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Kesubos 37b

כתובות ל״ז ע״ב

Ketubot 37b

Learn Kesubos 37b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Why the תורה needs each פסוק about punishing killers: no double punishment, no ransom, the עגלה ערופה, death by סייף, and 'כל חרם'.

Overview

This amud first finishes showing that a person who gets מיתה gets no second punishment. One פסוק covers death with money, and another covers death with lashes, and a צריכא shows that each is needed. Then the גמרא goes through a series of פסוקים about killers and asks of each one, 'why do I need it?' The two 'לא תקחו כופר' פסוקים teach that money cannot replace death for a מזיד or replace גלות for a שוגג. 'ולארץ לא יכופר' teaches that the עגלה ערופה does not free a killer who is found later. 'ואתה תבער הדם הנקי' compares killers to the calf, so סייף is done at the neck, but not with a cleaver, because of 'ואהבת לרעך כמוך', which means choosing a kind death. 'כל חרם' teaches either that a ערכין vow on a condemned man means nothing, or, for רבי חנניא בן עקביא, that a בית דין death penalty can never be bought off with money. The amud ends as רמי בר חמא begins to explain why 'כל חרם' is needed beside 'לא תקחו כופר'. His answer continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

וַחֲדָא בְּמִיתָה וּמַלְקוֹת.

And one is about death and lashes.

וּצְרִיכָא, דְּאִי אַשְׁמְעִינַן מִיתָה וּמָמוֹן,

And both are necessary, for if it had taught us only death and money,

מִשּׁוּם דַּחֲדָא בְּגוּפֵיהּ

I would say it is because one punishment is to his body

וַחֲדָא בְּמָמוֹנֵיהּ לָא עָבְדִינַן.

and one is to his money, and that we do not do.

The steps (24)

  1. ResolutionThe second verse covers death and lashes
  2. ResolutionWhy death and money alone would not teach death and lashes
  3. ConclusionWhy death and lashes alone would not teach death and money
  4. QuestionWhy do we need the verse about no ransom for a murderer?
  5. ResponseMoney cannot replace the death penalty
  6. QuestionWhy do we need the verse about no ransom for one who fled?
  7. ResponseMoney cannot replace exile
  8. ChallengeWhy two verses for the same idea?
  9. ResolutionOne for an accidental killer, one for an intentional killer
  10. ResolutionThe intentional case alone would not teach the accidental case
  11. ConclusionThe accidental case alone would not teach the intentional case
  12. ChallengeWhy do we need the verse about atoning for the land?
  13. ResolutionThe verse teaches that the calf does not free a killer found later
  14. ChallengeWhy do we need the verse about removing innocent blood?
  15. ResolutionThe verse teaches that death by sword is at the neck
  16. ChallengeShould killers be killed exactly like the calf?
  17. ResolutionLove your neighbor: choose a kind death for him
  18. ChallengeWhy do we need the verse about 'כל חרם'?
  19. ResolutionThe verse teaches that a valuation vow on a condemned man means nothing
  20. ChallengeWhat does רבי חנניא בן עקביא learn from the verse?
  21. ResolutionNo paying money to escape a בית דין death penalty
  22. StatementThe extra word 'all' includes the lighter death penalties
  23. ChallengeWhy is 'כל חרם' needed if 'לא תקחו כופר' already teaches this?
  24. Resolutionרמי בר חמא begins: the verse is needed