1)

What is the meaning of "Al Hara Kapayim Leheitiv"?

1.

Rashi: For the reward of the evil of your hands, you hope that He will benefit you?! Radak ? Hara and Hetiv are Makor (gerund/infinitive).

2.

Radak: They put their minds to the evil in their hands, to improve and strengthen it. For eloquence, an expression is used for its opposite, like "Ki Yeitiv El Avi Es ha'Ra'ah Alecha" (Shmuel I, 20:13), "ha'Heitev Charah Lach" (Yonah 4:4). This strengthens the matter. They strengthen the evil in their hands via taking bribes to tilt the verdict.

3.

Malbim: Refer to 7:3:2:2.

2)

What does the officer ask?

1.

Rashi: He requests a bribe. Radak ? he requests for the king. The king is ashamed to ask for himself, so the Sar asks for him.

2.

Malbim: He seeks and investigates evil done with the hands. Do not think that he asks in order to do Mishpat and punish evildoers. Rather, it is to benefit himself, in order that he will receive payment and not punish him. The Sar was appointed to afflict evildoers.

3)

What do we learn from "veha'Shofet ba'Shilum"?

1.

Rashi: The one who judges, also he takes payment. He tells his fellow judge, when he is a thief and liable for in judgment, 'bestow to me in this (acquit me), and I will vindicate you in another judgment.'

2.

Radak: [Even though the Sar requests the bribe for the king,] also the judge has a share in it. This is like "Ba'u Yemei ha'Shilum" (Hoshe'a 9:7), "v'Rodef Shalmonim" (Yeshayah 1:23). The judge tilts the verdict so the king will bestow monetary benefit to him.

3.

Malbim: The judge is appointed to investigate the case according to Mishpat. He and the Sar received payment and benefited the evildoer.

4)

What do we learn from "veha'Gadol Dover Havas Nafsho"?

1.

Rashi: The king or Nasi says in judgment what he desires. Havas Nafsho is what is Hoveh (often) l'Nafsho (like he desires). This is like "Ein Nafshi El ha'Am ha'Zeh" (Yirmeyahu 15:1). Targum Yonasan is like this.

2.

Radak: One who is great in Chatzer ha'Melech ? he is under the Sar. Also he speaks to the litigant to give a bribe, and they will rule like his desire. This is "Havas Nafsho" ? the breaking of his Nefesh and its perishing from the world, like "Ya'oz b'Havaso" (Tehilim 52:9), "v'Havas Resha'im" (Mishlei 10:3).

3.

Malbim: This is the greatest [Chacham] of the Sanhedrin. When [the litigant] did not find Mishpat via the Sar and judge, they go to the Gadol, and he speaks "Havas Nafsho" (also he wants to receive a bribe). He says that this evil is proper to kill the evildoer, in order that he will bribe him not to carry it out.

5)

Why does it say "va'Y'abesuha"?

1.

Rashi, Yerushalmi (Ta'anis 2:1): They made a braid of sin amidst the three of them (officer, judge and Nasi) like Avosos of a wagon (three-stranded ropes).

2.

Radak: They strengthened it. A strong rope is called Avos. Amidst all of them, they strengthened tilting [the verdict] via bribery. Malbim ? a three-stranded rope is not unraveled (quickly - Koheles 4:12). They strengthened that the evildoer will not be punished.

3.

Radak citing his father: Avos is a three-stranded rope. So are ropes of a wagon; it is strong. Chazal said (32b) that "Etz Avos" (Vayikra 23:40, myrtle) has three leaves at one juncture. All three of them ? the officer, judge and Gadol strengthen the injustice and tilting the verdict.

Sefer: Perek: Pasuk:
Month: Day: Year:
Month: Day: Year:

KIH Logo
D.A.F. Home Page
Sponsorships & DonationsReaders' FeedbackMailing ListsTalmud ArchivesAsk the KollelDafyomi WeblinksDafyomi CalendarOther Yomi calendars