Rabbinic JudaismJerusalem Talmud Makkot 2.6HOLYMAP · SACRED TEXTS
The Jerusalem TalmudJerusalem Talmud Makkot 2.6

The Jerusalem Talmud

Jerusalem Talmud Makkot 2.6

1
English · Heinrich W. Guggenheimer

MISHNAH: Where are they exiled to? To the cities of refuge. To the three in Transjordan and the three in the Land of Canaan, as it is said: Three cities you shall designate in Transjordan, etc. As long as those in the Land of Israel had not been selected, those in Transjordan were not receiving, as it is said, there shall be six cities of refuge, not until all six were receiving together. Roads were maintained from one to the other, as it is said: Maintain the road for yourselves, and divide the domain of your Land into three parts. One sends with them two scholars lest he kill him on the road, to argue with him. Rebbi Meïr says, he may argue for himself as it is said, this is the word of the homicide. Rebbi Yose ben Rebbi Jehudah says, at the start both the involuntary and the voluntary [homicide] go to the city of refuge; the court sends and brings them back from there. If one is found guilty by a death sentence, they execute him. If he is found not guilty in a capital case, he is freed. If he is found guilty to be exiled they return him to his place as it is said, the community shall return him to his city of refuge. Not only a [High Priest] anointed with the anointing oil, but also one wearing the many vestments, and one deposed from his office. Rebbi Jehudah says, also the one anointed for war returns the homicide. Therefore, the mothers of the [High] Priests support them with food and clothing, so they should not pray for the death of their sons. If sentence had been passed when the High Priest died, he is not exiled. If sentence had not yet been passed when the High Priest died, and sentence was passed after a successor had been appointed, he returns after the death of the second. If sentence was passed when there was no High Priest, or one who killed a High Priest, or a High Priest who killed, can never leave from there. He cannot leave from there, neither for a testimony of obligation, nor a testimony in a civil suit, nor a testimony in a criminal suit, not even if Israel needs him like Joab ben Ṣeruya, he cannot ever leave from there, as it is said there. There shall be his dwelling, there he shall die, there he shall be buried. Just as the city grants asylum, so does its domain grant asylum. If a murderer left the domain and was found by the avenger of the blood, Rebbi Yose the Galilean says, it is the obligation of the avenger of the blood and the right of everybody. Rebbi Aqiba says, it is the right of the avenger of the blood and nobody would be liable because of him. If a tree stands inside the domain but its crown is outside the domain, or the tree stands outside the domain but its crown is inside the domain, everything follows the crown. If somebody killed in one of these cities, he is exiled from quarter to quarter; but a Levite who killed is exiled from one city to another. Similarly, a homicide exiled to a city of refuge whom the citizens of the town wanted to honor, should say to them, I am a homicide. If they tell him, anyway, he should accept, for it is said, this is the word of a homicide.

2
English · Heinrich W. Guggenheimer

HALAKHAH: “Where are they exiled to,” etc. “Three cities did Moses designate in Transjordan. When they came to the Land they designated another three. Neither of them were giving asylum until after they conquered and divided. After they conquered and divided, the Land became obligated for Sabbaticals and Jubilees and these and those were giving asylum. The three cities which they designated in the Land of Israel were parallel to the three cities which Moses had designated in Transjordan like two rows in a vineyard. Hebron in Judea parallels Beṣer in the desert. Sichem on Mount Ephraim parallels Ramot Gilead. Qedesh in Galilee parallels Golan in Bashan. (Before) [even though] they had designated Sichem on Mount Ephraim it could not give asylum; they designated Qiryat-Yearim in its place until they conquered Sichem. (Before) [even though] they had designated Qedesh in Galilee it could not give asylum; they designated Gamla in its place until they conquered Qedesh.”

3
English · Heinrich W. Guggenheimer

“Divide into three parts. That it should be from Hebron to (Jehudah) as from Hebron to Sichem and from Hebron to Sichem as from Sichem to Qedesh.”

4
English · Heinrich W. Guggenheimer

“If any of them collapsed, one rebuilds it from the same tribe. And from where also from other tribes? The verse says, six. That they should be parallel and receiving like the earlier ones.”

5
English · Heinrich W. Guggenheimer

“One builds these cities not as great fortified places or small villages but in average sizes. One only builds them around a market place. If they have no market place one creates a market place for them. One only builds them near water. If they have no water one brings water to them. If the number of households declined, one brings others there. If the number of inhabitants declined, one brings there Cohanim, Levites, and Israel.”

6
English · Heinrich W. Guggenheimer

“One builds in them neither an olive press nor a wine press, the words of Rebbi Nehemiah, but the Sages permit it. One does not braid ropes there, nor does one manufacture glass, in order not to attract visitors.”

7
English · Heinrich W. Guggenheimer

Rebbi Joḥanan sent to the rabbis there: Two things you say in the name of Rav which are not so. You say in the name of Rav that only the first copulation with the beautiful woman is permitted. But I am saying, the first or the later copulations are permitted only after all ceremonies; after that you may come to her and copulate with her, after all ceremonies.

8
English · Heinrich W. Guggenheimer

Also you say that Joab was of the opinion that the horns of an altar give asylum but only its top gives asylum; in fact only the top of the one in Shilo gives asylum, but that of the Temple does not give asylum. But I am saying that neither the altar gives asylum, nor does its top give asylum, nor the one in Shilo gives asylum, nor that of the Temple gives asylum. Nothing except the six cities of refuge give asylum. Is it possible that Joab, about whom it is written, the most wise, head of the third should err in this matter? Rebbi Tanḥuma said, he fled to the Sanhedrin, because it is stated: The property of people executed by the court goes to their heirs; the property of people executed by the government goes to the government. Joab said, it is better that I should be executed by the court and my sons will inherit from me than that the king should execute me and inherit from me. When Solomon heard this he said, do I need his money? Immediately, I shall remove the blood for free, but his money is not free. He sent through Benaiahu who smote him and killed him; they buried him in his house in the wilderness. Was his house a wilderness? But to tell you that when Joab the commander of Israel’s army died, Israel was turned into a wilderness. If you say that he collected booty to build public baths and baths, this is worthy of praise. But if you say that he collected booty to support Sages and their students, it is worthy of the highest praise. And from where that the Supreme Sanhedrin is near the altar? Do not ascend on my altar by stairs. What is written next? These are the rules of law you shall put before them.

9
English · Heinrich W. Guggenheimer

[“If sentence had been passed when the High Priest died, he is not exiled.”] It was stated: “Rebbi Eliezer ben Jacob says, ‘refuge, refuge’ was written at crossroads, so that the homicide might see what was written and continue.” Rebbi Abun said, a sign-post was directing them. Rebbi Phineas said, good and straightforward. Why is He good? Because He is straightforward. And why is He straightforward? Because He is good. Therefore, He teaches the way to the sinners. He instructs in the way of repentance. They asked Wisdom, what is the punishment of the sinner? She told them, evil will pursue sinners. They asked Prophecy, what is the punishment of the sinner? She told them, the sinning soul is the one which will die. They asked the Holy One, praise to Him, what is the punishment of the sinner? He said to them, let him repent and it will be atoned for him. That is what is written, therefore, He teaches the way to the sinners, the way to repentance. It is written: Like a bird to move, like a swallow to fly, so is a man moving from his place.

10
English · Heinrich W. Guggenheimer

[If sentence was passed when there was no High Priest.] And you say so? Explain it that it was time and period. As Rebbi Yose ben Ḥalaphtasays, there are times for prayer. David said before the Holy One, praise to Him: Master of Universes, at the moment when I am praying to You it should be a moment of goodwill. As is it written: But I, my prayer is to You at a time of goodwill.

11
English · Heinrich W. Guggenheimer

Rebbi Samuel bar Naḥman in the name of Rebbi Jonathan: At every occasion where dibbur is said, there is a new biblical commandment. But is it not written, God spoke (etc., repetition) [to Noah(and his sons with him as follows)? What new biblical commandment is there? He newly introduced limb of a living animal. But is it not written, Abram fell on his face and God spoke to him as follows? What new biblical commandment is there? He newly introduced circumcision. But is it not written, a word the Eternal sent to Jacob? What new biblical commandment is there? He newly introduced … But is it not written, God spoke to Moses and said to him, I am the Eternal? What new biblical commandment is there? He newly introduced Sanctification of the Name. But is it not written, the Eternal spoke to Joshua as follows? What new biblical commandment is there? If you want to say the six cities of refuge, were they not already given to Moses at Sinai? But even to him was spoken what was not said to Moses: He shall flee to one of these cities and stand at the gate etc., and they shall give him a place that he stay with them.] What means that he stay with them? The rabbis of Caesarea in the name of Rebbi Shila: If he is a scholar, they make him a house of assembly.

12
English · Heinrich W. Guggenheimer

[Just as the city grants asylum, so does its domain grants asylum.] “Three cities did Moses designate in Transjordan. When they came to the Land they designated another three. In the future there will be another three, as it is said three, three, three. This makes nine. Abba Shaul says, three. Three of three times three makes nine. Additional makes twelve. Rebbi Nehorai says, three, three, three make nine. Additional makes twelve. To these three makes fifteen.” It is written: Six cities of refuge there shall be for you, that all six of them give asylum simultaneously. And you say so? It follows what Rebbi Samuel [ben Aina] said in the name of Rebbi Aḥa: Five things was the last Temple missing which were in the first Temple, as it is written: Go to the mountain, bring wood, etc., up to I may be honored. It is written I shall be honored, without the letter he. These are the five things which the last Temple was missing which were in the first Temple. They are: The fire, the Ark, Urim and Tummim, anointing oil, and the Holy Spirit.

13
English · Heinrich W. Guggenheimer

[If a tree stands inside the domain but its crown is outside the domain.] [Rebbi] Abbai said, a scholar has to make his qualifications known. If he knows one collection and he comes to a place where they honor him as if he knew two, he has to tell them, I know one collection. (Rav Huna said, he says it in a soft voice and his right hand is stretched out to receive.)

14
English · Heinrich W. Guggenheimer

What is Rebbi Jehudah’s reason? For his blood is hot.

15
English · Heinrich W. Guggenheimer

Rebbi Abbahu said, but he returns upon the death of the third. Rebbi Abbahu said, if they need it, they send and bring him from there. Rebbi Yose said, our Mishnah does not say so, but “even if Israel needs him like Joab ben Ṣeruya, he cannot ever leave from there, as it is said there. There shall be his dwelling, etc.”

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The Jerusalem Talmud, edition, translation and commentary by Heinrich W. Guggenheimer (Berlin: De Gruyter, 1999–2015). CC BY. Text from Sefaria (sefaria.org); commentary notes omitted. · Source ↗

Hebrew/Aramaic text: The Jerusalem Talmud, edition by Heinrich W. Guggenheimer (Berlin: De Gruyter, 1999–2015), via Sefaria (sefaria.org). Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/). Changes: footnotes and HTML formatting removed.

The Jerusalem Talmud, edition, translation and commentary by Heinrich W. Guggenheimer (Berlin: De Gruyter, 1999–2015). CC BY. Text from Sefaria (sefaria.org); commentary notes omitted. · Source ↗

English translation: The Jerusalem Talmud, translation and commentary by Heinrich W. Guggenheimer (Berlin: De Gruyter, 1999–2015); commentary notes omitted, via Sefaria (sefaria.org). Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/). Changes: footnotes and HTML formatting removed.

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