Midrash · Halachah
Sifrei Devarim 237/ספרי דברים רל״ז
א(דברים כב יז) וּפָרְשׂוּ הַשִּׂמְלָה – יְחַוְּרוּ דְּבָרִים כַּשִּׂמְלָה. זֶה אֶחָד מִן הַדְּבָרִים שֶׁהָיָה רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל דּוֹרֵשׁ מִן הַתּוֹרָה בְּמָשָׁל. כַּיּוֹצֵא בוֹ (שמות כב ב): ״אִם זָרְחָה הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ עָלָיו דָּמִים לוֹ״, וְכִי עָלָיו הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ זוֹרַחַת? וּמַה תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר ״אִם זָרְחָה הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ עָלָיו דָּמִים לוֹ״? מָה הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ – שָׁלוֹם לָעוֹלָם, אַף זֶה, אִם הָיָה יוֹדֵעַ שֶׁהוּא שָׁלוֹם מִמֶּנּוּ וַהֲרָגוֹ – הֲרֵי זֶה חַיָּב. כַּיּוֹצֵא בוֹ (שמות כא יט): ״אִם יָקוּם וְהִתְהַלֵּךְ בַּחוּץ עַל מִשְׁעַנְתּוֹ״ – עַל בּוּרְיוֹ. וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר וּפָרְשׂוּ הַשִּׂמְלָה – יְחַוְּרוּ דְּבָרִים כַּשִּׂמְלָה.
1Pisqa’ 2371741. “Then they spread out her night-dress” (Dt. 22:17)—that is, let the evidence be as clearas [a blood-stain on] a night-dress!This is one of the instances in whichR. Ishmael would interpret the Torah metaphorically. 175 often, “parable” or “analogy.” //Mechilta Ishmael, neziqin, 6.A similar instance:“If the sun rises upon him, he is responsible for the blood” (Ex. 22:2)—now, is the sneak-thief the only oneupon whom the sun rises?What, then, can the Teaching mean by:“If the sun rises upon him?”Just as the sun’s lightaugurs peace for the world[by illuminating darkness],so, too, had this guy known thatthe intruder meant to be peaceful,but [went and] killed him anyway—he is indeed liable for the death.176A similar instance:“If he shall get up and walk about in the street upon his staff” (Ex. 21:19)—staff in this case representsthe patient’s restored well-being.A similar instance:“Then they spread out her night-dress” (Dt. 22:17)—that is, let the evidence be as clearas [a blood-stain on] a night-dress!177 6.
ברַבִּי עֲקִיבָה אוֹמֵר: הֲרֵי הוּא אוֹמֵר וּפָרְשׂוּ הַשִּׂמְלָה לִפְנֵי זִקְנֵי הָעִיר – נִמְצְאוּ עֵדֵי הַבַּעַל זוֹמְמִים. וּפָרְשׂוּ הַשִּׂמְלָה, יָבוֹאוּ עֵדָיו שֶׁל זֶה וְעֵדָיו שֶׁל זֶה, וְיֹאמְרוּ דִבְרֵיהֶם לִפְנֵי זִקְנֵי הָעִיר.
22. R. Akiva says:And, similarly, Scripture says:“Then they spread out her night-dress before the elders of the city” (Dt. 22:17)—that is, if the husband’s witnesses are found to be in collusion against her[the stained night dress is acceptable evidence to restore her reputation].178“Then they spread out her night-dress before the elders of the city” (Dt. 22:17)—that is, let the witnesses for each partypresent their cases before the elders of the city.
גרַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר בֶּן יַעֲקֹב אוֹמֵר: דְּבָרִים כִּכְתָבָם.
3R. Eliezer b. Jacob says:Let matters stand as they are written[without benefit of metaphorical exegesis]!