Midrash · Halachah
Sifrei Devarim 220/ספרי דברים ר״כ
א(דברים כא כא) וּרְגָמֻהוּ כָּל אַנְשֵׁי עִירוֹ, וְכִי כָּל אַנְשֵׁי עִירוֹ רוֹגְמִים אוֹתוֹ? אֶלָּא בְּמַעֲמַד כָּל אַנְשֵׁי עִירוֹ.
1Pisqa’ 220451. “Then all the populace of his city shall pummel46; root: r-g-m. Dt. 22:22, in similar context uses the root: s-q-l, with identical meaning. him” (Dt. 21:21)—Now, can the entire populace of his cityactually pummel him?Rather, [they appoint] a deputation.
בבָאֲבָנִים, יָכוֹל בַּאֲבָנִים מְרֻבּוֹת? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר (ויקרא כ ב): ״בָּאֶבֶן״. יָכוֹל בְּאֶבֶן אַחַת? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: בָאֲבָנִים, אֱמֹר מֵעַתָּה: לֹא מֵת בָּרִאשׁוֹנָה – יָמוּת בַּשְּׁנִיָּה.
2“With stones” (Dt. 21:21)—Is it possible to say thatmany stones are used?The Teaching states:“With stone” (Lv. 20:2).Is it possible to say, then, thatonly one stone is used?The Teaching states:“With stones” (Dt. 21:21)!From this you may conclude thatif he doesn’t die from the first stone,let him die from the second!47Sifra, qedoshim, par. 10:4 . Cf. Pisqa’ 149.1, 240.1, 242.1 for parallels within Sifre.
גאָמַר רַבִּי יוֹסֵי: וְכִי מִפְּנֵי שֶׁאָכַל זֶה תַּרְטִימַר בָּשָׂר וְשָׁתָה חֲצִי לוֹג יַיִן הוּא נִסְקָל? אֶלָּא הִגִּיעָה תּוֹרָה לְסוֹף עִנְיָנוֹ שֶׁל זֶה, וְאָמְרָה יָמוּת זַכַּי וְאַל יָמוּת חַיָּב. שֶׁמִּיתָתָם שֶׁל רְשָׁעִים – הֲנָיָה לָהֶם וַהֲנָיָה לָעוֹלָם, וְשֶׁל צַדִּיקִים – רַע לָהֶם וְרַע לָעוֹלָם. יַיִן וְשֵׁנָה לָרְשָׁעִים – הֲנָיָה לָהֶם וַהֲנָיָה לָעוֹלָם, וְלַצַּדִּיקִים – רַע לָהֶם וְרַע לָעוֹלָם. שֶׁקֶט לָרְשָׁעִים – רַע לָהֶם וְרַע לָעוֹלָם, וְלַצַּדִּיקִים – הֲנָיָה לָהֶם וַהֲנָאָה לָעוֹלָם.
32. Said R. Yose:Does this guy get a stoningfor eating a single serving48. Roughly three ounces. of meatand drinking a half measure49Roughly .32 liters, of wine?Not at all!The Torah has plumbed the depthsof this guy’s character,and taught:Better he should die innocently nowrather than later as a sinner! 50 218.2.For the death of the Wickedis as beneficial to themas it is to the world[since their death forestalls further sins].But the death of the Righteousis as bad for themas it is for the world,[since they may no longer acquire merit through righteous deeds,nor does the world benefit from their righteous deeds]!Wine and a good napbring the Wicked pleasure,as they bring the world pleasure.But to the Righteous,these are as bad for themas they are for the world!Peace of mind, to the Wicked,is as bad for themas it is for the world.But to the Righteous,it is as beneficial to themas it is for the world!
דוּבִעַרְתָּ הָרָע – בַּעֵר עוֹשֵׂי הָרָעוֹת מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל!
4“And you shall expunge the evil from your midst” (Dt. 21:21)—That is, expunge the evil-doers from Israel!51 151, 155, 187, etc.