Why for a sorceress does the Torah say “shall not live” instead of “shall be put to death?”
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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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
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
add a comment |
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
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
parshanut-torah-comment avodah-zarah maseches-sanhedrin mishpatim sorcery-magic-kishuf
edited 11 hours ago
Clifford Durousseau
855419
855419
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
add a comment |
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
add a comment |
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.
add a comment |
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.
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
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.
add a comment |
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.
add a comment |
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.
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.
edited 12 hours ago
answered 13 hours ago
רבות מחשבותרבות מחשבות
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14.2k126121
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add a comment |
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.
add a comment |
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.
add a comment |
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.
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.
edited 12 hours ago
answered 12 hours ago
Clifford DurousseauClifford Durousseau
855419
855419
add a comment |
add a comment |
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