Pisqa’ 94¹⁹⁰

1. “Then you must utterly strike down with the sword’s blade” (Dt. 13:16). On what basis do we know that if you are unable to execute [the inciter] with the method stipulated for his crime [i.e., beheading], then you must execute him with any of the other methods, [e.g., strangulation, burning, or stoning,] whether the methods are for **lesser or greater crimes?**¹⁹¹ The Teaching states: “Then you must utterly strike down” (Dt. 13:16). On what basis do we know that if he’s escaped your hand [with his life], he has not escaped my hand? The Teaching states: “Then you must utterly strike down” (Dt. 13:16)— [anyone can take his life].

footnotes: ¹⁹⁰ H:142-143; JN1:248-249. ¹⁹¹ //T.San.12:6.

2. “The residents of that city” (Dt. 13:16).

On this basis they taught: we do not permit the children to survive¹⁹² Abba Hanan says: “The fathers shall not die because of the children nor children be put to death because of their fathers” (Dt. 24:16)— Scripture here speaks about the condemned city.¹⁹³ “Then you must utterly strike down the residents of that city” (Dt. 13:16)— but not the residents of another city. On this basis they taught: a mule train or a camel caravan that migrates from place to place, **indeed, they spare the city.**¹⁹⁴ “With the sword’s blade” (Dt. 13:16)— this means, use the flat part of the blade so as not to disfigure their corpses.¹⁹⁵

footnotes: ¹⁹² Cf. T.San.14:3. ¹⁹³ This passage is missing in most mss (F:155, n..4), but summarizes the counter-opinion of R. Akiva at T. San.14:3. ¹⁹⁴ =M. San.10:5 ¹⁹⁵ Cf. T. San.14:6.

“Lay waste to it” (Dt. 13:16)— with the exception of the property of the Righteous which is beyond it.

“And everything that is in it” (Dt. 13:16)— including the property of the Righteous which is within it. On this basis they taught: The property of the Righteous which is within it is lost, but what is beyond it is rescued. As for the property of the Wicked, whether within it or beyond it, **it is lost.**¹⁹⁶

footnotes: ¹⁹⁶ =M.San.10:5.

“As well as its cattle” (Dt. 13:16)— but not cattle that has been consecrated.¹⁹⁷

footnotes: ¹⁹⁷ //T. San.14:5. Any animals designated for sacrifice may be spared.