dt.22:8)—
I might only infer that
this rule applies to the roof.
How do I know that
it includes as well [a requirement] to cordon off
cisterns, pits, cave-springs, crevasses and ditches?
The Teaching states:
“Do not pour blood on your house” (Dt.22:8)—
[or any thing on your property].
If so, why does the verse specify the roof?
To exclude from this requirement
the Altar Ramp [which, at ten cubits in height, had no railing].116So M. Mid. 3:5.
And why does the verse specify a house? —
This is to include the Sanctuary under this rule.117So M. Mid.4:6. Thus the Sanctuary (heichal) is called the Holy Abode (beit hamiqdash), i.e., a “house.”
Roof—
To exclude the Forecourt [adjacent to the Sanctuary].118So Mid. 4:7.
חָדָשׁ, רַבִּי אוֹמֵר: מִשְּׁעַת חִדּוּשׁוֹ עֲשֵׂה לוֹ מַעֲקֶה. כַּמָּה הוּא מַעֲקֶה? מַעְגִּילוֹ שְׁלֹשָׁה טְפָחִים, בֵּית דָּרְסוֹ עֲשָׂרָה.
3. “A new house” (Dt.22:8)—
Rabbi says:
while the house is still new, build a railing for it.
Now, what are the dimensions of the railing?
Where the roofers spread pitch,119Cf. M. Mak. 2:1..
the height is a minimum of three handbreadths,
but along the walkway,
the height is at least ten handbreadths.
וְעָשִׂיתָ מַעֲקֶה לְגַגֶּךָ – מִצְוַת עֲשֵׂה. וְלֹא תָשִׂים דָּמִים בְּבֵיתֶךָ – מִצְוַת לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה.
“Then you shall build a railing for your roof” (Dt.22:8)—
this is a prescriptive commandment.
“Do not pour blood on your house” (Dt.22:8)—
this is a proscriptive commandment.
כִּי יִפֹּל הַנֹּפֵל מִמֶּנּוּ, רָאוּי זֶה שֶׁיִּפּוֹל! אֶלָּא מְגַלְגְּלִים זְכוּת עַל יְדֵי זַכַּי וְחוֹבָה עַל יְדֵי חַיָּב.
4. “When the one prone to falling indeed falls from it” (Dt.22:8)—
this guy must heave deserved a fall!
Actually, they ascribe merit
according to the deeds of the meritorious,
and guilt according to the deeds of the guilty.120//T. YK. 5:12. Cf. Sifre Nu., 114.
מִמֶּנּוּ – וְלֹא לְתוֹכוֹ; שֶׁאִם הָיָה רְשׁוּת הָרַבִּים גָּבוֹהַּ מִמֶּנּוּ עֲשָׂרָה טְפָחִים וְנָפַל מִמֶּנּוּ לְתוֹכוֹ – פָּטוּר, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: מִמֶּנּוּ וְלֹא לְתוֹכוֹ.
“From it” (Dt.22:8)—
[he fell from the roof, downward to the ground,]
but not onto the roof from above it.
For if a public domain was higher
than the roof by ten handbreadths,
and someone fell from there onto the roof—
the householder is exempt
from compensating the victim.
As it is said:
“From the roof” (Dt.22:8)—
but not onto it from a space above it.
דָּבָר אַחֵר: כִּי תִבְנֶה, רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל אוֹמֵר: בָּא הַכָּתוּב לְלַמֶּדְךָ שֶׁאֵין אָדָם יוֹדֵעַ כֵּיצַד הוּא נִדּוֹן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (קהלת ט יב): ״כִּי לֹא יֵדַע הָאָדָם אֶת עִתּוֹ, כַּדָּגִים שֶׁנֶּאֱחָזִים בִּמְצוֹדָה״.
5. Another word:
“When you build a new house” (Dt.22:8).
R, Ishmael says:
The verse comes to teach you that
A person never knows how he will be judged.
As it is said:
“For a man does not know his allotted time, like a fish trapped in a net” (Ecc.9:12).
בַּיִת מִכָּן אָמְרוּ: בַּיִת שֶׁאֵין בּוֹ אַרְבַּע עַל אַרְבַּע – פָּטוּר מִן הַמַּעֲקֶה וּמִן הַמְּזוּזָה וּמִן הָעֵרוּב, וְאֵין עוֹשִׂים אוֹתוֹ עִבּוּר לָעִיר, וְלֹא טִבּוּל לַמַּעַשְׂרוֹת, וְאֵין נוֹתְנִים לוֹ אַרְבַּע אַמּוֹת לְפִתְחוֹ; הַנּוֹדֵר מִן הַבַּיִת מֻתָּר לֵישֵׁב בּוֹ; וְאֵין מִטַּמֵּא בִּנְגָעִים, וְאֵין צָמִית בַּיּוֹבֵל, וְאֵין חוֹזְרִים עָלָיו מֵעֶרְכֵי הַמִּלְחָמָה.
“A house” (Dt.22:8)—
On this basis they taught:
A house that is not at least four cubits square
is exempt from the roof-railing,
and from the doorpost amulet,121Heb: mezuzah. See Dt.6:10.
and from [participation in] the blending of private domains.122Heb: ha`eruv; literally, “the mixture of domains” that enables carrying between Jewish households in a shared courtyard on the Sabbath. Cf. M. Eruv.6:1ff.
And they do not use it
[to mark] an expansion of a city’s borders,123The process of extending a city’s borders from a house beyond the established border is described in M. Eruv. 5:1-5.
or to impose [upon produce] liability to the Tithe.124The role of the house or courtyard in establishing obligation to remove the Tithe from produce brought into t hat space is detailed at M. Maas.3:1, 5.
And they don’t consider the four cubits of its entrance
[as part of the contained space of the house].
Finally, one disavowing the comforts of home
is permitted to live within
[a house less than four cubits square].
But it does not contract uncleanness from plague-signs,125Plague-signs in homes are discussed at Lv.14:33ff. and M. Neg. 13:1-3.
and it does not revert [to ancestral property] at the Jubilee year.126See Lv.25:13-17.
and warriors may not return to their homes on its account.127The material at 229.5 is lacking in several mss and editions. See F:262, n.5.