Chapter 15

1At the end of seven years you will make a release. ย  ืืžึดืงึผึตึฅืฅ ืฉืึถึฝื‘ึทืขึพืฉืึธื ึดึ–ื™ื ืชึผึทึฝืขึฒืฉื‚ึถึฅื” ืฉืึฐืžึดื˜ึผึธึฝื”:
At the end of seven years [you shall make a release].ย One might think that this means seven years [starting from the transaction] of each loan. Scripture, therefore, states, โ€œThe seventh year [i.e., the year of release] has approachedโ€ฆโ€ (verse 9). But if you say [that] โ€œseven yearsโ€ [means] for each loan, after each individual loan, how has it approached? [No loan was yet transacted.] Consequently, you learn [that Scripture means] seven years according to the counting of the Shemitha [cycle]. โ€” [Sifrei] ย  ืžึดืงึผึตืฅ ืฉืึถึฝื‘ึทืขึพืฉืึธื ึดื™ื.ย  ื™ึธื›ื•ึนืœ ืฉืึถื‘ึทืข ืฉืึธื ึดื™ื ืœึฐื›ึธืœ ืžึดืœึฐื•ึธื” ื•ึผืžึดืœึฐื•ึธื”, ืชึทึผืœึฐืžื•ึผื“ ืœื•ึนืžึธืจ "ืงึธืจึฐื‘ึธื” ืฉืึฐื ึทืช ื”ึทืฉืึผึถื‘ึทืข", ื•ึฐืึดื ืึทืชึผึธื” ืื•ึนืžึตืจ ืฉืึถื‘ึทืข ืฉืึธื ึดื™ื ืœึฐื›ึธืœ ืžึดืœึฐื•ึธื” ื•ึผืžึดืœึฐื•ึธื”, ืœึฐื”ึทืœึฐื•ึธืื•ึนืช ื›ึผึธืœ ืึถื—ึธื“ ื•ึฐืึถื—ึธื“, ื”ึตื™ืึทืšึฐ ื”ึดื™ื ืงึฐืจึตื‘ึธื”? ื”ึธื ืœึธืžึทื“ึฐืชึผึธ ืฉืึถื‘ึทืข ืฉืึธื ึดื™ื ืœึฐืžึดื ึฐื™ึทืŸ ื”ึทืฉืึผึฐืžึดื˜ึผึธื” (ืกืคืจื™):
2And this is the manner of the release; to release the hand of every creditor from what he lent his friend; he shall not exact from his friend or his brother, because time of the release for the Lord has arrived. ย  ื‘ื•ึฐื–ึถื”ึ˜ ื“ึผึฐื‘ึทึฃืจ ื”ึทืฉึผืึฐืžึดื˜ึผึธื”ึ’ ืฉืึธืžึ—ื•ึนื˜ ื›ึผึธืœึพื‘ึผึทึจืขึทืœึ™ ืžึทืฉึผืึตึฃื” ื™ึธื“ึ”ื•ึน ืึฒืฉืึถึฅืจ ื™ึทืฉึผืึถึ–ื” ื‘ึผึฐืจึตืขึตึ‘ื”ื•ึผ ืœึนึฝืึพื™ึดื’ึผึคึนืฉื‚ ืึถืชึพืจึตืขึตึจื”ื•ึผึ™ ื•ึฐืึถืชึพืึธื—ึดึ”ื™ื• ื›ึผึดึฝื™ึพืงึธืจึธึฅื ืฉืึฐืžึดื˜ึผึธึ–ื” ืœึทึฝื™ื”ึนื•ึธึฝื”:
to release the hand of every creditor.ย Heb. ืฉืึธืžื•ึนื˜ ื›ึผึธืœ-ื‘ึผึทืขึทืœ ืžึทืฉึผืึตื” ื™ึธื“ื•ึน, [lit. to release every master the loan of his hand, which makes no sense. Therefore, Rashi interprets the verse to mean] to release the hand of every creditor [from reclaiming the loan]. ย  ืฉืึธืžื•ึนื˜ ื›ึผึธืœึพื‘ึผึทืขึทืœ ืžึทืฉึผืึตื” ื™ึธื“ื•ึน.ย  ืฉืึธืžื•ึนื˜ ืึถืช ื™ึธื“ื•ึน ืฉืึถืœ ื›ึผึธืœ ื‘ึผึทืขึทืœ ืžึทืฉืึผึถื”:
3From the foreigner you may exact; but what is yours with your brother, your hand shall release. ย  ื’ืึถืชึพื”ึทื ึผึธื›ึฐืจึดึ–ื™ ืชึผึดื’ึผึ‘ึนืฉื‚ ื•ึทึฝืึฒืฉืึถึจืจ ื™ึดึฝื”ึฐื™ึถึฅื” ืœึฐืšึธึ› ืึถืชึพืึธื—ึดึ–ื™ืšึธ ืชึผึทืฉืึฐืžึตึฅื˜ ื™ึธื“ึถึฝืšึธ:
From the foreigner you may exact.ย This is a positive command (See Ramban.). - [Sifrei] ย  ืึถืชึพื”ึทื ึผึธื›ึฐืจึดื™ ืชึผึดื’ึผึนืฉื‚.ย  ื–ื•ึน ืžึดืฆึฐื•ึทืช ืขึฒืฉื‚ึตื” (ืฉื):
4However, there will be no needy among you, for the Lord will surely bless you in the land the Lord, your God, is giving you for an inheritance to possess. ย  ื“ืึถึ•ืคึถืก ื›ึผึดึ›ื™ ืœึนึฅื ื™ึดึฝื”ึฐื™ึถื”ึพื‘ึผึฐืšึธึ– ืึถื‘ึฐื™ึ‘ื•ึนืŸ ื›ึผึดึฝื™ึพื‘ึธืจึตึคืšึฐ ื™ึฐื‘ึธึฝืจึถื›ึฐืšึธึ™ ื™ึฐื”ึนื•ึธึ”ื” ื‘ึผึธืึธึ•ืจึถืฅ ืึฒืฉืึถืจึ™ ื™ึฐื”ึนื•ึธึฃื” ืึฑืœึนื”ึถึ”ื™ืšึธ ื ึนืชึตึฝืŸึพืœึฐืšึธึฅ ื ึทึฝื—ึฒืœึธึ–ื” ืœึฐืจึดืฉืึฐืชึผึธึฝื”ึผ:
However, there will be no needy among you.ย But further on it says, โ€œFor there will never cease to be needy [within the land]โ€ (verse 11). [These two verses seem to contradict each other. However, the explanation is:] When you perform the will of the Omnipresent, there will be needy among others but not among you. If, however, you do not perform the will of the Omnipresent, there will be needy among you. - [Sifrei] ย  ืึถืคึถืก ื›ึผึดื™ ืœึนื ื™ึดึฝื”ึฐื™ึถื”ึพื‘ึผึฐืšึธ ืึถื‘ึฐื™ื•ึนืŸ.ย  ื•ึผืœึฐื”ึทืœึผึธืŸ ื”ื•ึผื ืื•ึนืžึตืจ "ื›ึผึดื™ ืœึนื ื™ึถื—ึฐื“ึผึทืœ ืึถื‘ึฐื™ื•ึนืŸ"? ืึถืœึผึธื ื‘ึผึดื–ึฐืžึทืŸ ืฉืึถืึทืชึผึถื ืขื•ึนืฉื‚ึดื™ื ืจึฐืฆื•ึนื ื•ึน ืฉืึถืœ ืžึธืงื•ึนื ืึถื‘ึฐื™ื•ึนื ึดื™ื ื‘ึผึทืึฒื—ึตืจึดื™ื ื•ึฐืœึนื ื‘ึธื›ึถื, ื•ึผื›ึฐืฉืึถืึตื™ืŸ ืึทืชึผึถื ืขื•ึนืฉื‚ึดื™ื ืจึฐืฆื•ึนื ื•ึน ืฉืึถืœ ืžึธืงื•ึนื ืึถื‘ึฐื™ื•ึนื ึดื™ื ื‘ึผึธื›ึถื:
needy.ย Heb. ืึถื‘ึฐื™ื•ึนืŸ, [denoting someone who is] poorer than an ืข ึธื ึดื™. The term ืึถื‘ึฐื™ื•ึนืŸ meansโ€œto yearn forโ€ (ืชึผึธืึตื‘) , i.e., one who yearns for everything [because he has nothing]. โ€” [Vayikra Rabbah 34:6, see B.M. 111b] ย  ืึถื‘ึฐื™ื•ึนืŸ.ย  ื“ึผึทืœ ืžึตืขึธื ึดื™, ื•ึผืœึฐืฉืื•ึนืŸ ืึถื‘ึฐื™ื•ึนืŸ ืฉืึถื”ื•ึผื ืชึผึธืึตื‘ ืœึฐื›ึธืœ ื“ึผึธื‘ึธืจ (ืขื™' ื•ื™ืงืจื ืจื‘ื” ืœ"ื“):
5However, if you hearken to the voice of the Lord, your God, to be careful to do all this commandment, which I am commanding you today. ย  ื”ืจึทึšืง ืึดืึพืฉืึธืžึฃื•ึนืขึท ืชึผึดืฉืึฐืžึทึ”ืข ื‘ึผึฐืงึ–ื•ึนืœ ื™ึฐื”ึนื•ึธึฃื” ืึฑืœึนื”ึถึ‘ื™ืšึธ ืœึดืฉืึฐืžึคึนืจ ืœึทึฝืขึฒืฉื‚ื•ึนืชึ™ ืึถืชึพื›ึผึธืœึพื”ึทืžึผึดืฆึฐื•ึธึฃื” ื”ึทื–ึผึนึ”ืืช ืึฒืฉืึถึ›ืจ ืึธึฝื ึนื›ึดึฅื™ ืžึฐืฆึทื•ึผึฐืšึธึ– ื”ึทื™ึผึฝื•ึนื:
However, if you hearken [to the voice of the Lord, your God].ย then โ€œthere will be no needy among youโ€ (verse 4). ย  ืจึทืง ืึดืึพืฉืึธืžื•ึนืขึท ืชึผึดืฉืึฐืžึทืข.ย  ืึธื– ืœื ื™ื”ื™ื” ื‘ืš ืื‘ื™ื•ืŸ:
you hearken.ย Heb. ืฉืึธืžึนืขึท ืชึผึดืฉืึฐืžึทืข. [The repetition of the verb form suggests:] If one listens a little, he will be granted the opportunity to listen much [i.e., he will be taught much Torah as a reward]. โ€” [Sifrei] ย  ืฉืึธืžื•ึนืขึท ืชึผึดืฉืึฐืžึทืข.ย  ืฉืึธืžึทืข ืงึดืžึฐืขึธื ืžึทืฉืึฐืžึดื™ืขึดื™ืŸ ืื•ึนืชื•ึน ื”ึทืจึฐื‘ึผึตื” (ืกืคืจื™):
6For the Lord, your God, has blessed you, as He spoke to you, and you will lend to many nations, but you will not borrow; and you will rule over many nations, but they will not rule over you. ย  ื•ื›ึผึดึฝื™ึพื™ึฐื”ึนื•ึธึคื” ืึฑืœึนื”ึถึจื™ืšึธึ™ ื‘ึผึตึฝืจึทื›ึฐืšึธึ” ื›ึผึทึฝืึฒืฉืึถึ–ืจ ื“ึผึดื‘ึผึถืจึพืœึธึ‘ืšึฐ ื•ึฐื”ึทึฝืขึฒื‘ึทื˜ึฐืชึผึธึž ื’ึผื•ึนื™ึดึฃื ืจึทื‘ึผึดึ—ื™ื ื•ึฐืึทืชึผึธื”ึ™ ืœึนึฃื ืชึทึฝืขึฒื‘ึนึ”ื˜ ื•ึผืžึธึฝืฉืึทืœึฐืชึผึธึ™ ื‘ึผึฐื’ื•ึนื™ึดึฃื ืจึทื‘ึผึดึ”ื™ื ื•ึผื‘ึฐืšึธึ– ืœึนึฅื ื™ึดืžึฐืฉืึฝึนืœื•ึผ:
[For the Lord, your God, has blessed you,] as He has spoken to you.ย And where did He speak about this? โ€œBlessed are you in the cityโ€ฆโ€ (Deut. 28:3). - [Sifrei] ย  ื›ึผึทึฝืึฒืฉืึถืจ ื“ึผึดื‘ึผึถืจึพืœึธืšึฐ.ย  ื•ึฐื”ึตื™ื›ึธืŸ ื“ึผึดื‘ึผึตืจ? (ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ื›"ื—) ื‘ึผึธืจื•ึผืšึฐ ืึทืชึผึธื” ื‘ึผึธืขึดื™ืจ (ืกืคืจื™):
and you will lend.ย Heb. ื•ึฐื”ึทืขึฒื‘ึทื˜ึฐืชึผึธ. Whenever an expression denoting lending refers to a lender [of money], it adopts the hiphโ€™il [causative] form. For example, ื•ึฐื”ึดืœึฐื•ึดื™ืชึธ, or ื•ึฐื”ึทืขึฒื‘ึทื˜ึฐืชึผึธ, you will lend. However, if it would have said ื•ึฐืขึธื‘ึทื˜ึฐืชึผึธ, [in the kal, simple conjugation,] it would be referring to the borrower, like ื•ึฐืœึธื•ึดื™ืชึธ, you will borrow. ย  ื•ึฐื”ึทึฝืขึฒื‘ึทื˜ึฐืชึผึธ.ย  ื›ึผึธืœ ืœึฐืฉืื•ึนืŸ ื”ึทืœึฐื•ึธืึธื” ื›ึผึฐืฉืึถื ึผื•ึนืคึตืœ ืขึทืœ ื”ึทืžึผึทืœึฐื•ึถื” ื ื•ึนืคึตืœ ื‘ึผึดืœึฐืฉืื•ึนืŸ ืžึทืคึฐืขึดื™ืœ, ื›ึผึฐื’ื•ึนืŸ ื•ึฐื”ึดืœึฐื•ึดื™ืชึธ, ื•ึฐื”ึทืขึฒื‘ึทื˜ึฐืชึผึธ. ื•ึฐืึดื ื”ึธื™ึธื” ืื•ึนืžึตืจ ื•ึฐืขึธื‘ึทื˜ึฐืชึผึธ ื”ึธื™ึธื” ื ื•ึนืคึตืœ ืขึทืœ ื”ึทืœึผึนื•ึถื”, ื›ึผึฐืžื•ึน ื•ึฐืœึธื•ึดื™ืชึธ:
and you will lend to [many] nations.ย One might think that you will borrow from this one and lend that one. Therefore, Scripture states, โ€œbut you will not borrow.โ€ ย  ื•ึฐื”ึทึฝืขึฒื‘ึทื˜ึฐืชึผึธ ื’ึผื•ึนื™ึดื.ย  ื™ึธื›ื•ึนืœ ืฉืึถืชึผึฐื”ึตื ืœึนื•ึถื” ืžึดื–ึผึถื” ื•ึผืžึทืœึฐื•ึถื” ืœึธื–ึถื”, ืชึทึผืœึฐืžื•ึผื“ ืœื•ึนืžึธืจ "ื•ึฐืึทืชึผึธื” ืœึนื ืชึทืขึฒื‘ึนื˜":
and you will rule over many nations.ย One might think that [at the same time] other nations will rule over you. Therefore, Scripture states, โ€œbut they will not rule over you.โ€ - [Sifrei] ย  ื•ึผืžึธึฝืฉืึทืœึฐืชึผึธ ื‘ึผึฐื’ื•ึนื™ึดื ืจึทื‘ึผึดื™ื.ย  ื™ึธื›ื•ึนืœ ื’ื•ึนื™ึดื ืึฒื—ึตืจึดื™ื ืžื•ึนืฉืึฐืœึดื™ื ืขึธืœึถื™ืšึธ, ืชึทึผืœึฐืžื•ึผื“ ืœื•ึนืžึธืจ "ื•ึผื‘ึฐืšึธ ืœึนื ื™ึดืžึฐืฉืึนืœื•ึผ" (ืฉื):
7If there will be among you a needy person, from one of your brothers in one of your cities, in your land the Lord, your God, is giving you, you shall not harden your heart, and you shall not close your hand from your needy brother. ย  ื–ื›ึผึดื™ึพื™ึดึฝื”ึฐื™ึถื”ึฉ ื‘ึฐืšึธึจ ืึถื‘ึฐื™ึœื•ึนืŸ ืžึตึฝืึทื—ึทึคื“ ืึทื—ึถึจื™ืšึธึ™ ื‘ึผึฐืึทื—ึทึฃื“ ืฉืึฐืขึธืจึถึ”ื™ืšึธ ื‘ึผึฐืึทึจืจึฐืฆึฐืšึธึ” ืึฒืฉืึถืจึพื™ึฐื”ึนื•ึธึฅื” ืึฑืœึนื”ึถึ–ื™ืšึธ ื ึนืชึตึฃืŸ ืœึธึ‘ืšึฐ ืœึนึงื ืชึฐืึทืžึผึตึฃืฅ ืึถืชึพืœึฐื‘ึธึฝื‘ึฐืšึธึ— ื•ึฐืœึนึคื ืชึดืงึฐืคึผึนืฅึ™ ืึถืชึพื™ึธึฃื“ึฐืšึธึ” ืžึตึฝืึธื—ึดึ–ื™ืšึธ ื”ึธึฝืึถื‘ึฐื™ึฝื•ึนืŸ:
If there will be among you a needy person.ย The most needy person has priority. - [Sifrei] ย  ื›ึผึดื™ึพื™ึดึฝื”ึฐื™ึถื” ื‘ึฐืšึธ ืึถื‘ึฐื™ื•ึนืŸ.ย  ื”ึทืชึผึธืึตื‘ ืชึผึธืึตื‘ ืงื•ึนื“ึตื:
from one of your brothers.ย Your brother on your fatherโ€™s side has priority over your brother on your motherโ€™s side. โ€” [Sifrei] ย  ืžึตึฝืึทื—ึทื“ ืึทื—ึถื™ืšึธ.ย  ืึธื—ึดื™ืšึธ ืžึตืึธื‘ึดื™ืšึธ ืงื•ึนื“ึตื ืœึฐืึธื—ึดื™ืšึธ ืžึตืึดืžึผึฐืšึธ:
[in one of] your cities.ย The poor of your city have priority over the poor of another city. - [Sifrei] ย  ืฉืึฐืขึธืจึถื™ืšึธ.ย  ืขึฒื ึดื™ึผึตื™ ืขึดื™ืจึฐืšึธ ืงื•ึนื“ึฐืžึดื™ื ืœึทืขึฒื ึดื™ึผึตื™ ืขึดื™ืจ ืึทื—ึถืจึถืช:
you shall not harden [your heart].ย Some people suffer [as they deliberate] whether they should give [to the needy] or they should not give; therefore it says: โ€œyou shall not harden [your heart].โ€ Some people stretch out their hand [to give], but then close it; therefore it says: โ€œnor close your hand.โ€ - [Sifrei] ย  ืœึนื ืชึฐืึทืžึผึตืฅ.ย  ื™ึตืฉื ืœึฐืšึธ ืึธื“ึธื ืฉืึถืžึผึดืฆึฐื˜ึทืขึตืจ ืึดื ื™ึดืชึผึตืŸ ืึดื ืœึนื ื™ึดืชึผึตืŸ, ืœึฐื›ึธืšึฐ ื ึถืึฑืžึทืจ "ืœึนื ืชึฐืึทืžึผึตืฅ". ื™ึตืฉื ืœึฐืšึธ ืฉืึถืคึผื•ึนืฉืึตื˜ ืึถืช ื™ึธื“ื•ึน ื•ึฐืงื•ึนืคึฐืฆึธื”ึผ, ืœึฐื›ึธืšึฐ ื ึถืึฑืžึทืจ "ืœึนื ืชึดืงึฐืคึผึนืฅ" (ืฉื):
[nor close your hand] from your needy brother.ย If you do not give him, you will ultimately become a โ€œbrother of the needyโ€ [i.e., becoming needy yourself]. โ€” [Sifrei] ย  ืžึตึฝืึธื—ึดื™ืšึธ ื”ึธึฝืึถื‘ึฐื™ึฝื•ึนืŸ.ย  ืึดื ืœึนื ืชึดืชึผึตืŸ ืœื•ึน, ืกื•ึนืคึฐืšึธ ืœึดื”ึฐื™ื•ึนืช ืึธื—ึดื™ื• ืฉืึถืœ ืึถื‘ึฐื™ื•ึนืŸ (ืฉื):
8Rather, you shall open your hand to him, and you shall lend him sufficient for his needs, which he is lacking. ย  ื—ื›ึผึดึฝื™ึพืคึธืชึงึนื—ึท ืชึผึดืคึฐืชึผึทึ›ื— ืึถืชึพื™ึธึฝื“ึฐืšึธึ– ืœึ‘ื•ึน ื•ึฐื”ึทึฝืขึฒื‘ึตื˜ึ™ ืชึผึทึฝืขึฒื‘ึดื™ื˜ึถึ”ื ึผื•ึผ ื“ึผึตึšื™ ืžึทื—ึฐืกึนืจึ”ื•ึน ืึฒืฉืึถึฅืจ ื™ึถื—ึฐืกึทึ–ืจ ืœึฝื•ึน:
[Rather] you shall open [your hand].ย Even many times. ย  ืคึธืชึนื—ึท ืชึผึดืคึฐืชึผึทื—.ย  ืึฒืคึดืœึผื•ึผ ื›ึทืžึผึธื” ืคึฐืขึธืžึดื™ื:
[Rather] you shall open [your hand].ย Heb. ื›ึผึดื™-ืคึธืชึนื—ึท ืชึผึดืคึฐืชึผึทื—. Here, the word ื›ึผึดื™ has the meaning of โ€œratherโ€ [whereas in verse 7 it means โ€œif,โ€ and in verse 10, โ€œbecauseโ€]. ย  ื›ึผึดึฝื™ึพืคึธืชึนื—ึท ืชึผึดืคึฐืชึผึทื—.ย  ื”ึฒืจึตื™ ื›ึดื™ ืžึฐืฉืึทืžึผึตืฉื ื‘ึผึดืœึฐืฉืื•ึนืŸ ืึถืœึผึธื:
and you shall lend.ย If he does not want [your money] as a [charitable] gift, give it to him as a loan. โ€” [Sifrei ; Keth. 67b] ย  ื•ึฐื”ึทึฝืขึฒื‘ึตื˜ ืชึผึทึฝืขึฒื‘ึดื™ื˜ึถื ึผื•ึผ.ย  ืึดื ืœึนื ืจึธืฆึธื” ื‘ึฐืžึทืชึผึธื ึธื” ืชึผึตืŸ ืœื•ึน ื‘ึผึฐื”ึทืœึฐื•ึธืึธื” (ืขื™' ืฉื; ื›ืชื•ื‘ื•ืช ืก"ื–):
[lend him] sufficient for his needs.ย However, you are not commanded to make him wealthy. โ€” [Sifrei] ย  ื“ึผึตื™ ืžึทื—ึฐืกึนืจื•ึน.ย  ื•ึฐืึดื™ ืึทืชึผึธื” ืžึฐืฆึปื•ึผึถื” ืœึฐื”ึทืขึฒืฉืึดื™ืจื•ึน:
[sufficient for his needs,] what he is lacking.ย Even a horse to ride on and a servant to run before him [if he is accustomed to this type of lifestyle]. - [Sifrei; Keth. 67b] ย  ืึฒืฉืึถืจ ื™ึถื—ึฐืกึทืจ ืœื•ึน.ย  ืึฒืคึดืœึผื•ึผ ืกื•ึผืก ืœึดืจึฐื›ึผึนื‘ ืขึธืœึธื™ื• ื•ึฐืขึถื‘ึถื“ ืœึธืจื•ึผืฅ ืœึฐืคึธื ึธื™ื• (ืฉื):
he [is lacking].ย Heb. ื™ึถื—ึฐืกึทืจ ืœื•ึน, lit. what is lacking for him. This refers to a wife [i.e., you should help him marry a wife]. Similarly, it is stated: โ€œI shall make for him (ืœื•ึน) a helpmate opposite himโ€ (Gen. 2:18). - [Keth. 66b] ย  ืœื•ึน.ย  ื–ื•ึน ืึดืฉืึผึธื” ื•ึฐื›ึตืŸ ื”ื•ึผื ืื•ึนืžึตืจ (ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ื‘') ืึถืขึฑืฉื‚ึถื” ืœึผื•ึน ืขึตื–ึถืจ ื›ึผึฐื ึถื’ึฐื“ึผื•ึน (ืกืคืจื™):
9Beware, lest there be in your heart an unfaithful thought, saying, "The seventh year, the year of release has approached," and you will begrudge your needy brother and not give him, and he will cry out to the Lord against you, and it will be a sin to you. ย  ื˜ื”ึดืฉึผืึธึฃืžึถืจ ืœึฐืšึธึก ืคึผึถืŸึพื™ึดึฝื”ึฐื™ึถึฃื” ื“ึธื‘ึธืจึฉ ืขึดืึพืœึฐื‘ึธื‘ึฐืšึธึจ ื‘ึฐืœึดื™ึผึทึœืขึทืœ ืœึตืืžึนึ—ืจ ืงึธึฝืจึฐื‘ึธึฃื” ืฉืึฐื ึทืชึพื”ึทืฉึผืึถึ˜ื‘ึทืขึ˜ ืฉืึฐื ึทึฃืช ื”ึทืฉึผืึฐืžึดื˜ึผึธื”ึ’ ื•ึฐืจึธืขึธึฃื” ืขึตึฝื™ื ึฐืšึธึ— ื‘ึผึฐืึธื—ึดึจื™ืšึธึ™ ื”ึธึฝืึถื‘ึฐื™ึ”ื•ึนืŸ ื•ึฐืœึนึฅื ืชึดืชึผึตึ–ืŸ ืœึ‘ื•ึน ื•ึฐืงึธืจึธึคื ืขึธืœึถึจื™ืšึธึ™ ืึถืœึพื™ึฐื”ึนื•ึธึ”ื” ื•ึฐื”ึธื™ึธึฅื” ื‘ึฐืšึธึ– ื—ึตึฝื˜ึฐื:
and he will cry out [to the Lord] against you.ย One might think this is a requirement [namely, that this poor man is obliged to โ€œcry outโ€ฆ against youโ€]. Therefore, Scripture says, โ€œ[On his day you shall give him his paymentโ€ฆ] so that he will not cry against you [to the Lord]โ€ (Deut. 24:15). - [Sifrei 15:138] ย  ื•ึฐืงึธืจึธื ืขึธืœึถื™ืšึธ.ย  ื™ึธื›ื•ึนืœ ืžึดืฆึฐื•ึธื”, ืชึทึผืœึฐืžื•ึผื“ ืœื•ึนืžึธืจ ื•ึฐืœึนื ื™ึดืงึฐืจึธื:
and it will be a sin to you.ย in any case, even if he does not cry [against you]. If so, why does it say, โ€œand he will cry outโ€ฆ against you?โ€ [It means that God says:] I hasten to punish in response to the one who cries out more than to the one who does not cry out. โ€” [Sifrei] ย  ื•ึฐื”ึธื™ึธื” ื‘ึฐืšึธ ื—ึตึฝื˜ึฐื.ย  ืžึดื›ึผึธืœ ืžึธืงื•ึนื, ืึฒืคึดืœึผื•ึผ ืœึนื ื™ึดืงึฐืจึธื. ืึดื ื›ึผึตืŸ ืœึธืžึผึธื” ื ึถืึฑืžึทืจ "ื•ึฐืงึธืจึธื ืขึธืœึถื™ืšึธ"? ืžึฐืžึทื”ึตืจ ืึฒื ึดื™ ืœึดืคึผึธืจึทืข ืขึทืœ ื™ึฐื“ึตื™ ื”ึทืงึผื•ึนืจึตื ื™ื•ึนืชึตืจ ืžึดืžึผึดื™ ืฉืึถืึตื™ื ื•ึน ืงื•ึนืจึตื (ืฉื):
10You shall surely give him, and your heart shall not be grieved when you give to him; for because of this thing the Lord, your God, will bless you in all your work and in all your endeavors. ย  ื™ื ึธืชึคื•ึนืŸ ืชึผึดืชึผึตืŸึ™ ืœึ”ื•ึน ื•ึฐืœึนึฝืึพื™ึตืจึทึฅืข ืœึฐื‘ึธึฝื‘ึฐืšึธึ– ื‘ึผึฐืชึดืชึผึฐืšึธึฃ ืœึ‘ื•ึน ื›ึผึดึžื™ ื‘ึผึดื’ึฐืœึทึฃืœย | ื”ึทื“ึผึธื‘ึธึฃืจ ื”ึทื–ึผึถึ—ื” ื™ึฐื‘ึธึฝืจึถื›ึฐืšึธึ™ ื™ึฐื”ึนื•ึธึฃื” ืึฑืœึนื”ึถึ”ื™ืšึธ ื‘ึผึฐื›ึธืœึพืžึทึฝืขึฒืฉื‚ึถึ”ืšึธ ื•ึผื‘ึฐื›ึ–ึนืœ ืžึดืฉืึฐืœึทึฅื— ื™ึธื“ึถึฝืšึธ:
You shall surely give him.ย Even a hundred times. โ€” [Sifrei] ย  ื ึธืชื•ึนืŸ ืชึผึดืชึผึตืŸ ืœื•ึน.ย  ืึฒืคึดืœึผื•ึผ ืžึตืึธื” ืคึฐืขึธืžึดื™ื:
him.ย [meaning] between him and you [i.e., privately]. - [Sifrei] ย  ืœื•ึน.ย  ื‘ึผึตื™ื ื•ึน ื•ึผื‘ึตื™ื ึฐืšึธ:
for because of this thing.ย Heb. ื“ึผึธื‘ึธืจ, lit. word. Even if you said [i.e., gave him your โ€œwordโ€] that you would give, you will receive a reward for the saying along with the reward for the deed. โ€” [Sifrei] ย  ื›ึผึดื™ ื‘ึผึดื’ึฐืœึทืœ ื”ึทื“ึผึธื‘ึธืจ.ย  ืึฒืคึดืœึผื•ึผ ืึธืžึทืจึฐืชึผึธ ืœึดืชึผึตืŸ, ืึทืชึผึธื” ื ื•ึนื˜ึตืœ ืฉื‚ึฐื›ึทืจ ื”ึธืึฒืžึดื™ืจึธื” ืขึดื ืฉื‚ึฐื›ึทืจ ื”ึทืžึผึทืขึฒืฉื‚ึถื” (ืฉื):
11For there will never cease to be needy within the land. Therefore, I command you, saying, you shall surely open your hand to your brother, to your poor one, and to your needy one in your land. ย  ื™ืื›ึผึดึ›ื™ ืœึนึฝืึพื™ึถื—ึฐื“ึผึทึฅืœ ืึถื‘ึฐื™ึ–ื•ึนืŸ ืžึดืงึผึถึฃืจึถื‘ ื”ึธืึธึ‘ืจึถืฅ ืขึทืœึพื›ึผึตึžืŸ ืึธึฝื ึนื›ึดึคื™ ืžึฐืฆึทื•ึผึฐืšึธึ™ ืœึตืืžึนึ”ืจ ืคึ ึผึธืชึนึ ื—ึท ืชึผึดืคึฐืชึผึทึจื— ืึถืชึพื™ึธึฝื“ึฐืšึธึœ ืœึฐืึธื—ึดึงื™ืšึธ ืœึผึทึฝืขึฒื ึดื™ึผึถึ›ืšึธ ื•ึผืœึฐืึถื‘ึฐื™ึฝึนื ึฐืšึธึ– ื‘ึผึฐืึทืจึฐืฆึถึฝืšึธ:
Therefore.ย Heb. ืขึทืœ-ื›ึผึตืŸ, here meaning ืžึดืคึผึฐื ึตื™ ื›ึตืŸ, [i.e.,] โ€œbecause of this,โ€ or โ€œtherefore.โ€ ย  ืขึทืœึพื›ึผึตืŸ.ย  ืžึดืคึผึฐื ึตื™ ื›ึตืŸ:
saying.ย I offer you advice for your own good. โ€” [Sifrei] ย  ืœึตืืžึนืจ.ย  ืขึตืฆึธื” ืœึฐื˜ื•ึนื‘ึธืชึฐืšึธ ืึฒื ึดื™ ืžึทืฉื‚ึผึดื™ืึฒืšึธ:
[You shall surely open your hand] to your brother, to your poor one.ย To which brother? To your poor one. ย  ืœึฐืึธื—ึดื™ืšึธ ืœึผึทึฝืขึฒื ึดื™ึผึถืšึธ.ย  ืœึฐืึตื™ื–ึถื” ืึธื—? ืœึถืขึธื ึดื™:
to your poor one.ย Heb. ืœึทืขึฒื ึดื™ึผึถืšึธ, [spelled] with one โ€œyud,โ€ [singular form,] means one poor person, but ืขึฒื ึดื™ึผึถื™ืšึธโ€ with two โ€œyudโ€s [the second โ€œyudโ€ denoting the plural form,] means two poor people. [Here, since it is written with one โ€œyud,โ€ meaning one poor person, thus modifying ืึธื—ึดื™ืšึธโ€, your brother, which is in the singular]. See Yosef Hallel, Leket Bahir, Chavel. ย  ืœึผึทึฝืขึฒื ึดื™ึผึถืšึธ.ย  ื‘ึผึฐื™ื•ึน"ื“ ืึถื—ึธื“ โ€” ืœึฐืฉืื•ึนืŸ ืขึธื ึดื™ ืึถื—ึธื“ ื”ื•ึผื, ืึฒื‘ึธืœ ืขึฒื ึดื™ึผึถื™ืšึธ ื‘ึดืฉืึฐื ึตื™ ื™ื•ึนื“ึดื™"ืŸ โ€” ืฉืึฐื ึตื™ ืขึฒื ึดื™ึผึดื™ื:
12If your brother, a Hebrew man or a Hebrew woman, is sold to you, he shall serve you for six years, and in the seventh year you shall send him forth free from you. ย  ื™ื‘ื›ึผึดึฝื™ึพื™ึดืžึผึธื›ึตึจืจ ืœึฐืšึธึœ ืึธื—ึดึฃื™ืšึธ ื”ึธึฝืขึดื‘ึฐืจึดึ—ื™ ืึšื•ึน ื”ึธึฝืขึดื‘ึฐืจึดื™ึผึธึ”ื” ื•ึทึฝืขึฒื‘ึธึฝื“ึฐืšึธึ– ืฉืึตึฃืฉื ืฉืึธื ึดึ‘ื™ื ื•ึผื‘ึทืฉึผืึธื ึธื”ึ™ ื”ึทืฉึผืึฐื‘ึดื™ืขึดึ”ืช ืชึผึฐืฉืึทืœึผึฐื—ึถึฅื ึผื•ึผ ื—ึธืคึฐืฉืึดึ–ื™ ืžึตึฝืขึดืžึผึธึฝืšึฐ:
If [your brotherโ€ฆ] is sold to you.ย By others [but not one who sells himself because of poverty]. Scripture is speaking here of one whom the court sold [for a theft that he had committed]. But has it not already been stated, โ€œIf you buy a Hebrew servantโ€ (Exod. 21:2) and there, too, Scripture is referring to one whom the court sold (Mechilta)? Nevertheless, [it is repeated here] because of two points which are new here: The first is that it is written [here] โ€œor a Hebrew woman,โ€ that she, too, [like a manservant,] goes free at the end of six [years]. This does not mean a woman whom the court has sold, for a woman is not sold [by the court] on account of a theft, since it is stated [that the thief will be sold] โ€œfor his theftโ€ (Exod. 22:2), not for her theft. Thus, [we are referring here to] a minor whom her father sold [as a handmaid], and it teaches you here that if six years terminate before she shows signs [of puberty], she goes free (Exod. 21:7-11). The second new point here is: โ€œYou shall surely provide him.โ€ ย  ื›ึผึดึฝื™ึพื™ึดืžึผึธื›ึตืจ ืœึฐืšึธ.ย  ืขึทืœ ื™ึฐื“ึตื™ ืึฒื—ึตืจึดื™ื, ื‘ึผึดืžึฐื›ึธืจื•ึผื”ื•ึผ ื‘ึผึตื™ืช ื“ึผึดื™ืŸ ื‘ึผึดื’ึฐื ึตื‘ึธืชื•ึน ื”ึทื›ึผึธืชื•ึผื‘ ืžึฐื“ึทื‘ึผึตืจ; ื•ึทื”ึฒืจึตื™ ื›ึฐื‘ึธืจ ื ึถืึฑืžึทืจ "ื›ึผึดื™ ืชึดืงึฐื ึถื” ืขึถื‘ึถื“ ืขึดื‘ึฐืจึดื™" ื•ึผื‘ึดืžึฐื›ึธืจื•ึผื”ื•ึผ ื‘ึตื™ืช ื“ึผึดื™ืŸ ื”ึทื›ึผึธืชื•ึผื‘ ืžึฐื“ึทื‘ึผึตืจ? ืึถืœึผึธื ืžึดืคึผึฐื ึตื™ ืฉืึฐื ึตื™ ื“ึฐื‘ึธืจึดื™ื ืฉืึถื ึผึดืชึฐื—ึทื“ึผึฐืฉืื•ึผ ื›ึผึธืืŸ, ืึถื—ึธื“ ืฉืึถื›ึผึธืชื•ึผื‘ ืื• ื”ืขื‘ืจื™ื” ืึทืฃ ื”ึดื™ื ืชึตืฆึตื ื‘ึผึฐืฉืึตืฉื. ื•ึฐืœึนื ืฉืึถืžึผึฐื›ึธืจื•ึผื”ึธ ื‘ึตื™ืช ื“ึผึดื™ืŸ, ืฉืึถืึตื™ืŸ ื”ึธืึดืฉืึผึธื” ื ึดืžึฐื›ึผึถืจึถืช ื‘ึผึดื’ึฐื ึตื‘ึธืชึธื”ึผ, ืฉืึถื ึผึถืึฑืžึทืจ "ื‘ึผึดื’ึฐื ึตื‘ึธืชื•ึน" ื•ึฐืœึนื "ื‘ึดื’ึฐื ึตื‘ึธืชึธื”ึผ" โ€“ ืึถืœึผึธื ื‘ึดืงึฐื˜ึทื ึผึธื” ืฉืึถืžึผึฐื›ึธืจึธื”ึผ ืึธื‘ึดื™ื”ึธ, ื•ึฐืœึดืžึผึตื“ ื›ึผึธืืŸ ืฉืึถืึดื ื™ึธืฆึฐืื•ึผ ืฉืึตืฉื ืฉืึธื ึดื™ื ืงึนื“ึถื ืฉืึถืชึผึธื‘ึดื™ื ืกึดื™ืžึธื ึดื™ืŸ ืชึผึตืฆึตื, ื•ึฐืขื•ึนื“ ื—ึดื“ึผึตืฉื ื›ึผึธืืŸ ื”ืขื ื™ืง ืชืขื ื™ืง:
13And when you send him forth free from you, you shall not send him forth empty-handed. ย  ื™ื’ื•ึฐื›ึดึฝื™ึพืชึฐืฉืึทืœึผึฐื—ึถึฅื ึผื•ึผ ื—ึธืคึฐืฉืึดึ–ื™ ืžึตึฝืขึดืžึผึธึ‘ืšึฐ ืœึนึฅื ืชึฐืฉืึทืœึผึฐื—ึถึ–ื ึผื•ึผ ืจึตื™ืงึธึฝื:
14You shall surely provide him from your flock, from your threshing floor, and from your vat, you shall give him from what the Lord, your God, has blessed you ย  ื™ื“ื”ึทึฝืขึฒื ึตึคื™ืง ืชึผึทึฝืขึฒื ึดื™ืงึ™ ืœึ”ื•ึน ืžึดืฆึผึฃึนืื ึฐืšึธึ” ื•ึผืžึดื’ึผึธืจึฐื ึฐืšึธึ– ื•ึผืžึดื™ึผึดืงึฐื‘ึถึ‘ืšึธ ืึฒืฉืึถึงืจ ื‘ึผึตึฝืจึทื›ึฐืšึธึ› ื™ึฐื”ึนื•ึธึฅื” ืึฑืœึนื”ึถึ–ื™ืšึธ ืชึผึดืชึผึถืŸึพืœึฝื•ึน:
You shall surely provide him.ย Heb. ื”ึทืขึฒื ึตื™ืง ืชึผึทืขึฒื ึดื™ืง. [The root ืขื ืง] denotes an ornament worn high [on the upper portion of the body] within view of the eye. [Thus, this verse means that you should give him] something through which it will be recognized that you have benefited him. Others explain [the word ื”ึทืขึฒื ึตื™ืง] as an expression of loading on his neck [meaning that you should load him with gifts]. ย  ื”ึทึฝืขึฒื ึตื™ืง ืชึผึทึฝืขึฒื ึดื™ืง.ย  ืœึฐืฉืื•ึนืŸ ืขึฒื“ึดื™ ื‘ึผึทื’ึผึนื‘ึทื”ึผ ื•ึผื‘ึฐืžึทืจึฐืึดื™ืช ื”ึธืขึทื™ึดืŸ, ื“ึผึธื‘ึธืจ ืฉืึถื™ึผึฐื”ึตื ื ึดื›ึผึธืจ ืฉืึถื”ึฑื˜ึดื™ื‘ื•ึนืชึธ ืœื•ึน; ื•ึฐื™ึตืฉื ืžึฐืคึธืจึฐืฉืึดื™ื ืœึฐืฉืื•ึนืŸ ื”ึทื˜ึฐืขึธื ึธื” ืขึทืœ ืฆึทื•ึผึธืืจื•ึน:
[You shall surely provide him] from your flock, from your threshing floor, and from your vat.ย One might think that I must [give him] only these things [listed in the verse here]. Therefore, Scripture states, โ€œfrom what the Lord, your God, has blessed you,โ€ meaning, from everything with which your Creator has blessed you. Then why are these mentioned? Just as these particular things are within the realm of blessing, so too, you should provide him only with what falls within the realm of blessing. This [therefore] excludes mules, [which are sterile, and are thus not considered within the realm of blessing] (Kid. 17a). In tractate Kiddushin (17a) our Rabbis derived by means of a gezerah shavah how much one must give the servant of each kind. ย  ืžึดืฆึผึนืื ึฐืšึธ ื•ึผืžึดื’ึผึธืจึฐื ึฐืšึธ ื•ึผืžึดื™ึผึดืงึฐื‘ึถืšึธ.ย  ื™ึธื›ื•ึนืœ ืึตื™ืŸ ืœึดื™ ืึถืœึผึธื ืึตืœึผื•ึผ ื‘ึผึดืœึฐื‘ึทื“, ืชึทึผืœึฐืžื•ึผื“ ืœื•ึนืžึธืจ ืืฉืจ ื‘ืจื›ืš โ€“ ืžึดื›ึผึธืœ ืžึทื” ืฉืึผึถื‘ึผึตืจึทื›ึฐืšึธ ื‘ึผื•ึนืจึทืึฒืšึธ. ื•ึฐืœึธืžึผึธื” ื ึถืึถืžึฐืจื•ึผ ืึตืœึผื•ึผ? ืžึธื” ืึตืœึผื•ึผ ืžึฐื™ึปื—ึธื“ึดื™ื ืฉืึถื”ึตื ื‘ึผึดื›ึฐืœึทืœ ื‘ึผึฐืจึธื›ึธื” ืึทืฃ ื›ึผึธืœ ืฉืึถื”ื•ึผื ื‘ึผึดื›ึฐืœึทืœ ื‘ึผึฐืจึธื›ึธื”, ื™ึธืฆึฐืื•ึผ ืคึผึฐืจึธื“ื•ึนืช; ื•ึฐืœึธืžึฐื“ื•ึผ ืจึทื‘ึผื•ึนืชึตื™ื ื•ึผ ื‘ึฐืžึทืกึผึถื›ึถืช ืงึดื“ึผื•ึผืฉืึดื™ืŸ (ื“ืฃ ื™"ื–) ื‘ึผึดื’ึฐื–ึตืจึธื” ืฉืึธื•ึธื” ื›ึผึทืžึผึธื” ื ื•ึนืชึตืŸ ืœื•ึน ืžึดื›ึผึธืœ ืžึดื™ืŸ ื•ึธืžึดื™ืŸ:
15And you shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord, your God, redeemed you; therefore, I am commanding you this thing today. ย  ื˜ื•ื•ึฐื–ึธึฝื›ึทืจึฐืชึผึธึ— ื›ึผึดึฃื™ ืขึถึคื‘ึถื“ ื”ึธื™ึดึจื™ืชึธึ™ ื‘ึผึฐืึถึฃืจึถืฅ ืžึดืฆึฐืจึทึ”ื™ึดื ื•ึทื™ึผึดืคึฐื“ึผึฐืšึธึ– ื™ึฐื”ึนื•ึธึฃื” ืึฑืœึนื”ึถึ‘ื™ืšึธ ืขึทืœึพื›ึผึตึžืŸ ืึธึฝื ึนื›ึดึงื™ ืžึฐืฆึทื•ึผึฐืšึธึ› ืึถืชึพื”ึทื“ึผึธื‘ึธึฅืจ ื”ึทื–ึผึถึ–ื” ื”ึทื™ึผึฝื•ึนื:
And you shall remember that you were a slave [in the land of Egypt].ย And I loaded you up [with booty], and then did so a second time, from the spoil of Egypt and from the spoil at the Sea [of Reeds]; so too should you load him up, and then do so a second time. โ€” [Sifrei] ย  ื•ึฐื–ึธึฝื›ึทืจึฐืชึผึธ ื›ึผึดื™ ืขึถื‘ึถื“ ื”ึธื™ึดื™ืชึธ.ย  ื•ึฐื”ึถืขึฑื ึทืงึฐืชึผึดื™ ื•ึฐืฉืึธื ึดื™ืชึดื™ ืœึฐืšึธ ืžึดื‘ึผึดื–ึผึทืช ืžึดืฆึฐืจึทื™ึดื ื•ึผื‘ึดื–ึผึทืช ื”ึทื™ึผึธื, ืึทืฃ ืึทืชึผึธื” ื”ึทืขึฒื ึตืง ื•ึผืฉืึฐื ึตื” ืœื•ึน (ืกืคืจื™):
16And it will be, if he says to you, "I will not leave you," because he loves you and your household, for it is good for him with you, ย  ื˜ื–ื•ึฐื”ึธื™ึธื”ึ™ ื›ึผึดึฝื™ึพื™ึนืืžึทึฃืจ ืึตืœึถึ”ื™ืšึธ ืœึนึฅื ืึตืฆึตึ–ื ืžึตึฝืขึดืžึผึธึ‘ืšึฐ ื›ึผึดึคื™ ืึฒื”ึตึฝื‘ึฐืšึธึ™ ื•ึฐืึถืชึพื‘ึผึตื™ืชึถึ”ืšึธ ื›ึผึดื™ึพื˜ึฅื•ึนื‘ ืœึ–ื•ึน ืขึดืžึผึธึฝืšึฐ:
17Then you shall take an awl and put it through his ear and into the door, and he shall be a servant to you forever; and also to your maidservant you shall do likewise. ย  ื™ื–ื•ึฐืœึธึฝืงึทื—ึฐืชึผึธึฃ ืึถืชึพื”ึทืžึผึทืจึฐืฆึตึ—ืขึท ื•ึฐื ึธึฝืชึทืชึผึธึคื” ื‘ึฐืึธื–ึฐื ื•ึนึ™ ื•ึผื‘ึทื“ึผึถึ”ืœึถืช ื•ึฐื”ึธื™ึธึฅื” ืœึฐืšึธึ– ืขึถึฃื‘ึถื“ ืขื•ึนืœึธึ‘ื ื•ึฐืึทึฅืฃ ืœึทึฝืึฒืžึธึฝืชึฐืšึธึ– ืชึผึทึฝืขึฒืฉื‚ึถื”ึพื›ึผึตึฝืŸ:
[And he shall be] a servant [to you] forever.ย Heb. ืœึฐืขื•ึนืœึธื. One might think that [ืœึฐืขื•ึนืœึธื, โ€œforeverโ€] is to be interpreted literally. Therefore, Scripture states: โ€œ[And you shall sanctify the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It will be a Jubilee for you;] and you shall return, every man to his property, and you shall return, every man to his familyโ€ (Lev. 25:10). Consequently, you learn that the term ืœึฐืขื•ึนืœึธื here can mean only the period until the Jubilee. [This period is also called ืœึฐืขื•ึนืœึธื.]- [Mechilta 21:6] ย  ืขึถื‘ึถื“ ืขื•ึนืœึธื.ย  ื™ึธื›ื•ึนืœ ื›ึผึฐืžึทืฉืึฐืžึธืขื•ึน, ืชึทึผืœึฐืžื•ึผื“ ืœื•ึนืžึธืจ "ื•ึฐืฉืึทื‘ึฐืชึผึถื ืึดื™ืฉื ืึถืœ ืึฒื—ึปื–ึผึธืชื•ึน ื•ึฐืึดื™ืฉื ืึถืœ ืžึดืฉืึฐืคึผึทื—ึฐืชึผื•ึน ืชึผึธืฉืึปื‘ื•ึผ" (ื•ื™ืงืจื ื›"ื”), ื”ึธื ืœึธืžึทื“ึฐืชึผึธ ืฉืึถืึตื™ืŸ ื–ึถื” ืึถืœึผึธื ืขื•ึนืœึธืžื•ึน ืฉืึถืœ ื™ื•ึนื‘ึตืœ (ืžื›ื™ืœืชื ืฉืžื•ืช ื›"ื):
and also to your maidservant you will do likewise.ย to provide her. One might think that Scripture includes her concerning the piercing [of the ear] as well. Therefore, it states, โ€œAnd if the manservant (ื”ึธืขึถื‘ึถื“) will clearly say, [I love my masterโ€ฆthenโ€ฆhis master shall bore his ear with an awl]โ€ (Exod. 21:5-6); [i.e.,] a manservant (ืขึถื‘ึถื“) must have his ear pierced, but not a maidservant. โ€” [Sifrei] ย  ื•ึฐืึทืฃ ืœึทึฝืึฒืžึธึฝืชึฐืšึธ ืชึผึทึฝืขึฒืฉื‚ึถื”ึพื›ึผึตึฝืŸ.ย  ื”ึทืขึฒื ึตืง ืœึธื”ึผ; ื™ึธื›ื•ึนืœ ืึทืฃ ืœึดืจึฐืฆึดื™ืขึธื” ื”ึดืฉืึฐื•ึธื” ื”ึทื›ึผึธืชื•ึผื‘ ืื•ึนืชึธื”ึผ, ืชึทึผืœึฐืžื•ึผื“ ืœื•ึนืžึธืจ (ืฉืžื•ืช ื›"ื) "ื•ึฐืึดื ืึธืžึนืจ ื™ึนืืžึทืจ ื”ึธืขึถื‘ึถื“" โ€“ ืขึถื‘ึถื“ ื ึดืจึฐืฆึธืข ื•ึฐืึตื™ืŸ ืึธืžึธื” ื ึดืจึฐืฆึทืขึทืช (ืกืคืจื™):
18You shall not be troubled when you send him free from you, for twice as much as a hired servant, he has served you six years, and the Lord, your God, will bless you in all that you shall do. ย  ื™ื—ืœึนึฝืึพื™ึดืงึฐืฉืึถึฃื” ื‘ึฐืขึตื™ื ึถึ—ืšึธ ื‘ึผึฐืฉืึทืœึผึตึฝื—ึฒืšึธึ™ ืึนืชึคื•ึน ื—ึธืคึฐืฉืึดื™ึ™ ืžึตึฝืขึดืžึผึธึ”ืšึฐ ื›ึผึดึ—ื™ ืžึดืฉืึฐื ึถื”ึ™ ืฉื‚ึฐื›ึทึฃืจ ืฉื‚ึธื›ึดึ”ื™ืจ ืขึฒื‘ึธึฝื“ึฐืšึธึ– ืฉืึตึฃืฉื ืฉืึธื ึดึ‘ื™ื ื•ึผื‘ึตึฝืจึทื›ึฐืšึธึ™ ื™ึฐื”ึนื•ึธึฃื” ืึฑืœึนื”ึถึ”ื™ืšึธ ื‘ึผึฐื›ึ–ึนืœ ืึฒืฉืึถึฅืจ ืชึผึทึฝืขึฒืฉื‚ึถึฝื”:
for twice as much as a hired servant.ย From here our Rabbis said: A Hebrew slave serves both by day and by night, and that is double the amount of labor of a man hired only for day work. And what is his service during the night? That his master gives him a Canaanite maidservant [as a wife], and the [resultant] children [belong] to the master. โ€” [Sifrei , Kid. 15a] ย  ื›ึผึดื™ ืžึดืฉืึฐื ึถื” ืฉื‚ึฐื›ึทืจ ืฉื‚ึธื›ึดื™ืจ.ย  ืžึดื›ึผึธืืŸ ืึธืžึฐืจื•ึผ ืขึถื‘ึถื“ ืขึดื‘ึฐืจึดื™ ืขื•ึนื‘ึตื“ ื‘ึผึตื™ืŸ ื‘ึผึทื™ึผื•ึนื ื•ึผื‘ึตื™ืŸ ื‘ึผึทืœึผึทื™ึฐืœึธื”, ื•ึฐื–ึถื”ื•ึผ ื›ึดืคึฐืœึทื™ึดื ืฉืึถื‘ึผึทืขึฒื‘ื•ึนื“ึทืช ืฉื‚ึฐื›ึดื™ืจึตื™ ื™ื•ึนื. ื•ึผืžึทื”ื•ึผ ืขึฒื‘ื•ึนื“ึธืชื•ึน ื‘ึทืœึผึทื™ึฐืœึธื”? ืจึทื‘ึผื•ึน ืžื•ึนืกึตืจ ืœื•ึน ืฉืึดืคึฐื—ึธื” ื›ึฐื ึทืขึฒื ึดื™ืช ื•ึฐื”ึทื•ึผึฐืœึธื“ื•ึนืช ืœึธืึธื“ื•ึนืŸ (ืกืคืจื™):
19Every firstborn male that is born of your cattle or of your flock you shall sanctify to the Lord, your God. You shall neither work with the firstborn of your ox, nor shear the firstborn of your flock. ย  ื™ื˜ื›ึผึธืœึพื”ึทื‘ึผึฐื›ึกื•ึนืจ ืึฒืฉืึถืจึฉ ื™ึดื•ึผึธืœึตึจื“ ื‘ึผึดื‘ึฐืงึธึฝืจึฐืšึธึค ื•ึผื‘ึฐืฆึฝึนืื ึฐืšึธึ™ ื”ึทื–ึผึธื›ึธึ”ืจ ืชึผึทืงึฐื“ึผึดึ–ื™ืฉื ืœึทึฝื™ื”ึนื•ึธึฃื” ืึฑืœึนื”ึถึ‘ื™ืšึธ ืœึนึคื ืชึทึฝืขึฒื‘ึนื“ึ™ ื‘ึผึดื‘ึฐื›ึฃึนืจ ืฉืื•ึนืจึถึ”ืšึธ ื•ึฐืœึนึฅื ืชึธื’ึ–ึนื– ื‘ึผึฐื›ึฅื•ึนืจ ืฆึนืื ึถึฝืšึธ:
Every firstborn maleโ€ฆ you shall sanctify [to the Lord].ย But elsewhere (Lev. 27:26) it says, โ€œ[But the firstborn which will be a firstborn for the Lord of the livestock,] no man shall sanctify it.โ€ How is this [reconciled]? [The verse in Leviticus means that] one may not sanctify [the firstborn] to be another sacrifice [but only as a firstborn sacrifice]. And our verse here teaches us that it is a duty to proclaim [over the firstborn animal], โ€œYou are hereby sanctified as a firstborn.โ€ Another explanation: It is impossible to say โ€œsanctify [this firstborn animal],โ€ because [Scripture] already says, โ€œno man shall sanctify itโ€ (Lev. 27:26). And yet it is impossible to say that we shall not sanctify it, for [here] it already says, โ€œyou shall sanctify.โ€ So how [can these two verses be reconciled]? [The answer is that we are dealing with an indirect sanctification, namely:] One may sanctify the value of the privilege [i.e., the owner of the firstborn animal has the privilege of choosing to which kohen he will give it. This privilege has a market value, namely how much an Israelite will pay so that the owner of the firstborn will give it to his grandson who is a kohen . The verse, therefore, means:] one may dedicate the value of this privilege according to its benefit and give it to the Temple [treasury]. โ€” [Ar . 29a] ย  ื›ึผึธืœึพื”ึทื‘ึผึฐื›ื•ึนืจ ืชึผึทืงึฐื“ึผึดื™ืฉื.ย  ื•ึผื‘ึฐืžึธืงื•ึนื ืึทื—ึตืจ (ื•ื™ืงืจื ื›"ื–) ื”ื•ึผื ืื•ึนืžึตืจ "ืœึนื ื™ึทืงึฐื“ึผึดื™ืฉื ืึดื™ืฉื ืึนืชื•ึน", ื”ึธื ื›ึตื™ืฆึทื“? ืึตื™ื ื•ึน ืžึทืงึฐื“ึผึดื™ืฉืื•ึน ืœึฐืงึธืจึฐื‘ึผึธืŸ ืึทื—ึตืจ; ื•ึฐื›ึธืืŸ ืœึดืžึผึตื“ ืฉืึถืžึผึดืฆึฐื•ึธื” ืœื•ึนืžึทืจ ื”ึฒืจึตื™ ืึทืชึผึธื” ืงึธื“ื•ึนืฉื ืœึดื‘ึฐื›ื•ึนืจึธื”. ื“ึผึธื‘ึธืจ ืึทื—ึตืจ โ€” ืึดื™ ืึถืคึฐืฉืึธืจ ืœื•ึนืžึทืจ "ืชึผึทืงึฐื“ึผึดื™ืฉื", ืฉืึถื›ึผึฐื‘ึธืจ ื ึถืึฑืžึทืจ "ืœึนื ื™ึทืงึฐื“ึผึดื™ืฉื", ื•ึฐืึดื™ ืึถืคึฐืฉืึธืจ ืœื•ึนืžึทืจ "ืœึนื ื™ึทืงึฐื“ึผึดื™ืฉื", ืฉืึถื”ึฒืจึตื™ ื›ึฐื‘ึธืจ ื ึถืึฑืžึทืจ "ืชึผึทืงึฐื“ึผึดื™ืฉื", ื”ึธื ื›ึตื™ืฆึทื“? ืžึทืงึฐื“ึผึดื™ืฉืื•ึน ืึทืชึผึธื” ื”ึถืงึฐื“ึผึตืฉื ืขึดืœึผื•ึผื™ ื•ึฐื ื•ึนืชึตืŸ ืœึทื”ึถืงึฐื“ึผึตืฉื ื›ึผึฐืคึดื™ ื˜ื•ึนื‘ึทืช ื”ึฒื ึธืึธื” ืฉืึถื‘ึผื•ึน (ืขืจื›ื™ืŸ ื›"ื˜):
You shall neither work with the firstborn of your ox, nor shear [the firstborn of your flock].ย The Rabbis derived that also the converse [i.e., shearing your ox and working the flock] is prohibited. Scripture is merely speaking [here] of the usual manner [in which these animals are used]. โ€” [Bech. 25a] ย  ืœึนื ืชึทึฝืขึฒื‘ึนื“ ื‘ื‘ื›ื•ืจ ืฉืื•ึนืจึถืšึธ ื•ึฐืœึนื ืชึธื’ึนื– ื•ื’ื•'.ย  ืึทืฃ ื”ึทื—ึดืœึผื•ึผืฃ ืœึธืžึฐื“ื•ึผ ืจึทื‘ึผื•ึนืชึตื™ื ื•ึผ ืฉืึถืึธืกื•ึผืจ, ืึถืœึผึธื ืฉืึถื“ึผึดื‘ึผึตืจ ื”ึทื›ึผึธืชื•ึผื‘ ื‘ึผึทื”ื•ึนื•ึถื” (ื‘ื›ื•ืจื•ืช ื›"ื”):
20You shall eat it before the Lord, your God, year by year, in the place the Lord chooses-you and your household. ย  ื›ืœึดืคึฐื ึตื™ึฉ ื™ึฐื”ึนื•ึธึจื” ืึฑืœึนื”ึถึคื™ืšึธ ืชึฝึนืื›ึฐืœึถึจื ึผื•ึผึ™ ืฉืึธื ึธึฃื” ื‘ึฐืฉืึธื ึธึ”ื” ื‘ึผึทืžึผึธืงึ–ื•ึนื ืึฒืฉืึถืจึพื™ึดื‘ึฐื—ึทึฃืจ ื™ึฐื”ึนื•ึธึ‘ื” ืึทืชึผึธึ–ื” ื•ึผื‘ึตื™ืชึถึฝืšึธ:
You shall eat it before the Lord, your God.ย [Scripture] is addressing the kohen, for we have already found [a statement to the effect] that it [the firstborn] is part of the dues given to kohanim, whether the animal is unblemished or whether it is blemished. For it is stated, โ€œand their flesh [i.e., of the firstborn animals] shall be yours [i.e., the kohen 's]โ€ (Num. 18:18). - [Bech. 28a] [In both cases, the kohen is entitled to eat the entire animal. The difference between the blemished and the unblemished animals is that the blemished animal is slaughtered outside the Temple, and its flesh may be eaten anywhere by anyone invited by the kohen. The unblemished animal, however, must be slaughtered in the Temple courtyard, its blood dashed on the altar, and its fat burned on the altar. The flesh must be eaten by the kohen and his household within the time allotted for eating it.] ย  ืœึดืคึฐื ึตื™ ื”' ืึฑืœึนื”ึถื™ืšึธ ืชึฝึนืื›ึฐืœึถื ึผื•ึผ.ย  ืœึทื›ึผึนื”ึตืŸ ื”ื•ึผื ืื•ึนืžึตืจ, ืฉืึถื›ึผึฐื‘ึธืจ ืžึธืฆึดื™ื ื•ึผ ืฉืึถื”ื•ึผื ืžึดืžึผึทืชึผึฐื ื•ึนืช ื›ึผึฐื”ึปื ึผึธื” ืึถื—ึธื“ ืชึผึธื ื•ึฐืึถื—ึธื“ ื‘ึผึทืขึทืœ ืžื•ึผื, ืฉืึถื ึผึถืึฑืžึทืจ (ื‘ืžื“ื‘ืจ ื™"ื—) ื•ึผื‘ึฐืฉื‚ึธืจึธื ื™ึดื”ึฐื™ึถื” ืœึผึธืšึฐ ื•ึฐื’ื•ึน' (ื‘ื›' ื›"ื—):
[You shall eat it before the Lordโ€ฆ] year by year.ย From here we derive the law that one should not delay it [i.e., from sacrificing it] beyond its first year (Bech. 28a). [If so, however,] one might think that it becomes unfit [as a sacrifice] when the first year has elapsed. [Therefore, the Torah tells us that] it [the firstborn animal] has already been compared to maโ€™aser [sheini], as it is said, โ€œAnd you shall eat before the Lord, your Godโ€ฆ the tithes of your grain, your wine, and your oil, and the firstborn of your cattle and of your sheepโ€ (Deut. 14:23). Just as maโ€™aser sheini does not become unfit [when it is left over] from one year to the next, neither does the firstborn animal become unfit. However, [this verse means] that the proper way to fulfill this commandment [of the firstborn animal] is during its first year. ย  ืฉืึธื ึธื” ื‘ึฐืฉืึธื ึธื”.ย  ืžึดื›ึผึธืืŸ ืฉืึถืึตื™ืŸ ืžึทืฉืึฐื”ึดื™ืŸ ืื•ึนืชื•ึน ื™ื•ึนืชึตืจ ืขึทืœ ืฉืึฐื ึธืชื•ึน; ื™ึธื›ื•ึนืœ ื™ึฐื”ึตื ืคึผึธืกื•ึผืœ ืžึดืฉืึผึถืขึธื‘ึฐืจึธื” ืฉืึฐื ึธืชื•ึน, ื›ึผึฐื‘ึธืจ ื”ึปืงึผึทืฉื ืœึฐืžึทืขึฒืฉื‚ึตืจ, ืฉืึถื ึผึถืึฑืžึทืจ (ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ื™"ื“) ื•ึฐืึธื›ึทืœึฐืชึผึธ ืœึดืคึฐื ึตื™ ื”' ืึฑืœึนื”ึถื™ืšึธ ืžึทืขึฐืฉื‚ึทืจ ื“ึผึฐื’ึธื ึฐืšึธ ืชึผึดื™ืจึนืฉืึฐืšึธ ื•ึฐื™ึดืฆึฐื”ึธืจึถืšึธ ื•ึผื‘ึฐื›ึนืจึนืช ื‘ึผึฐืงึธืจึฐืšึธ ื•ึฐืฆึนืื ึถืšึธ, ืžึทื” ืžึผึทืขึฒืฉื‚ึตืจ ืฉืึตื ึดื™ ืึตื™ื ื•ึน ื ึดืคึฐืกึธืœ ืžึดืฉืึผึธื ึธื” ืœึทื—ึฒื‘ึถืจึฐืชึผึธื”ึผ ืึทืฃ ื‘ึผึฐื›ื•ึนืจ ืึตื™ื ื•ึน ื ึดืคึฐืกึธืœ, ืึถืœึผึธื ืฉืึถืžึผึดืฆึฐื•ึธื” ืชึผื•ึนืšึฐ ืฉืึฐื ึธืชื•ึน (ื‘ื›' ื›"ื–):
year by year.ย If one slaughtered it at the end of its first year [on the last day], he may eat it on that day and one day of the next year. This teaches [us] that it [a firstborn animal] may be eaten for two days and one [intervening] night. โ€” [Bech. 27b] ย  ืฉืึธื ึธื” ื‘ึฐืฉืึธื ึธื”.ย  ืึดื ืฉืึฐื—ึธื˜ื•ึน ื‘ึผึฐืกื•ึนืฃ ืฉืึฐื ึธืชื•ึน ืื•ึนื›ึฐืœื•ึน ืื•ึนืชื•ึน ื”ึทื™ึผื•ึนื ื•ึฐื™ื•ึนื ืึถื—ึธื“ ืžึดืฉืึผึธื ึธื” ืึทื—ึถืจึถืช, ืœึดืžึผึตื“ ืฉืึถื ึผึถืึฑื›ึธืœ ืœึดืฉืึฐื ึตื™ ื™ึธืžึดื™ื ื•ึฐืœึทื™ึฐืœึธื” ืึถื—ึธื“ (ืฉื):
21And if there be any blemish in it, whether it be lame, or blind, or any ill blemish, you shall not sacrifice it to the Lord, your God. ย  ื›ืื•ึฐื›ึดื™ึพื™ึดึฝื”ึฐื™ึถึจื” ื‘ึœื•ึน ืžึ—ื•ึผื ืคึผึดืกึผึตึจื—ึทึ™ ืึฃื•ึน ืขึดื•ึผึตึ”ืจ ื›ึผึ–ึนืœ ืžึฃื•ึผื ืจึธึ‘ืข ืœึนึฃื ืชึดื–ึฐื‘ึผึธื—ึถึ”ื ึผื•ึผ ืœึทึฝื™ื”ึนื•ึธึ–ื” ืึฑืœึนื”ึถึฝื™ืšึธ:
[And if there be any] blemish [in it].ย [This is] a ื›ึผึฐืœึธืœ, a general statement [not limiting itself to anything in particular]. ย  ืžื•ึผื.ย  ื›ึผึฐืœึธืœ:
lame, or blind.ย [This is] a ืคึผึฐืจึธื˜, particular things, [limiting the matter to these things]. ย  ืคึผึดืกึผึตื—ึท ืื•ึน ืขึดื•ึผึตืจ.ย  ืคึผึฐืจึธื˜:
any ill blemish.ย [Once again the verse] reverts to ื›ึผึฐืœึธืœ, a general statement. [Now we have learned that when a verse expresses a ื›ึผึฐืœึธืœ, then a ืคึผึฐืจึธื˜, and then a ื›ึผึฐืœึธืœ again, just as in this case, we apply the characteristics of the ืคึผึฐืจึธื˜ to the whole matter.] Just as the blemishes detailed [lame or blind] are externally visible blemishes that do not heal, so too, any externally visible blemish that does not heal [renders a firstborn animal unfit for sacrifice and may be eaten as ordinary flesh]. โ€” [Bech. 37a] ย  ื›ึผึนืœ ืžื•ึผื ืจึธืข.ย  ื—ึธื–ึทืจ ื•ึฐื›ึธืœึทืœ โ€” ืžึทื” ื”ึทืคึผึฐืจึธื˜ ืžึฐืคึนืจึธืฉื ืžื•ึผื ื”ึทื’ึผึธืœื•ึผื™ ื•ึฐืึตื™ื ื•ึน ื—ื•ึนื–ึตืจ, ืึทืฃ ื›ึผึธืœ ืžื•ึผื ืฉืึถื‘ึผึทื’ึผึธืœื•ึผื™ ื•ึฐืึตื™ื ื•ึน ื—ื•ึนื–ึตืจ (ืฉื ืœ"ื–):
22You shall eat it within your cities, the unclean and the clean together, as the deer, and as the gazelle. ย  ื›ื‘ื‘ึผึดืฉืึฐืขึธืจึถึ–ื™ืšึธ ืชึผึฝึนืื›ึฐืœึถึ‘ื ึผื•ึผ ื”ึทื˜ึผึธืžึตึคื ื•ึฐื”ึทื˜ึผึธื”ื•ึนืจึ™ ื™ึทื—ึฐื“ึผึธึ”ื• ื›ึผึทืฆึผึฐื‘ึดึ–ื™ ื•ึฐื›ึธึฝืึทื™ึผึธึฝืœ:
23However, you shall not eat its blood; you shall pour it on the ground, as water. ย  ื›ื’ืจึทึฅืง ืึถืชึพื“ึผึธืžึ–ื•ึน ืœึนึฃื ืชึนืื›ึตึ‘ืœ ืขึทืœึพื”ึธืึธึฅืจึถืฅ ืชึผึดืฉืึฐืคึผึฐื›ึถึ–ื ึผื•ึผ ื›ึผึทืžึผึธึฝื™ึดื:
However, you shall not eat its blood.ย [Although eating the blood of any animal is prohibited, this prohibition is mentioned here] so that you should not say: โ€œSince this [blemished firstborn animal] is entirely permitted [to be eaten now after its blemish, even though] it started out from a forbidden status, since it was sanctified, [and now it is permitted] for it is slaughtered outside [the Temple] without having to be redeemed, and [it may be] eaten. I might [therefore] think that its blood is permitted as well!โ€ Therefore, Scripture states, โ€œHowever, you shall not eat its blood.โ€ ย  ืจึทืง ืึถืชึพื“ึผึธืžื•ึน ืœึนื ืชึนืื›ึตืœ.ย  ืฉืึถืœึผึนื ืชึนืืžึทืจ ื”ื•ึนืึดื™ืœ ื•ึฐื›ึปืœึผื•ึน ื”ึถืชึผึตืจ ื”ึทื‘ึผึธื ืžึดื›ึผึฐืœึทืœ ืึดืกึผื•ึผืจ ื”ื•ึผื, ืฉืึถื”ึฒืจึตื™ ืงึธื“ื•ึนืฉื ื•ึฐื ึดืฉืึฐื—ึธื˜ ื‘ึผึทื—ื•ึผืฅ ื‘ึผึฐืœึนื ืคึดื“ึฐื™ื•ึนืŸ ื•ึฐื ึถืึฑื›ึธืœ, ื™ึธื›ื•ึนืœ ื™ึฐื”ึตื ืึทืฃ ื”ึทื“ึผึธื ืžึปืชึผึธืจ, ืชึผึทืœึฐืžื•ึผื“ ืœื•ึนืžึทืจ ืจืง ืืช ื“ืžื• ืœื ืชืื›ืœ: