Pisqa’ 230¹²⁸

1. “You may not sow your vineyard with incompatible species lest you prohibit¹²⁹ In this context, the root q-d-sh has the sense of “taboo” and refers to produce the use of which is forbidden until it is deconsecrated. the whole” (Dt. 22:9). Do I need to know this?

“Your field you may not sow with incompatible species” (Lv. 19:19)? [The redundancy] teaches that whoever maintains a vineyard with incompatible species

[One concerning a vineyard (Dt. 22:9) **and one concerning a field (Lv. 19:19)].**¹³⁰ per. 4:16

footnotes: ¹²⁸ H:240-241; JN2:142-143. ¹²⁹ Heb: tiqdash. ¹³⁰ Cf. Sifra, qedoshim,

2. Now, I might infer only that this rule applies when the entire vineyard is sown with incompatible species! But, how do I know that [the prohibition applies to] even a single fruit-bearing vine [sown, say, in a wheat field]?

“A vineyard” (Dt. 22:9)— **[containing] any number [of vines].**¹³¹

footnotes: ¹³¹ Cf. M. Kil. 4:6.

How, furthermore, do I know that grapes of a vineyard sown with incompatible species are prohibited for benefit? The term, prohibited, appears here (Dt. 22:9), and the term, prohibited, appears elsewhere (Lv. 5:15). Just as [the grapes] prohibited elsewhere are forbidden for benefit, do, too, [the grapes] prohibited here are [prohibited] for benefit.

3. “Lest you prohibit the whole of the seed you have sown” (Dt. 22:9). At what point [in its growth] is the whole of the seed prohibited? When it strikes root. [This criterion holds for grain or greens,] but as for grapes— **when they are the size of white beans.**¹³²

footnotes: ¹³² = M. Kil.7:7.

“Of the seed” (Dt. 22:9)— excluding from the rule seed [sown inadvertently] in manure or by watering the field. If one was sowing seed [in one field], and it was blown down-wind [to another]— [what is the application of the rule]? ¹³³ Is it possible for me to exempt from the rule the case of one who was sowing seed, and it was blown down-wind? The Teaching states: “Of the seed you have sown” (Dt. 22:9)— [The rule is limited to fields intentionally sown in violation of the rule].

footnotes: ¹³³ Cf. M. Kil. 5:7.

As for one who maintains thorns in a vineyard—

He has placed it under prohibition,

“Of the seed you have sown” (Dt. 22:9)— [and maintaining the thorns is like sowing them].

“Of the seed you have sown” (Dt. 22:9)— this excludes the case of one who maintains thorns in a vineyard [since the thorns are neither seed nor are they sown]. ¹³⁴

footnotes: ¹³⁴ // M. Kil. 5:8.

4. “Lest you prohibit the whole of the seed you have sown, and the yield” (Dt. 22:9). At what point in its growth is the yield prohibited? When it strikes root. [This holds for grain and greens,] But as for grapes— When they are the size of white beans.¹³⁵ 230.3.

footnotes: ¹³⁵ = M. Kil. 7:7 and Pisqa’

I might infer that the rule only applies to a vineyard that is actually productive. How do I know that it may also apply to a vineyard that is barren? The Teaching states: “A vineyard” (Dt. 22:9)— of any sort. I might infer that the rule only applies to your own [Israelite] field. How do I know that it may also apply to fields owned by [gentile] others? The Teaching states: “You may not sow . . . with incompatible species’ (Dt. 22:9)— in any [field, owned by anyone].

One who extends the tendril of a grape vine over seed of an incompatible species— even [if the extension covers] a distance of a hundred cubits— the vine and its fruit are prohibited under the rule.¹³⁶

footnotes: ¹³⁶ =T. Kil. 4:10.

5. “You may not plow with an ox and an ass as one” (Dt. 22:10)— is it possible to say that you can’t plow with this one on its own, and then with that one on its own? The Teaching states: “As one” (Dt. 22:10)— however, plowing with this one on its own, and then with that one on its own is permitted.

Another word: “Incompatible species” (Dt. 22:9)— [species implies a minimum of two]. This places a vineyard under the rule as well as a field [of wheat or greens].

Another word: “Lest you prohibit the whole of the seed you have sown” (Dt. 22:9)— lest you impose a prohibition upon all of it: As was explained by R. Josiah.

6. “Of the seed you have sown” (Dt. 22:9)— I might assume that the rule only applies to seed sown by him. How do I know that the rule applies as well where his companion has done the sowing, but the owner of the field desires to maintain it? The Teaching states: “You have sown” (Dt. 22:9)— by anyone, [acceptable to both parties].¹³⁷

footnotes: ¹³⁷ The text at 230.5-6 is missing from several early copies. See F:263, n.11.