Pisqa’ 237¹⁷⁴

1. “Then they spread out her night-dress” (Dt. 22:17)— that is, let the evidence be as clear as [a blood-stain on] a night-dress! This is one of the instances in which R. Ishmael would interpret the Torah metaphorically. ¹⁷⁵ often, “parable” or “analogy.” //Mechilta Ishmael, neziqin, 6.

“If the sun rises upon him, he is responsible for the blood” (Ex. 22:2)— now, is the sneak-thief the only one upon whom the sun rises?

“If the sun rises upon him?” Just as the sun’s light augurs peace for the world [by illuminating darkness], so, too, had this guy known that the intruder meant to be peaceful, but [went and] killed him anyway— **he is indeed liable for the death.**¹⁷⁶

“If he shall get up and walk about in the street upon his staff” (Ex. 21:19)— staff in this case represents the patient’s restored well-being.

“Then they spread out her night-dress” (Dt. 22:17)— that is, let the evidence be as clear **as [a blood-stain on] a night-dress!**¹⁷⁷ 6.

footnotes: ¹⁷⁴ H:245-246;JN2:155. ¹⁷⁵ Heb: mashal; ¹⁷⁶ Cf. T. San. 11:9. ¹⁷⁷ // Mechilta Ishmael, neziqin,

2. R. Akiva says: And, similarly, Scripture says: “Then they spread out her night-dress before the elders of the city” (Dt. 22:17)— that is, if the husband’s witnesses are found to be in collusion against her [the stained night dress is acceptable evidence to restore her reputation].¹⁷⁸ “Then they spread out her night-dress before the elders of the city” (Dt. 22:17)— that is, let the witnesses for each party present their cases before the elders of the city.

footnotes: ¹⁷⁸ The textual evidence for this material is unreliable. See F:269, n.9.

R. Eliezer b. Jacob says: Let matters stand as they are written [without benefit of metaphorical exegesis]!