Pisqa’ 237174H:245-246;JN2:155. 1. “Then they spread out her night-dress” (Dt.22:17)— that is, let the evidence be as clear as [a blood-stain on] a night-dress! This is one of the instances in which R. Ishmael would interpret the Torah metaphorically.175Heb: mashal; often, “parable” or “analogy.” //Mechilta Ishmael, neziqin, 6. A similar instance: “If the sun rises upon him, he is responsible for the blood” (Ex.22:2)— now, is the sneak-thief the only one upon whom the sun rises? What, then, can the Teaching mean by: “If the sun rises upon him?” Just as the sun’s light augurs peace for the world [by illuminating darkness], so, too, had this guy known that the intruder meant to be peaceful, but [went and] killed him anyway— he is indeed liable for the death.176Cf. T. San. 11:9. A similar instance: “If he shall get up and walk about in the street upon his staff” (Ex.21:19)— staff in this case represents the patient’s restored well-being. A similar instance: “Then they spread out her night-dress” (Dt.22:17)— that is, let the evidence be as clear as [a blood-stain on] a night-dress!177// Mechilta Ishmael, neziqin, 6.
2. R. Akiva says: And, similarly, Scripture says: “Then they spread out her night-dress before the elders of the city” (Dt.22:17)— that is, if the husband’s witnesses are found to be in collusion against her [the stained night dress is acceptable evidence to restore her reputation].178The textual evidence for this material is unreliable. See F:269, n.9. “Then they spread out her night-dress before the elders of the city” (Dt.22:17)— that is, let the witnesses for each party present their cases before the elders of the city.
(דברים כב יז) וּפָרְשׂוּ הַשִּׂמְלָה – יְחַוְּרוּ דְּבָרִים כַּשִּׂמְלָה. זֶה אֶחָד מִן הַדְּבָרִים שֶׁהָיָה רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל דּוֹרֵשׁ מִן הַתּוֹרָה בְּמָשָׁל. כַּיּוֹצֵא בוֹ (שמות כב ב): ״אִם זָרְחָה הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ עָלָיו דָּמִים לוֹ״, וְכִי עָלָיו הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ זוֹרַחַת? וּמַה תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר ״אִם זָרְחָה הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ עָלָיו דָּמִים לוֹ״? מָה הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ – שָׁלוֹם לָעוֹלָם, אַף זֶה, אִם הָיָה יוֹדֵעַ שֶׁהוּא שָׁלוֹם מִמֶּנּוּ וַהֲרָגוֹ – הֲרֵי זֶה חַיָּב. כַּיּוֹצֵא בוֹ (שמות כא יט): ״אִם יָקוּם וְהִתְהַלֵּךְ בַּחוּץ עַל מִשְׁעַנְתּוֹ״ – עַל בּוּרְיוֹ. וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר וּפָרְשׂוּ הַשִּׂמְלָה – יְחַוְּרוּ דְּבָרִים כַּשִּׂמְלָה.
Pisqa’ 237174H:245-246;JN2:155.
1. “Then they spread out her night-dress” (Dt.22:17)—
that is, let the evidence be as clear
as [a blood-stain on] a night-dress!
This is one of the instances in which
R. Ishmael would interpret the Torah metaphorically. 175Heb: mashal; often, “parable” or “analogy.” //Mechilta Ishmael, neziqin, 6.
A similar instance:
“If the sun rises upon him, he is responsible for the blood” (Ex.22:2)—
now, is the sneak-thief the only one
upon whom the sun rises?
What, then, can the Teaching mean by:
“If the sun rises upon him?”
Just as the sun’s light
augurs peace for the world
[by illuminating darkness],
so, too, had this guy known that
the intruder meant to be peaceful,
but [went and] killed him anyway—
he is indeed liable for the death.176Cf. T. San. 11:9.
A similar instance:
“If he shall get up and walk about in the street upon his staff” (Ex.21:19)—
staff in this case represents
the patient’s restored well-being.
A similar instance:
“Then they spread out her night-dress” (Dt.22:17)—
that is, let the evidence be as clear
as [a blood-stain on] a night-dress!177// Mechilta Ishmael, neziqin, 6.
רַבִּי עֲקִיבָה אוֹמֵר: הֲרֵי הוּא אוֹמֵר וּפָרְשׂוּ הַשִּׂמְלָה לִפְנֵי זִקְנֵי הָעִיר – נִמְצְאוּ עֵדֵי הַבַּעַל זוֹמְמִים. וּפָרְשׂוּ הַשִּׂמְלָה, יָבוֹאוּ עֵדָיו שֶׁל זֶה וְעֵדָיו שֶׁל זֶה, וְיֹאמְרוּ דִבְרֵיהֶם לִפְנֵי זִקְנֵי הָעִיר.
2. R. Akiva says:
And, similarly, Scripture says:
“Then they spread out her night-dress before the elders of the city” (Dt.22:17)—
that is, if the husband’s witnesses are found to be in collusion against her
[the stained night dress is acceptable evidence to restore her reputation].178The textual evidence for this material is unreliable. See F:269, n.9.
“Then they spread out her night-dress before the elders of the city” (Dt.22:17)—
that is, let the witnesses for each party
present their cases before the elders of the city.
רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר בֶּן יַעֲקֹב אוֹמֵר: דְּבָרִים כִּכְתָבָם.
R. Eliezer b. Jacob says:
Let matters stand as they are written
[without benefit of metaphorical exegesis]!