Midrash · Halachah
Sifrei Devarim 227/ספרי דברים רכ״ז
א(דברים כב ו) כִּי יִקָּרֵא – פְּרָט לַמְזֻמָּן.
1Pisqa’ 227911. “If you happen across a bird’s nest” (Dt. 22:6)—this excludes from the rulebirds that are ready at hand[as opposed to wild birds].92
במִעוּט אֶפְרוֹחִים – שְׁנַיִם, מִעוּט בֵּיצִים – שְׁנַיִם. מִנַּיִן אֵין שָׁם אֶלָּא אֶפְרוֹחַ אֶחָד אוֹ בֵיצָה אַחַת חַיָּב לְשַׁלֵּחַ? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: קַן – קַן מִכָּל מָקוֹם.
2The minimum number intendedby the plural, “fledglings” (Dt. 22:6), is two,and the minimum of “eggs” (Dt. 22:6) is two.93 228.2.How do I know thateven if there is but one fledgling or one egg,he is obliged to send off the dam?The Teaching states:“A nest” (Dt. 22:6)—a nest with any number of young.94
גמִכְּלָל שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בַּדֶּרֶךְ וְהָאֵם רֹבֶצֶת עַל הָאֶפְרֹחִים אוֹ עַל הַבֵּיצִים, יָכוֹל שֶׁאֲנִי מוֹצִיא אַוָּזִים וְתַרְנְגוֹלִים שֶׁקִּנְּנוּ בַּפַּרְדֵּס? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: לְפָנֶיךָ,
32. Inferring from what is said:“Before you in the path, . . . and the dam is crouching over the fledglings or the eggs” (Dt. 22:6)—is it possible to say thatI might exclude from the ruleducks or chickens nesting in an orchard?The Teaching states:“Before you” (Dt. 22:6)—[birds raised for your needs are exempt from the rule].95
דאֵין לִי אֶלָּא בִּרְשׁוּת הַיָּחִיד, בִּרְשׁוּת הָרַבִּים מִנַּיִן? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: בַּדֶּרֶךְ.
4I might infer only that[the rule applies to]nests found in a private area.On what basis do I know that[it applies as well to]a public thoroughfare?The Teaching states:“In the path” (Dt. 22:6)—[that is, a road traversed by a multitude].
העַל הָאִילָנוֹת מִנַּיִן? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: בְּכָל עֵץ.
5On what basis do I know thatthe rule applies to [nests found] on trees?The Teaching states:“In any tree” ( Dt. 22:6).
ועַל הָאָרֶץ מִנַּיִן? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: אוֹ עַל הָאָרֶץ.
6On what basis do I know thatthe rule applies to [nests found] on the ground?The Teaching states:“Or on the ground”(Dt. 22:6).
זוְהָאֵם רוֹבֶצֶת עַל הָאֶפְרוֹחִים אוֹ עַל הַבֵּיצִים, מָה אֶפְרוֹחִים בְּנֵי קַיָּמָא – אַף בֵּיצִים בְּנֵי קַיָּמָא, יָצְאוּ מוּזָרוֹת. מָה בֵּיצִים צְרִיכוֹת לְאִמָּן – אַף אֶפְרוֹחִים צְרִיכִים לְאִמָּם; יָצְאוּ הַמַּפְרִיחִים, שֶׁאֵין צְרִיכִים לְאִמָּם.
73. “And the dam is crouching over the fledglings or the eggs” (Dt. 22:6) —just as with fledglings, [the rule applies]only to those capable of surviving [with proper care],so, too, with eggs, [the rule applies]only to those capable of surviving [with proper care].This excludes [from the rule] abnormal eggs[since they will not survive].Now, just as eggs require the dam’s care,so, too, fledglings require the dam’s care.96
חוְהָאֵם רוֹבֶצֶת – כְּשֶׁהִיא רוֹבֶצֶת עֲלֵיהֶם, פְּרָט לִמְעוֹפֶפֶת. יָכוֹל אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁכְּנָפֶיהָ נוֹגְעוֹת בַּקֵּן? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: וְהָאֵם רֹבֶצֶת עַל הָאֶפְרֹחִים, אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאֵינָהּ עִמָּהֶם.
8“And the dam is crouching over the fledglings or the eggs” (Dt. 22:6)—[send the dam off] while she is crouching over them,but not if she is fluttering about.97Is it possible to say that[the rule applies] even where her wings are in contact with the nest?The Teaching states:“And the dam is crouching over the fledglings or the eggs” (Dt. 22:6)—even if [momentarily] she is not with them,[she is still considered in contact with the nest].98
טיָכוֹל עוֹף טָמֵא רוֹבֵץ עַל בֵּיצֵי עוֹף טָהוֹר, וְעוֹף טָהוֹר רוֹבֵץ עַל בֵּיצֵי עוֹף טָמֵא, יְהֵא חַיָּב לְשַׁלֵּחַ? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: וְהָאֵם רֹבֶצֶת, עַד שֶׁיִּהְיוּ כֻלָּם מִין אֶחָד.
9Is it possible to say thatif an unclean bird was crouching over the eggs of a clean bird,or if a clean bird was crouching over the eggs of an unclean bird—one still stands under obligation to send off the dam?99The Teaching states:“And the dam is crouching over the fledglings or the eggs” (Dt. 22:6)—[the rule applies only to birds]that are all of a single type[whether clean or unclean].100
ילֹא תִקַּח הָאֵם עַל הַבָּנִים, מִכְּלָל שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ויקרא יד ד) ״וְלָקַח לַמִּטַּהֵר שְׁתֵּי צִפֳּרִים חַיּוֹת טְהוֹרוֹת״, יָכוֹל יִקָּחֶנָּה לְטַהֵר בָּהּ אֶת הַמְּצוֹרָע? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: לֹא תִקַּח הָאֵם עַל הַבָּנִים, אֲפִלּוּ לְטַהֵר בָּהּ אֶת הַמְּצוֹרָע.
104. “You may not take the dam as well as the young” (Dt. 22:6).Inferring from what is said:“Then the Priest shall take for the purificant two living birds that are clean” (Lv. 14:4)—is it possible to say thathe may take the dam from the nestin order to cleanse a victim of Scale-disease?101 one suffering an inflammation on the skin.The Teaching states:“You may not take the dam as well as the young” (Dt. 22:6)—not even to cleanse a victim of Scale-disease!102
יאלֹא תִקַּח הָאֵם – מִצְוַת לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה.
115. Another word:“When you build a new house” (Dt. 22:8).R, Ishmael says:The verse comes to teach you thatA person never knows how he will be judged.As it is said:“For a man does not know his allotted time, like a fish trapped in a net” (Ecc. 9:12).