Midrash · Halachah
Sifrei Devarim 278/ספרי דברים ער״ח
א(דברים כד יד) לֹא תַעֲשֹׁק שָׂכִיר עָנִי וְאֶבְיוֹן, וַהֲלֹא כְּבָר נֶאֱמַר (ויקרא יט יג) ״לֹא תִגְזֹל״? מַה תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר לֹא תַעֲשֹׁק? מְלַמֵּד שֶׁכָּל הַכּוֹבֵשׁ שְׂכַר שָׂכִיר עוֹבֵר מִשּׁוּם אַרְבָּעָה לָאוִים: מִשּׁוּם (ויקרא יט יג) בַּל תַּעֲשֹׁק וּבַל תִּגְזֹל וּבַל תָּלִין פְּעֻלַּת שָׂכִיר, וּמִשּׁוּם בְּיוֹמוֹ תִתֵּן שְׂכָרוֹ וְלֹא תָבֹא עָלָיו הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ.
1Pisqa’ 2783861. “You must not withhold the pay of a the poor or a pauper” (Dt. 24:14).Now isn’t it already written:“Do not rob” (Lv. 19:13)?So what does the Teaching add by“You must not withhold the pay” (Dt. 24:14)?It teaches thatwhoever withholds the pay of a hired handtransgresses four proscriptions.[Namely:]“Do not withhold the pay of your kinsman” (Lv. 19:13);“Do not rob” (Lv. 19:13);“Do not keep a worker’s pay with you over-night” (Lv. 19:13);and, “Pay him for his day’s work, so that the sun does not setbefore he receives it.” (Dt. 24:15) 387
במִכְּלָל שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר וְאֵלָיו הוּא נוֹשֵׂא אֶת נַפְשׁוֹ, אֵין לִי אֶלָּא מְלָאכָה שֶׁהוּא עוֹשֶׂה בְּנַפְשׁוֹ, מְלָאכָה שֶׁאֵין עוֹשֶׂה בְּנַפְשׁוֹ מִנַּיִן? גַּרְדִּי וְסוֹרֵק מִנַּיִן? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: לֹא תַעֲשֹׁק מִכָּל מָקוֹם. אֵין לִי אֶלָּא עָנִי וְאֶבְיוֹן, מִנַּיִן לְרַבּוֹת כָּל אָדָם? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: לֹא תַעֲשֹׁק מִכָּל מָקוֹם. אִם כֵּן לָמָּה נֶאֱמַר עָנִי וְאֶבְיוֹן? מְמַהֵר אֲנִי לִיפָּרַע עַל יְדֵי עָנִי וְאֶבְיוֹן יוֹתֵר מִכָּל אָדָם.
22. Inferring from what has been stated:“For his life depends on it” (Dt. 24:15)—I might have thought only thatthis rule applies to payment for work that sustains his life.How do I know thatthe rule applies as well to payment for work that does not sustain his life—such as carding or combing flax?The Teaching states:“You must not withhold the pay” (Dt. 24:14)—for any kind [of work].I might infer only thatthis rule applies to the needy or a pauper.How do I know that[it applies as well] to any person?The Teaching states:“You must not withhold the pay” (Dt. 24:14)—from any worker.If so, why is it stated:“The needy or a pauper?” (Dt. 24:14)[It is as if the Holy One were to say:]“I will rush to exact retributionon behalf of the needy or a pauper,before attending tothe [oppressors] of anyone else!”388 277.1 and 279.2.
גמֵאַחֶיךָ, וְלֹא מֵאֲחֵרִים.
33. “From among your brothers” (Dt. 24:14)—but not from among the [gentile] outsiders.
דאוֹ מִגֵּרְךָ, זֶה גֵּר צֶדֶק, מְלַמֵּד שֶׁעוֹבֵר עָלָיו בִּשְׁנֵי לָאוִים. רַבִּי יוֹסֵי בְּרַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר: מִשּׁוּם בַּל תַּעֲשֹׁק.
4“Or from among your migrants”389 literally, “a sojourner.” Often used in rabbinic texts for “proselyte,” (ger tzedeq). See also ger toshav (temporary resident”; Pisqa’ 278.4) (Dt. 24:14)—this refers to the righteous proselyte (ger tzedeq).It teaches that, on his account,an employer might actuallycome to transgress two proscriptions—[namely, “Do not withhold the pay of your kinsman” (Lv. 19:13);and “Do not keep the worker’s pay” (Lv. 19:13)].R. Yose b. R. Judah says:[The employer transgresses only] this proscription:“Do not withhold the pay of your kinsman” (Lv. 19:13)—[the proselyte, by means of conversion, is a “kinsman”].
הבִּשְׁעָרֶיךָ, זֶה גֵּר תּוֹשָׁב. אֵין לִי אֶלָּא שְׂכַר אָדָם, שְׂכַר בְּהֵמָה שְׂכַר כֵּלִים מִנַּיִן, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: אֲשֶׁר בְּאַרְצְךָ – כָּל שֶׁבְּאַרְצְךָ.
54. “Who is within your gates” (Dt. 24:14)—this refers to the resident alien (ger toshav).I infer only that the rule applies toa man’s wage.How do I know that the rule applies even torental of a person’s work animal or tool?The Teaching states:“Who are within your Land” (Dt. 24:14)—any sort [of payment that is earned] in your Land.390 par.2:9; cf. M.BM.9:12. The critical apparatus at F:296, ls. 9-10 shows a great deal of textual fluidity in this passage.