Pisqa’ 206³⁵⁶

1. “After the city closest to the murder victim has been determined” (Dt. 21:3). This refers to the nearest among the near. On this basis they taught: If the murder victim is found exactly between two cities, each of them brings two calves [one for itself and one for its neighbor].

One city brings one calf, and two cities do not bring two calves.³⁵⁷ But residents of Jerusalem are under no obligation to bring a Beheaded-calf for the rite **[because Jerusalem falls within no tribal inheritance].**³⁵⁸

footnotes: ³⁵⁶ H:221; JN2:101-102. ³⁵⁷ =T, Neg.1:13 ³⁵⁸ =M. Sotah 9:2.

2. “Then, the elders of that city shall purchase” (Dt. 21:3)— but not the elders of Jerusalem. “A calf of the herd” (Dt. 21:3).

A calf qualifies [for the rite] in its first year, While a heifer qualifies [for the rite of the Red Heifer³⁵⁹**] in its second.**

A calf qualifies in its second year, While a heifer qualifies in its third or fourth.³⁶⁰. Another word: “A calf of the herd” (Dt. 21:3)— one that has two distinguishing traits. And what might these be? It must be two years old, And it must be a calf³⁶¹ “heifer.” of the herd.

footnotes: ³⁵⁹ See Nu. 19:1ff. ³⁶⁰ =M. Par.1:1; cf. T, Par.1:1, Sifre Nu, 123, s.v., r ‘eli`ezer ‘omer ³⁶¹ So F:242. Pardo emends to parah,

Another word: Rinsing the hands is the task of elders (Dt. 21:6), **while the absolution is the task of Priests (Dt. 21:5-7)**³⁶²

footnotes: ³⁶² These two paragraphs are identified by F:242, n.3 as extraneous to Sifre’s “core”. Cf. M.Sotah 9:6.

“Which had never been worked” (Dt. 21:3)— Can this mean any work at all? How do I know that this refers to bearing a yoke?

**“Which has never carried a yoke”**³⁶³ (Dt. 21:3)

footnotes: ³⁶³ Cf. T.Par.3:4.