Midrash · Halachah
Sifrei Devarim 75/ספרי דברים ע״ה
א(דברים יב כ) כִּי יַרְחִיב ה׳ אֱלֹהֶיךָ אֶת גְּבוּלְךָ, עֲשֵׂה מִצְוָה הָאֲמוּרָה בָּעִנְיָן, שֶׁבִּשְׂכָרָהּ יַרְחִיב ה׳ אֱלֹהֶיךָ אֶת גְּבוּלְךָ.
1Pisqa’ 75991. “When HASHEM your God will expand your border” (Dt. 12:20)—perform the commandmentstated in this scriptural context,in reward for which,100 55.1“HASHEM your God will expand your border . . . as He promised you” (Dt. 12:20)—
בכַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר לָךְ, מַה דִּבֶּר לָךְ? אֶת אֶרֶץ קֵינִי וּקְנִזִּי וְקַדְמוֹנִי. רַבִּי אוֹמֵר: כְּבָר אֵלּוּ אֲמוּרִים! מַה דִּבֶּר לָךְ? (יחזקאל מח א-ז) ״מִפְּאַת קָדִים עַד פְּאַת יָם דָּן אֶחָד... יְהוּדָה אֶחָד אָשֵׁר אֶחָד״.
2what did He promise you?“The land of the Kenite, and the Kenizite,and the Kadmonite” (Gn. 15:20).Rabbi says:these lands have already been promised[to Abraham’s descendants (e.g., Gn. 12:7)].What territorial expansion did He promise you?“From the eastern border to the Sea—Dan, one portion . . .” (Ezek. 48:1-9)101, 18.
גוְאָמַרְתָּ אֹכְלָה בָשָׂר כִּי תְאַוֶּה נַפְשְׁךָ לֶאֱכֹל בָּשָׂר, רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל אוֹמֵר: מַגִּיד שֶׁבְּשַׂר תַּאֲוָה נֶאֱסַר לָהֶם לְיִשְׂרָאֵל בַּמִּדְבָּר, וּמִשֶׁבָּאוּ לָאָרֶץ הִתִּירוֹ הַכָּתוּב לָהֶם.
32. “And you say; I shall eat meat—for your heart’s desire is to eat meat” (Dt. 12:20).R. Ishmael says:This indicates that[satisfaction of] the desire for meatwas proscribed for Israel in the wilderness.But upon reaching the Land,This verse permitted them to satisfy it.
דרַבִּי עֲקִיבָה אוֹמֵר: לֹא בָא הַכָּתוּב אֶלָּא לְלַמֶּדְךָ מִצְווֹת הָאֲמוּרוֹת בּוֹ.
4R. Akiva says:The verse comes only to teach aboutthe enactment of the commandments specified therein[rather than mere historical information]!
הרַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בֶּן עֲזַרְיָה אוֹמֵר: לֹא בָא הַכָּתוּב אֶלָּא לְלַמֶּדְךָ דֶּרֶךְ אֶרֶץ, שֶׁלֹּא יֹאכַל אָדָם בָּשָׂר אֶלָּא לְתֵאָבוֹן. יָכוֹל יִקַּח מִן הַשּׁוּק וְיֹאכַל? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר (דברים יב כא): ״וְזָבַחְתָּ מִבְּקָרְךָ וּמִצֹּאנְךָ״, הָא אֵין אָדָם אוֹכֵל בָּשָׂר עַד שֶׁיִּהְיוּ לוֹ בָּקָר וְצֹאן! יָכוֹל יִזְבַּח כָּל צֹאנוֹ וְכָל בְּקָרוֹ? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: ״מִבְּקָרְךָ״, וְלֹא כָל בְּקָרְךָ. ״מִצֹּאנְךָ״, וְלֹא כָל צֹאנְךָ.
5R. Elazar b. Azariah says:The verse comes only to teach you civilized behavior—that a person should not eat meat unless he desires it.3. Is it possible to say thatone may buy [ready-slaughtered] meat in the market?102The Teaching states:“Then you may slaughter from your herd and from your flock” (Dt. 12:21).Thus, a person should only eat meat from his herd and a flock!Is it possible, then, that[in order to eat meat]he must slaughter all his flock and all his herd ?The Teaching states:“From your herd” (Dt. 12;21)—but not the entire herd;“and from your flock” (Dt. 12:21)—but not the entire flock.
ו(דברים יב כא) כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוִּיתִיךָ, מָה קֳדָשִׁים בִּשְׁחִיטָה – אַף חוּלִּין בִּשְׁחִיטָה.
64. “As I have commanded you” (Dt. 12:21)—just as consecrated offerings [are killed]only by means of the slaughtering rite (shekhitah),so, too, common meat [is killed]only by means of the slaughtering rite.
זאוֹ מָה קֳּדָשִׁים בַּמָּקוֹם – אַף חוּלִּין בַּמָּקוֹם? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: ״כִּי יַרְחִיב״, בְּרִחוּק מָקוֹם אַתָּה זוֹבֵחַ, וְאִי אַתָּה זוֹבֵחַ בְּקָרוֹב מָקוֹם, פְּרָט לְחוּלִּין שֶׁנִּשְׁחֲטוּ בָּעֲזָרָה.
7Or [perhaps the verse’s implication is the following]:Just as consecrated offerings must be slaughteredin the Holy Place,so, too, common meat must also be slaughteredin the Holy Place.The Teaching states:“If the Place is distant from you—which HASHEM your God shall choose to invest with His Name—then shall you slaughter” (Dt. 12:21)—that is, if the Holy Place is distant,you may slaughter for common meat anywhere;but you may not slaughter for common meatif the Holy Place is near,except for [a blemished, consecrated animal]slaughtered for common meat,which may be slaughtered inthe Courtyard of the Holy Abode.
חאֵין לִי אֶלָּא תְּמִימִים, בַּעֲלֵי מוּמִים מִנַּיִן? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר (ויקרא ג ב): ״וּשְׁחָטוֹ פֶּתַח אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד״. יָכוֹל אַף חַיָּה וָעוֹף פֶּתַח אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר (ויקרא ג ח): ״אוֹתוֹ״, אוֹתוֹ פֶּתַח אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד, וְאֵין חַיָּה וָעוֹף פֶּתַח אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד.
8I might infer only thatunblemished animals may be slaughtered for common meat.On what basis do I include blemished animals?The Teaching states:“Then he shall slaughter it at the entrance to the Tent of Encounter”103 Usually translated as “Tent of Meeting.” (Lv. 3:2).I might infer only thateven wild animals or fowl may be slaughteredat the entrance to the Tent of Encounter.The Teaching states:“He shall slaughter it before the Tent of Encounter” (Lv. 3:8)—it implies that[a suitable animal may be slaughtered]at the entrance to the Tent of Encounter,but no wild animal or fowl[may be slaughtered] at the entrance to the Tent of Encounter.104 per. 17:7-9.
טאוֹ מָה קֳּדָשִׁים בִּזְמַן אַף חוּלִּין בִּזְמַן? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: וְאָכַלְתָּ בִּשְׁעָרֶיךָ בְּכֹל אַוַּת נַפְשֶׁךָ.
9Or [perhaps the verse implies the following]:Just as consecrated offerings [must be consumed]within a designated time,so, too, common meat [must be consumed]within a designated time.The Teaching states:“And you shall eat it in your gates at your heart’s desire” (Dt. 12:21)—[taking as long as you with to finish the carcass]
יאוֹ מָה קֳּדָשִׁים בִּמְחִיצָה אַף חוּלִּין בִּמְחִיצָה? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: וְאָכַלְתָּ בִּשְׁעָרֶיךָ. אוֹ מָה קֳּדָשִׁים בַּיּוֹם אַף חוּלִּין בַּיּוֹם? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: וְאָכַלְתָּ בִּשְׁעָרֶיךָ בְּכֹל אַוַּת נַפְשְׁךָ.
10Or [perhaps the verse implies the following]:Just as consecrated offerings [are eaten by priests]behind a partition,so, too, common meat [must be eaten]behind a partition?The Teaching states:“And you shall eat it in your gates” (Dt. 12:21)—[thus, common meat may be eatenby non-priests in a common space].Or [perhaps the implication is as follows]:Just as consecrated offerings [are only brought]during the day,so, too, common meat [must be slaughtered]during the day?The Teaching states:“And you shall eat it in your gates at your heart’s desire” (Dt. 12:21)—[meat slaughtered either by day or night].
יאאוֹ מָה קֳּדָשִׁים בְּטָהֳרָה אַף חוּלִּין בְּטָהֳרָה? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר (דברים יב כב): ״הַטָּמֵא יֹאכַל״. אֵין לִי אֶלָּא טָמֵא, טָהוֹר מִנַּיִן? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: ״הַטָּהוֹר יֹאכַל״. ״הַטָּמֵא וְהַטָּהוֹר יַחְדָּו יֹאכְלֶנּוּ״, מְלַמֵּד שֶׁשְּׁנֵיהֶם אוֹכְלִים מִתּוֹךְ קְעָרָה אַחַת. יָכוֹל אַף תְּרוּמָה תְּהֵא נֶאֱכֶלֶת מִתּוֹךְ קְעָרָה אַחַת? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: ״יַחְדָּו יֹאכְלֶנּוּ״, זֶה נֶאֱכָל מִתּוֹךְ קְעָרָה אַחַת וְאֵין תְּרוּמָה נֶאֱכֶלֶת מִתּוֹךְ קְעָרָה אַחַת.
11Or [perhaps the point of the verse is the following]:Just as consecrated offerings [must be consumed]in cleanness,so, too, common meat [must be consumed]in cleanness?The Teaching states:“The unclean person . . . may eat of it” (Dt. 12:22).I might infer thatthis applies to the unclean only.On what basis do I include the clean?The Teaching states:“The unclean person and the clean together may eat of it” (Dt. 12:22).105This indicates that both of them eat from a single plate. 5. Is it possible to say thateven Threshing-floor-offering is eaten [with common meat]from a single plate?The Teaching states:“Together they may eat of it” (Dt. 12:22)—thus [common meat] is eaten [with other meat]from a single plate,but Threshing-floor-offering is not eaten [with common meat]from a single plate.
יביָכוֹל יְהוּ חַיָּבִים בְּחָזֶה וְשׁוֹק? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: כַּצְּבִי.
12[If commoners slaughter common meat,]is it possible to say thatthey are obliged,[like those sharing a Communion-offering,]to offer a priest the breast and the foreleg? (Lv. 7:31-32)The Teaching states:“Like the gazelle” (Dt. 12:15)—[since the gazelle is not under obligation for the breast and foreleg,common meat from domesticated animals shares this exemption].
יגאוֹצִיאוֹ מִכְּלַל חָזֶה וְשׁוֹק וְלֹא אוֹצִיאוֹ מִכְּלַל שְׁתֵּי כְלָיוֹת וְיוֹתֶרֶת הַכָּבֵד? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: כָאַיָּל.
13Shall I exclude [the gazelle] fromthe class of animals [under obligation]for the breast and forelegbut not exclude it fromthe class of animals [under obligation]for the two kidneys and the lobe of the liver? (Lv. 3:4-5)The Teaching states:“And like the deer” (Dt. 12:15)—[this inclusive clause indicates that,as wild animals, both the gazelle and deerare exempt from the breast and foreleg].
ידאוֹ מָה צְּבִי כֻּלּוֹ מֻתָּר – אַף זֶה כֻּלּוֹ מֻתָּר? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: אַךְ.
14Or [perhaps the implication is as follows:]Just as the gazelle is entirely permitted [with its suet],so, too, this deer is entirely permitted[with its suet]?The Teaching states:“But” (Dt. 12:22)—[the restrictive clause implies thatthe suet of wild animals, like that of domestic beasts,is prohibited for consumption].
טו(דברים יב כב) אַךְ כַּאֲשֶׁר יֵאָכֵל אֶת הַצְּבִי וְאֶת הָאַיָּל, רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר הַקַּפָּר בְּרַבִּי אוֹמֵר: וְכִי מַה בָּא הַכָּתוּב לְלַמְּדֵנוּ בֵּין צְבִי לְאַיָּל? אֶלָּא הֲרֵי זֶה בָּא לְלַמֵּד וְנִמְצָא לָמֵד: מַה בְּהֵמָה בִּשְׁחִיטָה – אַף חַיָּה בִּשְׁחִיטָה, אֲבָל עוֹף אֵינוֹ אֶלָּא מִדִּבְרֵי סוֹפְרִים. רַבִּי אוֹמֵר: ״כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוִּיתִיךָ״, מַגִּיד שֶׁנִּצְטַוָּה מֹשֶׁה עַל הַוֵּשֶׁט וְעַל הַגַּרְגֶּרֶת וְעַל רוֹב אֶחָד בָּעוֹף וְעַל רוֹב שְׁנַיִם בַּבְּהֵמָה.
156. “But, eat it as you eat the gazelle and the deer—the unclean person and the clean together may eat of it” (Dt. 12:22).R. Elazar haQapar, our colleague, says:Now, does the verse come to teach usabout the difference betweenthe gazelle and the deer?Rather, it first instructs usand then turns outto be instructed [by us]!106Just as a domesticated animal[is made fit to eat] by the slaughtering rite,so, too, is a wild animal [made fit] by the rite.107 us about the similarity of the slaughtering rite regarding domestic and wild animals. It is then instructed by us such that the slaughter of fowl is ascribed to scribal tradition alone, without scriptural foundation.But, as for fowl,[the requirement to slaughter them]derives only from scribal tradition.108) are recognized in rabbinic historiography as an early tradition of post-Mosaic oral instruction. See, e.g., M. Toh.4:11.Rabbi says:“As I have commanded you” (tziwiticha; Dt. 12:21).This [use of the singular you] indicates thatMoses [alone] was commandedto sever the windpipe and the gullet [as follows]:Regarding fowl—one must sever the larger part of one organ;regarding cattle—one severs the larger part of two organs.109