Pisqa’ 89¹⁷¹

1. “Do not yield to him” (Dt. 13:9). Inferring from what is said: “And you must love your kinsman as yourself” (Lv. 19:18), is it possible to claim that you should also love this one? The Teaching states: “Do not yield to him” (Dt. 13:9)— [do not love him, either].

footnotes: ¹⁷¹ H:139-140; JN1:241-242.

“And do not listen to him” (Dt. 13:9)— inferring from what is stated about helping an enemy: “You must readily cooperate with him” (Ex. 23:5), is it possible to claim that you should also cooperate with this one? The Teaching states: “Do not listen to him” (Dt. 13:9)— [do not love him, either].

2. “And show him no pity” (Dt. 13:9)— inferring from what is stated: “Do not ignore the shed blood of your kinsman” (Dt. 13:9), is it possible to claim that you may not even ignore the shed blood of this one? The Teaching states: “Show him no pity” (Dt. 13:9) [and certainly no love].

“And offer him no compassion” (Dt. 13:9)— this means, do not defend his innocence.

“And do not cover up for him” (Dt. 13:9)— thus, if you know how to incriminate him, you have no right to be silent.

How do we know that if he leaves the court with a verdict of guilt, they no longer seek exculpatory evidence?

“Rather, you must surely execute him” (Dt. 13:10).

If he leaves the court with a verdict of innocence, how do we know that they may continue to seek incriminating evidence?

“You must surely execute him” (Dt. 13:10)— **[even if the evidence turns up long after the verdict].**¹⁷² 20.

footnotes: ¹⁷² //Mechilta Ishmael kaspa,

3. “Let your hand be the first to strike him” (Dt. 13:10)— this means, it is proper for the hand of the enticed victim to kill him. How do we know that if he does not die at the hand of the victim, he must die at the hand of anyone else? The Teaching states: “And, finally, the hand of the entire people” (Dt. 13:10).