Why for a sorceress does the Torah say “shall not live” instead of “shall be put to death?”












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In Exodus 22:17 the Torah tells us:




מְכַשֵּׁפָ֖ה לֹ֥א תְחַיֶּֽה׃



A sorceress you shall not let live.




We learn from Sanhedrin 67a that (man or woman) the punishment for sorcery is death by stoning.



Most punishments in the Torah say "מ֥וֹת יוּמָֽת"- "shall be put to death" by an aveirah that carries the death penalty.

Why for a sorceress does the Torah phrase it as "לֹ֥א תְחַיֶּֽה" - "shall not live?"










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  • 1





    Wow! I should point out, though, that in Hebrew להחיות means "to support", as the Targum says "כָּל עֲבִיד חַרְשִׁיּוּתָא לָא תְקַיְימוּן", not "to let live". That makes the question even more interesting.

    – Al Berko
    10 hours ago











  • Here's a similar Q I asked about Mishnah: judaism.stackexchange.com/questions/95723/…

    – Al Berko
    10 hours ago











  • @AlBerko Thanks! Am failing to see the connection- how would that answer this question?

    – alicht
    9 hours ago
















4















In Exodus 22:17 the Torah tells us:




מְכַשֵּׁפָ֖ה לֹ֥א תְחַיֶּֽה׃



A sorceress you shall not let live.




We learn from Sanhedrin 67a that (man or woman) the punishment for sorcery is death by stoning.



Most punishments in the Torah say "מ֥וֹת יוּמָֽת"- "shall be put to death" by an aveirah that carries the death penalty.

Why for a sorceress does the Torah phrase it as "לֹ֥א תְחַיֶּֽה" - "shall not live?"










share|improve this question




















  • 1





    Wow! I should point out, though, that in Hebrew להחיות means "to support", as the Targum says "כָּל עֲבִיד חַרְשִׁיּוּתָא לָא תְקַיְימוּן", not "to let live". That makes the question even more interesting.

    – Al Berko
    10 hours ago











  • Here's a similar Q I asked about Mishnah: judaism.stackexchange.com/questions/95723/…

    – Al Berko
    10 hours ago











  • @AlBerko Thanks! Am failing to see the connection- how would that answer this question?

    – alicht
    9 hours ago














4












4








4








In Exodus 22:17 the Torah tells us:




מְכַשֵּׁפָ֖ה לֹ֥א תְחַיֶּֽה׃



A sorceress you shall not let live.




We learn from Sanhedrin 67a that (man or woman) the punishment for sorcery is death by stoning.



Most punishments in the Torah say "מ֥וֹת יוּמָֽת"- "shall be put to death" by an aveirah that carries the death penalty.

Why for a sorceress does the Torah phrase it as "לֹ֥א תְחַיֶּֽה" - "shall not live?"










share|improve this question
















In Exodus 22:17 the Torah tells us:




מְכַשֵּׁפָ֖ה לֹ֥א תְחַיֶּֽה׃



A sorceress you shall not let live.




We learn from Sanhedrin 67a that (man or woman) the punishment for sorcery is death by stoning.



Most punishments in the Torah say "מ֥וֹת יוּמָֽת"- "shall be put to death" by an aveirah that carries the death penalty.

Why for a sorceress does the Torah phrase it as "לֹ֥א תְחַיֶּֽה" - "shall not live?"







parshanut-torah-comment avodah-zarah maseches-sanhedrin mishpatim sorcery-magic-kishuf






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edited 11 hours ago









Clifford Durousseau

855419




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asked 13 hours ago









alichtalicht

1,5761327




1,5761327








  • 1





    Wow! I should point out, though, that in Hebrew להחיות means "to support", as the Targum says "כָּל עֲבִיד חַרְשִׁיּוּתָא לָא תְקַיְימוּן", not "to let live". That makes the question even more interesting.

    – Al Berko
    10 hours ago











  • Here's a similar Q I asked about Mishnah: judaism.stackexchange.com/questions/95723/…

    – Al Berko
    10 hours ago











  • @AlBerko Thanks! Am failing to see the connection- how would that answer this question?

    – alicht
    9 hours ago














  • 1





    Wow! I should point out, though, that in Hebrew להחיות means "to support", as the Targum says "כָּל עֲבִיד חַרְשִׁיּוּתָא לָא תְקַיְימוּן", not "to let live". That makes the question even more interesting.

    – Al Berko
    10 hours ago











  • Here's a similar Q I asked about Mishnah: judaism.stackexchange.com/questions/95723/…

    – Al Berko
    10 hours ago











  • @AlBerko Thanks! Am failing to see the connection- how would that answer this question?

    – alicht
    9 hours ago








1




1





Wow! I should point out, though, that in Hebrew להחיות means "to support", as the Targum says "כָּל עֲבִיד חַרְשִׁיּוּתָא לָא תְקַיְימוּן", not "to let live". That makes the question even more interesting.

– Al Berko
10 hours ago





Wow! I should point out, though, that in Hebrew להחיות means "to support", as the Targum says "כָּל עֲבִיד חַרְשִׁיּוּתָא לָא תְקַיְימוּן", not "to let live". That makes the question even more interesting.

– Al Berko
10 hours ago













Here's a similar Q I asked about Mishnah: judaism.stackexchange.com/questions/95723/…

– Al Berko
10 hours ago





Here's a similar Q I asked about Mishnah: judaism.stackexchange.com/questions/95723/…

– Al Berko
10 hours ago













@AlBerko Thanks! Am failing to see the connection- how would that answer this question?

– alicht
9 hours ago





@AlBerko Thanks! Am failing to see the connection- how would that answer this question?

– alicht
9 hours ago










2 Answers
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As I answered here:




Rather than command us to put witches to death (just like any other death penalty in the Pentateuch) the bible here instructs others (perhaps the courts) to not let any witches live, which seems to be a simple translation of this verse from Hebrew to english.



Rashbam notes that this must be a specific instruction given to others to "hunt them down", because witches tended to practice witchcraft in hiding. Shadal follows this understanding as well.



(Various other Jewish commentaries suggest that this language is used to teach us that the commandment is to kill witches immediately however possible, as opposed to waiting for judgment.)



Mecklenburg suggests that this wording is used as a parallel to Deuteronomy 20:16, which refers to the killing of all of the Canaanite Nations, and tells us that we should not have mercy, even on women. This applies here as well, where the verse is discussing witchcraft, which was generally performed by women.







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    1














    In contrast to the authorities in the previous post, Rabbi Joseph H. Hertz, former Chief Rabbi of the British Empire, in his Chumash The Pentateuch and Haftorahs states:




    The wording of the command is in an unusual form. We should have expected 'A sorceress shall surely be put to death.' Some commentators, therefore, explain it as a prohibition against resorting to the sorceress, and thus enabling her to thrive in her nefarious avocation.







    share|improve this answer

































      2 Answers
      2






      active

      oldest

      votes








      2 Answers
      2






      active

      oldest

      votes









      active

      oldest

      votes






      active

      oldest

      votes









      4














      As I answered here:




      Rather than command us to put witches to death (just like any other death penalty in the Pentateuch) the bible here instructs others (perhaps the courts) to not let any witches live, which seems to be a simple translation of this verse from Hebrew to english.



      Rashbam notes that this must be a specific instruction given to others to "hunt them down", because witches tended to practice witchcraft in hiding. Shadal follows this understanding as well.



      (Various other Jewish commentaries suggest that this language is used to teach us that the commandment is to kill witches immediately however possible, as opposed to waiting for judgment.)



      Mecklenburg suggests that this wording is used as a parallel to Deuteronomy 20:16, which refers to the killing of all of the Canaanite Nations, and tells us that we should not have mercy, even on women. This applies here as well, where the verse is discussing witchcraft, which was generally performed by women.







      share|improve this answer






























        4














        As I answered here:




        Rather than command us to put witches to death (just like any other death penalty in the Pentateuch) the bible here instructs others (perhaps the courts) to not let any witches live, which seems to be a simple translation of this verse from Hebrew to english.



        Rashbam notes that this must be a specific instruction given to others to "hunt them down", because witches tended to practice witchcraft in hiding. Shadal follows this understanding as well.



        (Various other Jewish commentaries suggest that this language is used to teach us that the commandment is to kill witches immediately however possible, as opposed to waiting for judgment.)



        Mecklenburg suggests that this wording is used as a parallel to Deuteronomy 20:16, which refers to the killing of all of the Canaanite Nations, and tells us that we should not have mercy, even on women. This applies here as well, where the verse is discussing witchcraft, which was generally performed by women.







        share|improve this answer




























          4












          4








          4







          As I answered here:




          Rather than command us to put witches to death (just like any other death penalty in the Pentateuch) the bible here instructs others (perhaps the courts) to not let any witches live, which seems to be a simple translation of this verse from Hebrew to english.



          Rashbam notes that this must be a specific instruction given to others to "hunt them down", because witches tended to practice witchcraft in hiding. Shadal follows this understanding as well.



          (Various other Jewish commentaries suggest that this language is used to teach us that the commandment is to kill witches immediately however possible, as opposed to waiting for judgment.)



          Mecklenburg suggests that this wording is used as a parallel to Deuteronomy 20:16, which refers to the killing of all of the Canaanite Nations, and tells us that we should not have mercy, even on women. This applies here as well, where the verse is discussing witchcraft, which was generally performed by women.







          share|improve this answer















          As I answered here:




          Rather than command us to put witches to death (just like any other death penalty in the Pentateuch) the bible here instructs others (perhaps the courts) to not let any witches live, which seems to be a simple translation of this verse from Hebrew to english.



          Rashbam notes that this must be a specific instruction given to others to "hunt them down", because witches tended to practice witchcraft in hiding. Shadal follows this understanding as well.



          (Various other Jewish commentaries suggest that this language is used to teach us that the commandment is to kill witches immediately however possible, as opposed to waiting for judgment.)



          Mecklenburg suggests that this wording is used as a parallel to Deuteronomy 20:16, which refers to the killing of all of the Canaanite Nations, and tells us that we should not have mercy, even on women. This applies here as well, where the verse is discussing witchcraft, which was generally performed by women.








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          edited 12 hours ago

























          answered 13 hours ago









          רבות מחשבותרבות מחשבות

          14.2k126121




          14.2k126121























              1














              In contrast to the authorities in the previous post, Rabbi Joseph H. Hertz, former Chief Rabbi of the British Empire, in his Chumash The Pentateuch and Haftorahs states:




              The wording of the command is in an unusual form. We should have expected 'A sorceress shall surely be put to death.' Some commentators, therefore, explain it as a prohibition against resorting to the sorceress, and thus enabling her to thrive in her nefarious avocation.







              share|improve this answer






























                1














                In contrast to the authorities in the previous post, Rabbi Joseph H. Hertz, former Chief Rabbi of the British Empire, in his Chumash The Pentateuch and Haftorahs states:




                The wording of the command is in an unusual form. We should have expected 'A sorceress shall surely be put to death.' Some commentators, therefore, explain it as a prohibition against resorting to the sorceress, and thus enabling her to thrive in her nefarious avocation.







                share|improve this answer




























                  1












                  1








                  1







                  In contrast to the authorities in the previous post, Rabbi Joseph H. Hertz, former Chief Rabbi of the British Empire, in his Chumash The Pentateuch and Haftorahs states:




                  The wording of the command is in an unusual form. We should have expected 'A sorceress shall surely be put to death.' Some commentators, therefore, explain it as a prohibition against resorting to the sorceress, and thus enabling her to thrive in her nefarious avocation.







                  share|improve this answer















                  In contrast to the authorities in the previous post, Rabbi Joseph H. Hertz, former Chief Rabbi of the British Empire, in his Chumash The Pentateuch and Haftorahs states:




                  The wording of the command is in an unusual form. We should have expected 'A sorceress shall surely be put to death.' Some commentators, therefore, explain it as a prohibition against resorting to the sorceress, and thus enabling her to thrive in her nefarious avocation.








                  share|improve this answer














                  share|improve this answer



                  share|improve this answer








                  edited 12 hours ago

























                  answered 12 hours ago









                  Clifford DurousseauClifford Durousseau

                  855419




                  855419















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