“And you shall burn the city with fire, and all of its plunder” (Dt.13:17)— but not the plunder [already consecrated] to Heaven.199=M. San.10:6. On this basis they taught: trees that are still attached to the ground are permitted [to survive], but the uprooted are prohibited. Cisterns, ditches, and caverns, and holy texts are permitted, for it is said: “Its plunder” (Dt.13:17)— but not the plunder [already consecrated] to Heaven.200//T.San.14:5. F:156, n.6 regards the text as an interpolation. Another word: “Its plunder” (Dt.13:17)— but not the plunder [already consecrated] to Heaven.
On this basis they taught: consecrated animals that are within it should be redeemed, Threshing-floor-offerings should be left to rot, and Second-tithe [coins] and holy texts should be removed from circulation.201=M. San.10:6
2. “Entirely consumed for HASHEM your God, and it shall be a ruin for all time” (Dt.13:17)— And, similarly, He says: “Now, at that time, Joshua swore an oath, saying: accursed before HASHEM is he who shall arise and rebuild this city, Jericho!” (Josh.6:36). Now, don’t we know that its name is Jericho? Rather, the point is that they should neither rebuild it under another city’s name, nor build another city under the name of Jericho.
[As for one who rebuilds a condemned city, it is said:] “At the cost of his first born will he lay its foundation, and at the cost of his youngest will he erect its doorways” (Josh.6:26). Is it possible that Joshua’s curse applies to inadvertent [rebuilding of the condemned city]? The Teaching states: “According to the word of HASHEM, which He declared by means of Joshua b. Nun” (1Ki.16:34). Conclude from this that [Hiel of Bethel, who rebuilt Jericho at King Ahab’s behest,] acted intentionally.202// T.San.14:6.
(דברים יג יז) וְאֶת כָּל שְׁלָלָהּ – לְרַבּוֹת נִכְסֵי רְשָׁעִים שֶׁבְּחוּצָה לָהּ.
Pisqa’ 95198H:143; JN1:250-251.
1. “And gather all its plunder” (Dt.13:17)—
including the property of its Wicked that is beyond it.
אֶל תּוֹךְ רְחֹבָהּ, אֵין לָהּ רְחוֹב – עוֹשִׂים לָהּ רְחוֹב.
“Into the midst of its plaza” (Dt.13:17)—
if the town has no plaza, build a plaza for it.
הָיָה רְחוֹב חוּצָה לָהּ, מִנַּיִן שֶׁכּוֹנְסִים אוֹתוֹ לְתוֹכָהּ? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: אֶל תּוֹךְ רְחֹבָהּ.
If the plaza was outside the city,
how do we know to annex it to the city?
The Teaching states:
“Into the midst of its plaza” (Dt.13:17).
וְשָׂרַפְתָּ בָאֵשׁ אֶת הָעִיר וְאֶת כָּל שְׁלָלָהּ – וְלֹא שְׁלַל שָׁמַיִם. מִכָּן אָמְרוּ: אִילָנוֹת הַמְחֻבָּרִים מֻתָּרִים וְהַתְּלוּשִׁים אֲסוּרִים, בּוֹרוֹת שִׁיחִים וּמְעָרוֹת וְכִתְבֵי הַקֹּדֶשׁ מֻתָּרִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: שְׁלָלָהּ – וְלֹא שְׁלַל שָׁמַיִם. דָּבָר אַחֵר: שְׁלָלָהּ – וְלֹא שְׁלַל שָׁמַיִם.
“And you shall burn the city with fire, and all of its plunder” (Dt.13:17)—
but not the plunder
[already consecrated] to Heaven.199=M. San.10:6.
On this basis they taught:
trees that are still attached to the ground
are permitted [to survive],
but the uprooted are prohibited.
Cisterns, ditches, and caverns,
and holy texts are permitted,
for it is said:
“Its plunder” (Dt.13:17)—
but not the plunder
[already consecrated] to Heaven.200//T.San.14:5. F:156, n.6 regards the text as an interpolation.
Another word:
“Its plunder” (Dt.13:17)—
but not the plunder
[already consecrated] to Heaven.
מִכָּן אָמְרוּ (סנהדרין פ״י מ״ו): הַהֶקְדֵּשׁוֹת שֶׁבְּתוֹכָהּ יִפָּדוּ, תְּרוּמוֹת יֵרָקְבוּ, מַעֲשֵׂר שֵׁנִי וְכִתְבֵי הַקֹּדֶשׁ יִגָּנְזוּ.
On this basis they taught:
consecrated animals that are within it
should be redeemed,
Threshing-floor-offerings should be left to rot,
and Second-tithe [coins] and holy texts
should be removed from circulation.201=M. San.10:6
כָּלִיל לַה׳ אֱלֹהֶיךָ וְהָיְתָה תֵּל עוֹלָם, וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר (יהושע ו כו): ״וַיַּשְׁבַּע יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בָּעֵת הַהִיא לֵאמֹר אָרוּר הָאִישׁ לִפְנֵי ה׳ אֲשֶׁר יָקוּם וּבָנָה אֶת הָעִיר הַזֹּאת אֶת יְרִיחוֹ״, וְכִי אֵין אָנוּ יוֹדְעִים שֶׁיְּרִיחוֹ שְׁמָהּ? אֶלָּא שֶׁלֹּא יִבְנוּ אוֹתָהּ וְיִקְרְאוּ שְׁמָהּ עִיר אַחֶרֶת, וְשֶׁלֹּא יִבְנוּ עִיר אַחֶרֶת וְיִקְרְאוּ שְׁמָהּ יְרִיחוֹ.
2. “Entirely consumed for HASHEM your God, and it shall be a ruin for all time” (Dt.13:17)—
And, similarly, He says:
“Now, at that time, Joshua swore an oath, saying:
accursed before HASHEM is he who shall arise and rebuild this city, Jericho!” (Josh.6:36).
Now, don’t we know that its name is Jericho?
Rather, the point is that
they should neither rebuild it
under another city’s name,
nor build another city
under the name of Jericho.
(יהושע ו כו) ״בִּבְכוֹרוֹ יְיַסְּדֶנָּה וּבִצְעִירוֹ יַצִּיב דְּלָתֶיהָ״. יָכוֹל שׁוֹגֵג? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר (מלכים א טז לד): ״כִּדְבַר ה׳ אֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר בְּיַד יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן נוּן״. אֱמֹר מֵעַתָּה: מֵזִיד הָיָה!
[As for one who rebuilds a condemned city, it is said:]
“At the cost of his first born
will he lay its foundation,
and at the cost of his youngest
will he erect its doorways” (Josh.6:26).
Is it possible that Joshua’s curse
applies to inadvertent
[rebuilding of the condemned city]?
The Teaching states:
“According to the word of HASHEM,
which He declared by means of Joshua b. Nun” (1Ki.16:34).
Conclude from this that
[Hiel of Bethel, who rebuilt Jericho at King Ahab’s behest,]
acted intentionally.202// T.San.14:6.