Casos capitais requerem vinte e três juízes. (Julgamento) do participante ativo e passivo da sodomia requer vinte e três, sendo escrito (Levítico 20:16): "E você matará a mulher e a besta" [o participante ativo, que é comparado à mulher . Assim como a mulher (é julgada) aos 23 anos, assim é a besta neste caso], e está escrito (Ibid. 15): "e a besta (neste caso, o participante passivo) você deve matar"— de onde derivamos (vinte e três juízes) para o participante ativo e passivo.] Um boi que enfrenta apedrejamento exige vinte e três juízes, sendo escrito (Êxodo 21:29): "O boi será apedrejado, e também seu dono morrer" —Como a morte do dono, assim é a morte do boi [ou seja, assim como o dono em casos capitais é julgado por 23, etc.) A morte (por apedrejamento) do lobo, do leão, do urso, tigre, leopardo e cobra requerem 23 juízes. R. Eliezer diz: Quem é o primeiro a matá-los merece, [e não é necessário trazê-los para beth-din.] R. Akiva diz: A morte deles exige 23 juízes. [A Gemara explica que o primeiro tanna e R. Akiva diferem em relação a uma cobra. O primeiro tanna requer 23 juízes para matar uma cobra, enquanto R. Akiva exige esse número para lobo, leão, urso, tigre e leopardo, enquanto que para uma cobra—"Quem vem primeiro merece"; pois ele livra o mundo de um flagelo. A halachá está de acordo com R. Akiva.]
Bartenura on Mishnah Sanhedrin
והרגת את האשה ואת הבהמה – that is an animal that copulates with a woman, which is compared by analogy to a woman. Just as a woman [is tried by a court] of twenty three, so is the animal [tried by a court of twenty-three.
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
English Explanation of Mishnah Sanhedrin
Introduction
Mishnah four deals with the number of judges in cases involving capital crimes.
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
Bartenura on Mishnah Sanhedrin
ואומר: "ואת הבהמה תהרוגו" – It is written concerning an animal that was copulated by a man. We have [thereby] learned/derived the animal that copulated with a woman and the animal that was copulated by a man.
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
English Explanation of Mishnah Sanhedrin
Cases concerning offenses punishable by death [are decided] by twenty three. Capital crimes are adjudicated by a court of twenty three. This is certainly due to the gravity of the punishment, which is of course irrevocable.
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
Bartenura on Mishnah Sanhedrin
כמיתת הבעלים – that is to say, just as the owner is judged by [a court of] twenty-three [judges], if he was liable for the death penalty.
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
English Explanation of Mishnah Sanhedrin
A beast that has sexual relations with a woman or with a man is [judged] by twenty three, as it says, “You shall execute the woman and the beast” (Lev. 20:16) and it says, “You shall execute the beast”. According to Lev. 2O:15-16 when a man or woman has sexual relations with an animal, not only are the human beings to be executed but the animal as well. Our mishnah teaches that just as the human beings are judged by twenty three so too are the animals.
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
Bartenura on Mishnah Sanhedrin
כל הקודם להורגן זכה – when they killed a human being, and there is no need to bring them to be tried in a Jewish court.
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
English Explanation of Mishnah Sanhedrin
The ox that is stoned [is judged] by twenty three., as it says, “The ox shall be stoned and also its owner shall be put to death” (Exodus 21:29), as is the death of the owner, so too is the death of the ox. According to Exodus 21:28-29 if an ox kills a man or woman the ox must be stoned. If the ox was a “warned” ox, that is one that had previously gored, the owner of the ox is to be stoned as well. Our mishnah teaches, just as the human being would be judged by twenty three, so too the animal.
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
Bartenura on Mishnah Sanhedrin
רבי עקיבא אומר: וכו' – It explains in the Gemara that there is a difference between the first teacher [of the Mishnah] and Rabbi Akiva. [Concerning] a snake – where the first Tanna [of the Mishnah] claims that its death is via a Jewish court of twenty-three [judges], but according to Rabbi Akiva, [the wolf], the lion, and the bear and the leopard and the hyena , their deaths [are administered] through [a Jewish court] of twenty-three [judges], but a snake, all who can kill it earliest, is [found] worthy, for it removes the one who causes damage from the world. And the Halakha is according to Rabbi Akiva.
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
English Explanation of Mishnah Sanhedrin
The wolf, the lion, the bear, the leopard, the panther, or serpent [that have killed a human being] their death is [adjudicated] by twenty three. Rabbi Eliezer says: “Anyone who kills them before they come to court merits.” But Rabbi Akiva says: “Their death must be [adjudicated] by twenty three. Not only are oxen who kill humans to be executed but any animal that kills a human. According to the first opinion in the mishnah, these animals are also to be judged by a court of twenty three. Rabbi Eliezer disagrees and says that the first person who sees them should kill them. After all, these animals which are wild and cannot be guarded as an ox can be guarded, present a hazard to the safety of the public. Rabbi Akiva disagrees with Rabbi Eliezer and states that they must be judged in front of a court of twenty three and only then can they be executed.
