Ki Teitzei


Ki Teitzei, Ki Tetzei, Ki Tetse, Ki Thetze, Ki Tese, Ki Tetzey, or Ki Seitzei is the 49th weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading and the sixth in the Book of Deuteronomy. It constitutes. The parashah sets out a series of miscellaneous laws, mostly governing civil and domestic life, including ordinances regarding a beautiful captive of war, inheritance among the sons of two wives, a wayward son, the corpse of an executed person, found property, coming upon another in distress, rooftop safety, prohibited mixtures, sexual offenses, membership in the congregation, camp hygiene, runaway slaves, prostitution, usury, vows, gleaning, kidnapping, repossession, prompt payment of wages, vicarious liability, flogging, treatment of domestic animals, levirate marriage, weights and measures, and wiping out the memory of Amalek.
The parashah is made up of 5,856 Hebrew letters, 1,582 Hebrew words, 110 verses, and 213 lines in a Torah Scroll. Jews generally read the parashah in August or September. Jews also read the part of the parashah about Amalek,, as the concluding reading on Shabbat Zachor, the special Sabbath immediately before Purim, which commemorates the story of Esther and the Jewish people's victory over Haman's plan to kill the Jews, told in the book of Esther. identifies Haman as an Agagite, and thus a descendant of Amalek. identifies the Agagites with the Amalekites. A Midrash says that between King Agag's capture by Saul and his killing by Samuel, Agag fathered a child, from whom Haman, in turn, descended.

Readings

In traditional Sabbath Torah reading, the parashah is divided into seven readings, or, aliyot. In the Masoretic Text of the Tanakh, Parashah Ki Teitzei has two "open portion" divisions. Parashah Ki Teitzei has several further subdivisions, called "closed portions" within the first open portion. The long first open portion spans nearly the entire parashah, except for the concluding maftir reading. The short second open portion coincides with maftir reading. Thus the parashah is nearly one complete whole. Closed portion divisions divide all of the readings, often setting apart separate laws.

First reading — Deuteronomy 21:10–21

In the first reading, Moses directed the Israelites that when they took captives in war, and an Israelite saw among the captives a beautiful woman whom he wanted to marry, the Israelite was to bring her into his house and have her trim her hair, pare her nails, discard her captive's garb, and spend a month lamenting her parents. Thereafter, the Israelite could take her as his wife. But if he should find that he no longer wanted her, he had to release her outright, and not sell her as a slave. A closed portion ends here.
In the continuation of the reading, Moses instructed that if a man had two wives, one loved and one unloved, and both bore him sons, but the unloved one bore him his firstborn son, then when he willed his property to his sons, he could not treat the son of the loved wife as firstborn in disregard of the older son of the unloved wife; rather, he was required to accept the firstborn, the son of the unloved one, and allot to him his birthright of a double portion of all that he possessed. A closed portion ends here.
In the continuation of the reading, Moses instructed that if a couple had a wayward and defiant son, who did not obey his father or mother even after they disciplined him, then they were to bring him to the elders of his town and publicly declare their son to be disloyal, defiant, heedless, a glutton, and a drunkard. The men of his town were then to stone him to death. The first reading and a closed portion end here.
ns in a Neo-Assyrian relief

Second reading — Deuteronomy 21:22–22:7

In the second reading, Moses instructed that if the community executed a man for a capital offense and impaled him on a stake, they were not to let his corpse remain on the stake overnight, but were to bury him the same day, for an impaled body affronted God. A closed portion ends here with the end of the chapter.
In the continuation of the reading, Moses instructed that if one found another's lost ox, sheep, donkey, garment, or any other lost thing, then the finder could not ignore it, but was required to take it back to its owner. If the owner did not live near the finder or the finder did not know who the owner was, then the finder was to bring the thing home and keep it until the owner claimed it. A closed portion ends here.
In the continuation of the reading, Moses instructed that if one came upon another's donkey or ox fallen on the road, then one could not ignore it, but was required to help the owner to raise it. A closed portion ends here.
In the continuation of the reading, Moses instructed that a woman was not to put on man's apparel, nor a man wear woman's clothing. Another closed portion ends here.
And as the reading continues, Moses instructed that if one came upon a bird's nest with the mother bird sitting over fledglings or eggs, then one could not take the mother together with her young, but was required to let the mother go and take only the young. The second reading and a closed portion end here.

Third reading — Deuteronomy 22:8–23:7

In the third reading, Moses taught that when one built a new house, one had to make a parapet for the roof, so that no one should fall from it. One was not to sow a vineyard with a second kind of seed, nor use the yield of such a vineyard. A closed portion ends here.
In the continuation of the reading, Moses instructed that one was not to plow with an ox and a donkey together. One was not to wear cloth combining wool and linen. A closed portion ends here.
In the continuation of the reading, Moses instructed that one was to make tassels on the four corners of the garment with which one covered oneself. Another closed portion ends here.
As the reading continues, Moses instructed that if a man married a woman, cohabited with her, took an aversion to her, and falsely charged her with not having been a virgin at the time of the marriage, then the woman's parents were to produce the cloth with evidence of the woman's virginity before the town elders at the town gate. The elders were then to have the man flogged and fine him 100 shekels of silver to be paid to the woman's father. The woman was to remain the man's wife, and he was never to have the right to divorce her. A closed portion ends here.
In the continuation of the reading, Moses instructed that if the elders found that woman had not been a virgin, then the woman was to be brought to the entrance of her father's house and stoned to death by the men of her town. A closed portion ends here.
In the continuation of the reading, Moses instructed that if a man was found lying with another man's wife, both the man and the woman with whom he lay were to die. Another closed portion ends here.
As the reading continues, Moses instructed that if, in a city, a man lay with a virgin who was engaged to a man, then the authorities were to take the two of them to the town gate and stone them to death — the girl because she did not cry for help, and the man because he violated another man's wife. A closed portion ends here.
In the continuation of the reading, Moses instructed that if the man lay with the girl by force in the open country, only the man was to die, for there was no one to save her. Another closed portion ends here.
In the continuation of the reading, Moses instructed that if a man seized a virgin who was not engaged and lay with her, then the man was to pay the girl's father 50 shekels of silver, she was to become the man's wife, and he was never to have the right to divorce her. A closed portion ends here with the end of the chapter.
As the reading continues in chapter 23, Moses instructed that no man could marry his father's former wife. A closed portion ends here.
In the continuation of the reading, Moses taught that God's congregation could not admit into membership anyone whose testes were crushed or whose member was cut off. A closed portion ends here.
In the continuation of the reading, Moses taught that God's congregation could not admit into membership anyone misbegotten or anyone descended within ten generations from one misbegotten. A closed portion ends here.
And as the reading continues, Moses instructed that God's congregation could not admit into membership any Ammonite or Moabite, or anyone descended within ten generations from an Ammonite or Moabite. As long as they lived, Israelites were not to concern themselves with the welfare or benefit of Ammonites or Moabites, because they did not meet the Israelites with food and water after the Israelites left Egypt, and because they hired Balaam to curse the Israelites — but God refused to heed Balaam, turning his curse into a blessing. The third reading and a closed portion end here.

Fourth reading — Deuteronomy 23:8–24

In the fourth reading, Moses told the Israelites not to abhor the Edomites, for they were kinsman, nor Egyptians, for the Israelites were strangers in Egypt. Great grandchildren of Edomites or Egyptians could be admitted into the congregation. A closed portion ends here.
In the continuation of the reading, Moses taught that any Israelite rendered unclean by a nocturnal emission had to leave the Israelites military camp, bathe in water toward evening, and reenter the camp at sundown. The Israelites were to designate an area outside the camp where they might relieve themselves, and to carry a spike to dig a hole and cover up their excrement. As God moved about in their camp to protect them, the Israelites were to keep their camp holy. A closed portion ends here.
In the continuation of the reading, Moses taught that if a slave sought refuge with the Israelites, the Israelites were not to turn the slave over to the slave's master, but were to let the former slave live in any place the former slave might choose and not ill-treat the former slave. A closed portion ends here.
In the continuation of the reading, Moses forbade the Israelites to act as harlots, sodomites, or cult prostitutes, and from bringing the wages of prostitution into the house of God in fulfillment of any vow. A closed portion ends here.
In the continuation of the reading, Moses forbade the Israelites to charge interest on loans to their countrymen, but they could charge interest on loans to foreigners. A closed portion ends here.
In the continuation of the reading, Moses required the Israelites promptly to fulfill vows to God, but they incurred no guilt if they refrained from vowing. The fourth reading and a closed portion end here.

Fifth reading — Deuteronomy 23:25–24:4

In the fifth reading, Moses allowed a worker working in a vineyard to eat grapes until full, but the worker was forbidden to put any in a vessel. A closed portion ends here.
As the reading continues, Moses allowed a worker working in a field of standing grain to pluck ears by hand, but the worker was forbidden to cut the neighbor's grain with a sickle. A closed portion ends here with the end of the chapter.
As the reading continues in chapter 24, Moses instructed that a divorced woman who remarried and then lost her second husband to divorce or death could not remarry her first husband. The fifth reading and a closed portion end here.

Sixth reading — Deuteronomy 24:5–13

In the sixth reading, Moses exempted a newlywed man from army duty for one year, so as to give happiness to his wife. Israelites were forbidden to take a handmill or an upper millstone in pawn, for that would be taking someone's livelihood. A closed portion ends here.
In the continuation of the reading, Moses taught that one found to have kidnapped a fellow Israelite was to die. A closed portion ends here.
In the continuation of the reading, Moses taught that in cases of a skin affection, Israelites were to do exactly as the priests instructed, remembering that God afflicted and then healed Miriam’s skin after the Israelites left Egypt. A closed portion ends here.
In the continuation of the reading, Moses forbade an Israelite who lent to a fellow Israelite to enter the borrower’s house to seize a pledge, and required the lender to remain outside while the borrower brought the pledge out to the lender. If the borrower was needy, the lender was forbidden to sleep in the pledge, but had to return the pledge to the borrower at sundown, so that the borrower might sleep in the cloth and bless the lender before God. The sixth reading and a closed portion end here.

Seventh reading — Deuteronomy 24:14–25:19

In the seventh reading, Moses forbade the Israelites to abuse a needy and destitute laborer, whether an Israelite or a stranger, and were required to pay the laborer's wages on the same day, before the sun set, as the laborer would depend on the wages. A closed portion ends here.
In the continuation of the reading, Moses taught that parents were not to be put to death for children, nor were children to be put to death for parents; a person was to be put to death only for the person's own crime. A closed portion ends here.
In the continuation of the reading, Moses forbade the Israelites to subvert the rights of the proselyte or the orphan, and forbade the Israelites to take a widow’s garment in pawn, remembering that they were slaves in Egypt and that God redeemed them. A closed portion ends here.
In the continuation of the reading, Moses instructed that when Israelites reaped the harvest in their fields and overlooked a sheaf, they were not to turn back to get it, but were to leave it to the proselyte, the orphan, and the widow. A closed portion ends here.
In the continuation of the reading, Moses instructed that when Israelites beat down the fruit of their olive trees or gathered the grapes of their vineyards, they were not to go over them again, but were leave what remained for the proselyte, the orphan, and the widow, remembering that they were slaves in Egypt. A closed portion ends here with the end of the chapter.
As the reading continues in chapter 25, Moses instructed that when one was to be flogged, the judge was to have the guilty one lie down and be whipped in his presence, as warranted but with no more than 40 lashes, so that the guilty one would not be degraded. Israelites were forbidden to muzzle an ox while it was threshing. A closed portion ends here.
In the continuation of the reading, Moses instructed that when brothers dwelt together and one of them died leaving no son, the surviving brother was to marry the wife of the deceased and perform the levir's duty, and the first son that she bore was to be accounted to the dead brother, that his name might survive. But if the surviving brother did not want to marry his brother's widow, then the widow was to appear before the elders at the town gate and declare that the brother refused to perform the levir's duty, the elders were to talk to him, and if he insisted, the widow was to go up to him before the elders, pull the sandal off his foot, spit in his face, and declare: "Thus shall be done to the man who will not build up his brother’s house!" They would then call him "the family of the unsandaled one." A closed portion ends here.
In the continuation of the reading, Moses instructed that if two men fought with each other, and to save her husband the wife of one seized the other man's genitals, then her hand was to be cut off. A closed portion ends here.
In the continuation of the reading, Moses forbade Israelites to have alternate weights or measures, larger and smaller, and required them to have completely honest weights and measures. The long first open portion ends here.
In the maftir reading of that concludes the parashah, Moses enjoined the Israelites to remember what the Amalekites did to them on their journey, after they left Egypt, surprising them and cutting down all the stragglers at their rear. The Israelites were enjoined never to forget to blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven. The second open portion ends here with the end of the parashah.

Readings according to the triennial cycle

Jews who read the Torah according to the triennial cycle of Torah reading read the parashah according to the following schedule:
Year 1Year 2Year 3
2020, 2023, 2026...2021, 2024, 2027...2022, 2025, 2028...
Reading
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Maftir

In ancient parallels

The parashah has parallels in these ancient sources:

Deuteronomy chapter 25

Presaging the injunction of for honest weights and measures, the Code of Hammurabi decreed that if merchants used a light scale to measure the grain or the silver that they lent and a heavy scale to measure the grain or the silver that they collected, then they were to forfeit their investment.

In inner-biblical interpretation

The parashah has parallels or is discussed in these Biblical sources:

Deuteronomy chapters 12–26

Professor Benjamin Sommer of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America argued that borrowed whole sections from the earlier text of.

Deuteronomy chapter 21

The "double portion" to be inherited by the firstborn son is literally a "double mouthful". Jacob had said to Joseph in his last testament, "I give you one portion more than your brothers".
The punishment of being stoned outside the city, prescribed in for a stubborn and rebellious son, was also the punishment prescribed for blaspheming the name of the Lord in. The Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary suggests that "parents are considered God's representatives and invested with a portion of his authority over their children" and therefore refusal to obey the voice of one's father or mother, when they have chastened one, is akin to refusal to honor the name of God. uses the same words, "a glutton and a drunkard", as, also linked in the succeeding verses of Proverbs to the need for obedience to and respect for one's parents: "Listen to your father who begot you, and do not despise your mother when she is old".

Deuteronomy chapter 22

The instruction in that parallels states that the duty to restore a fallen donkey or ox applies to one's enemy's animals as well as to one's brother's.

Deuteronomy chapter 23

The first biblical mention of the Moabites and the Ammonites is in. It is stated there that the Ammonites were descended from Ben-Ammi, a son of Lot through incest with his younger daughter. Bén'ámmî literally means "son of my people". After the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, the daughters of Lot had sexual relations with their father, resulting in Ammon and his half brother, Moab, being conceived. This narrative was previously considered literal fact, but is now generally interpreted as recording a gross popular irony by which the Israelites expressed their loathing of the Moabites and Ammonites. However, according to the same source, doubts remain as to whether the Israelites would have been willing to attribute such an irony to Lot himself. records the Israelites' request for safe passage and supplies through the land of the Moabites and the Moabites' refusal to "meet them with bread and water" is recalled in.
Their exclusion from the Israelite congregation, "to their tenth generation, shall they not enter into the congregation of the Lord for ever", is best understood to mean not only to the tenth generation, but for ever; and this law was understood as in force in Nehemiah's time, which was more than ten generations from the occupation of Canaan. The text of was read in when the post-exilic Temple was rededicated.
In the prophet Jeremiah's isolation and dejection, he tells God that he has "neither lent for interest, nor have men lent to for interest", contrary to.

Deuteronomy chapter 24

The Hebrew Bible reports skin disease and a person affected by skin disease at several places, often translated as "leprosy" and "a leper." In, to help Moses to convince others that God had sent him, God instructed Moses to put his hand into his bosom, and when he took it out, his hand was "leprous, as white as snow." In, the Torah sets out regulations for skin disease and a person affected by skin disease. In after Miriam spoke against Moses, God's cloud removed from the Tent of Meeting and "Miriam was leprous, as white as snow." In the current parashah, Moses warned the Israelites in the case of skin disease diligently to observe all that the priests would teach them, remembering what God did to Miriam. In 2 Kings, part of the haftarah for parashah Tazria, the prophet Elisha cures Naaman, the commander of the army of the king of Aram, who was a "leper". In, part of the haftarah for parashah Metzora, the story is told of four "leprous men" at the gate during the Arameans’ siege of Samaria. And in 2 Chronicles, after King Uzziah tried to burn incense in the Temple in Jerusalem, "leprosy broke forth on his forehead."
and admonish the Israelites not to wrong the stranger, for "you shall remember that you were a bondman in Egypt." Similarly, in, the 8th century BCE prophet Amos anchored his pronouncements in the covenant community's Exodus history, saying, "Hear this word that the Lord has spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family that I brought up out of the land of Egypt."
The prophet Isaiah used the practice of leaving olives on the boughs and grapes in the vineyard for gleanings as a sign of hope for Israel when he forecast the nation's downfall:

Deuteronomy chapter 25

The duty of a brother pursuant to to perform a Levirate marriage with the wife of a deceased brother is reflected in the stories of Tamar in and Ruth in ; ; and.
The Israelites' victory over the Amalekites and the role of Moses, supported by Aaron and Hur in directing the battle's outcome, was recorded in, but the Exodus narrative does not mention the Amalekites' tactics of attacking the "faint and weary" at the rear of the Israelites' convoy. At Moses' direction it was also recorded in another ancient text, possibly the Book of the Wars of the Lord, "I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.".
In 1 Samuel, the prophet Samuel conveys the command of God to King Saul to "punish Amalek for what he did to Israel". Saul "utterly destroyed" the Amalekites; initially he spared Agag their king, but Samuel killed him later.

In early nonrabbinic interpretation

The parashah has parallels or is discussed in these early nonrabbinic sources:

Deuteronomy chapter 23

The Damascus Document of the Qumran sect prohibited non-cash transactions with Jews who were not members of the sect. Professor Lawrence Schiffman of New York University read this regulation as an attempt to avoid violating prohibitions on charging interest to one's fellow Jew in ; ; and. Apparently, the Qumran sect viewed prevailing methods of conducting business through credit as violating those laws.
Philo read to instruct us to be prompt in our gratitude to God. Philo cited Cain as an example of a "self-loving man" who showed his gratitude to God too slowly. Philo taught that we should hurry to please God without delay. Thus enjoins, "If you vow a vow, you shall not delay to perform it." Philo explained that a vow is a request to God for good things, and thus enjoins that when one has received them, one must offer gratitude to God as soon as possible. Philo divided those who fail to do so into three types: those who forget the benefits that they have received, those who from an excessive conceit look upon themselves and not God as the authors of what they receive, and those who realize that God caused what they received, but still say that they deserved it, because they are worthy to receive God's favor. Philo taught that Scripture opposes all three. Philo taught that replies to the first group who forget, "Take care, lest when you have eaten and are filled, and when you have built fine houses and inhabited them, and when your flocks and your herds have increased, and when your silver and gold, and all that you possess is multiplied, you be lifted up in your heart, and forget the Lord your God." Philo taught that one does not forget God when one remembers one's own nothingness and God's exceeding greatness. Philo interpreted to reprove those who look upon themselves as the cause of what they have received, telling them: "Say not my own might, or the strength of my right hand has acquired me all this power, but remember always the Lord your God, who gives you the might to acquire power." And Philo read to address those who think that they deserve what they have received when it says, "You do not enter into this land to possess it because of your righteousness, or because of the holiness of your heart; but, in the first place, because of the iniquity of these nations, since God has brought on them the destruction of wickedness; and in the second place, that He may establish the covenant that He swore to our Fathers." Philo interpreted the term "covenant" figuratively to mean God's graces. Thus Philo concluded that if we discard forgetfulness, ingratitude, and self-love, we shall not longer through our delay miss attaining the genuine worship of God, but we shall meet God, having prepared ourselves to do the things that God commands us.
A Dead Sea Scroll manuscript from Qumran Cave 4, probably dated to the turn of the common era, deduced from that a poor person could eat ears of corn in the field of another person, but was not allowed to take any home. On a threshing-floor, however, the poor person could both eat and gather provisions for his family.

In classical rabbinic interpretation

The parashah is discussed in these rabbinic sources from the era of the Mishnah and the Talmud:

Deuteronomy chapter 21

Deuteronomy 21:10–14 — the beautiful captive

The Gemara taught that provided the law of taking a beautiful captive only as an allowance for human passions. The Rabbis taught in a Baraita that taking a beautiful captive according to the strictures of was better than taking beautiful captives without restriction, just as it was better for Jews to eat the meat of a ritually slaughtered ill animal than to eat the meat of an ill animal that had died on its own. The Rabbis interpreted the words "and you see among the captives" in to mean that the provisions applied only if the soldier set his eye upon the woman when taking her captive, not later. They interpreted the words "a woman" in to mean that the provisions applied even to a woman who was married before having been taken captive. They interpreted the words "and you have a desire" in to mean that the provisions applied even if the woman was not beautiful. They interpreted the word "her" in to mean that the provisions allowed him to take her alone, not her and her companion. They interpreted the words "and you shall take" in to mean that the soldier could have marital rights over her. They interpreted the words "to you to wife" in to mean that the soldier could not take two women, one for himself and another for his father, or one for himself and another for his son. And they interpreted the words "then you shall bring her home" in to mean that the soldier could not molest her on the battlefield. Rav said that permitted a priest to take a beautiful captive, while Samuel maintained that it was forbidden.
A Baraita taught that the words of, "And you carry them away captive," were meant to include Canaanites who lived outside the land of Israel, teaching that if they repented, they would be accepted.
The Gemara taught that the procedure of applied only when the captive did not accept the commandments, for if she accepted the commandments, then she could be immersed in a ritual bath, and she and the soldier could marry immediately. Rabbi Eliezer interpreted the words "and she shall shave her head and do her nails" in to mean that she was to cut her nails, but Rabbi Akiva interpreted the words to mean that she was to let them grow. Rabbi Eliezer reasoned that specified an act with respect to the head and an act with respect to the nails, and as the former meant removal, so should the latter. Rabbi Akiva reasoned that specified disfigurement for the head, so it must mean disfigurement for the nails, as well.
Rabbi Eliezer interpreted the words "bewail her father and her mother" in to mean her actual father and mother. But Rabbi Akiva interpreted the words to mean idolatry, citing. A Baraita taught that "a full month" meant 30 days. But Rabbi Simeon ben Eleazar interpreted to call for 90 days — 30 days for "month," 30 days for "full," and 30 days for "and after that." Rabina said that one could say that "month" meant 30 days, "full" meant 30 days, and "and after that" meant an equal number again, for a total of 120 days.

Deuteronomy 21:15–17 — inheritance among the sons of two wives

The Mishnah and the Talmud interpreted the laws of the firstborn's inheritance in in , , , and . The Mishnah interpreted to teach that a son and a daughter have equal inheritance rights, except that a firstborn son takes a double portion in his father's estate but does not take a double portion in his mother's estate. The Mishnah taught that they disregarded a father who said, "My firstborn son shall not inherit a double portion," or "My son shall not inherit with his brothers," because the father's stipulation would be contrary to. But a father could distribute his property as gifts during his lifetime so that one son received more than another, or so that the firstborn received merely an equal share, so long as the father did not try to make these conveyances as an inheritance upon his death.
The Gemara recounted a discussion regarding the right of the firstborn in. Once Rabbi Jannai was walking, leaning on the shoulder of Rabbi Simlai his attendant, and Rabbi Judah the Prince came to meet them. Rabbi Judah the Prince asked Rabbi Jannai what the Scriptural basis was for the proposition that a son takes precedence over a daughter in the inheritance of a mother's estate. Rabbi Jannai replied that the plural use of the term "tribes" in the discussion of the inheritance of the daughters of Zelophehad in indicates that the mother's tribe is to be compared to the father's tribe, and as in the case of the father's tribe, a son takes precedence over a daughter, so in the case of the mother's tribe, a son should take precedence over a daughter. Rabbi Judah the Prince challenged Rabbi Jannai, saying that if it this were so, one could say that as in the case of the father's tribe, a firstborn takes a double portion, so in the case of the mother's tribe would a firstborn take a double portion. Rabbi Jannai dismissed the remark of Rabbi Judah the Prince. The Gemara then inquired why it is true that a firstborn son takes a double share in his father's estate but not his mother's. Abaye replied that says, "of all that he has," implying all that "he" has and not all that "she" has. The Gemara asked whether the proposition that a firstborn son takes a double portion only in the estate of his father might apply only in the case where a bachelor married a widow. And thus where a bachelor married a virgin might the firstborn son also take a double portion in his mother's estate? Rav Nahman bar Isaac replied that says, "for he is the first-fruits of his strength," from which we can infer that the law applies to the first fruits of the father's strength and not the first-fruits of the mother's strength. The Gemara replied that teaches that though a son was born after a miscarriage he is nonetheless regarded as the firstborn son for purposes of inheritance. thus implies that only the son for whom the father's heart grieves is included in the law, but a miscarriage, for which the father's heart does not grieve, is excluded. But then the Gemara reasoned that if is necessary for excluding miscarriages, then should have read, "for he is the first-fruits of strength," but in fact says, "his strength." Thus one may deduce two laws from. But the Gemara objected further that still that the words of, "the first-fruits of his strength," not her strength, might apply only to the case of a widower who married a virgin. But where a bachelor married a virgin, the firstborn son might take a double portion also in his mother's estate. But Rava concluded that states, "the right of the firstborn is his ," and this indicates that the right of the firstborn applies to a man's estate and not to a woman's.
A Midrash told that the Ishmaelites came before Alexander the Great to dispute the birthright with Israel, accompanied by the Canaanites and the Egyptians. The Ishmaelites based their claim on, "But he shall acknowledge the firstborn, the son of the hated," and Ishmael was the firstborn. Gebiah the son of Kosem representing the Jews, asked Alexander whether a man could not do as he wished to his sons. When Alexander replied that a man could, Gebiah quoted, "And Abraham gave all that he had to Isaac." The Ishmaelites asked where the deed of gift to his other sons was. Gebiah replied by quoting, "But to the sons of the concubines, whom Abraham had, Abraham gave gifts." Thereupon the Ishmaelites departed in shame.

Deuteronomy 21:18–21 — the wayward son

Chapter 8 of tractate Sanhedrin in the Mishnah and Babylonian Talmud interpreted the laws of the wayward and rebellious son in. A Baraita taught that there never was a "stubborn and rebellious son" and never would be, and that was written merely that we might study it and receive reward for the studying. But Rabbi Jonathan said that he saw a stubborn and rebellious son and sat on his grave.
The Mishnah interpreted the words "a son" in to teach that provision applied to "a son," but not a daughter, and to "a son," but not a full-grown man. The Mishnah exempted a minor, because minors did not come within the scope of the commandments. And the Mishnah deduced that a boy became liable to being considered "a stubborn and rebellious son" from the time that he grew two genital pubic hairs until his pubic hair grew around his genitalia. Rav Judah taught in Rav's name that implied that the son had to be nearly a man.
The Mishnah interpreted the words of to exclude from designation as a "stubborn and rebellious son" a boy who had a parent with any of a number of physical characteristics. The Mishnah interpreted the words "then his father and his mother shall lay hold on him" to exclude a boy if one of his parents had a hand or fingers cut off. The Mishnah interpreted the words "and bring him out" to exclude a boy who had a lame parent. The Mishnah interpreted the words "and they shall say" to exclude a boy who had a parent who could not speak. The Mishnah interpreted the words "this our son" to exclude a boy who had a blind parent. The Mishnah interpreted the words "he will not obey our voice" to exclude a boy who had a deaf parent.

Deuteronomy chapter 22

The first two chapters of tractate Bava Metzia in the Mishnah, Tosefta, and Babylonian Talmud interpreted the laws of lost property in. The Mishnah read the reference to "your brother’s ox or his sheep" in to apply to any domestic animal. The Mishnah read the emphatic words of, "you shall surely return them," repeating the verb "return" in the Hebrew, to teach that required a person to return a neighbor's animal again and again, even if the animal kept running away four or five times. And Rava taught that required a person to return the animal even a hundred times. If one found an identifiable item and the identity of the owner was unknown, the Mishnah taught that the finder was required to announce it. Rabbi Meir taught that the finder was obliged to announce it until his neighbors could know of it. Rabbi Judah maintained that the finder had to announce it until three festivals had passed plus an additional seven days after the last festival, allowing three days for going home, three days for returning, and one day for announcing.
A Baraita cited among affirmative precepts not limited to time those regarding returning lost property in, the dismissal of the mother bird in, and the building of fences around accessible roofs in.
Rava taught that, “And so shall you do with every lost item of your brother,” serves to include an obligation to protect one's brother from the loss of his land. Rav Ḥananya replied that a Baraita taught that if one saw water that is flowing and coming to inundate another's field, one must establish a barrier before the water in order to preserve the other's field.
The Mishnah read the emphatic words of and to teach that these verses required people to help lift a neighbor's animal even if they lifted it, it fell again, and again, even five times. If the owner sat down and said, "Since the commandment is on you, if you wish to unload, unload," one was not obligated, for says "with him." But if the owner was aged or sick, one was obligated to lift even without the owner's help. The Gemara concluded that and require people to prevent suffering to animals. And the Gemara argued that when the Mishnah exempts the passerby when the owner does not participate in unloading the burden, it means that the passerby is exempt from unloading the burden for free, but is obligated to do so for remuneration.
Chapter 12 of tractate Chullin in the Mishnah and Babylonian Talmud interpreted the laws of sending the mother bird away from the nest in. The Mishnah read to require a person to let the mother bird go again and again, even if the mother bird kept coming back to the nest four or five times. And the Gemara taught that required a person to let the mother bird go even a hundred times.
Tractate Kilayim in the Mishnah, Tosefta, and Jerusalem Talmud interpreted the laws of separating diverse species in.
The Mishnah employed the prohibitions of,, and to imagine how one could with one action violate up to nine separate commandments. One could plow with an ox and a donkey yoked together that are two animals dedicated to the sanctuary, plowing mixed seeds sown in a vineyard, during a Sabbatical year, on a Festival-day, when the plower is a priest and a Nazirite plowing in a contaminated place. Chananya ben Chachinai said that the plower also may have been wearing a garment of wool and linen. They said to him that this would not be in the same category as the other violations. He replied that neither is the Nazirite in the same category as the other violations.
Rabbi Joshua of Siknin taught in the name of Rabbi Levi that the Evil Inclination criticizes four laws as without logical basis, and Scripture uses the expression "statute" in connection with each: the laws of a brother's wife, mingled kinds, the scapegoat, and the red cow.
calls on the Israelites to obey God's "statutes" and "ordinances". The Rabbis in a Baraita taught that the "ordinances" were commandments that logic would have dictated that we follow even had Scripture not commanded them, like the laws concerning idolatry, adultery, bloodshed, robbery, and blasphemy. And "statutes" were commandments that the Adversary challenges us to violate as beyond reason, like those relating to, shaatnez ;, chalitzah ; purification of the person with skin disease,, tzara’at, and the scapegoat. So that people do not think these "ordinances" to be empty acts, in, God says, "I am the Lord," indicating that the Lord made these statutes, and we have no right to question them.
Similarly, reading, "My ordinances shall you do, and My statutes shall you keep," the Sifra distinguished "ordinances" from "statutes". The term "ordinances", taught the Sifra, refers to rules that even had they not been written in the Torah, it would have been entirely logical to write them, like laws pertaining to theft, sexual immorality, idolatry, blasphemy and murder. The term "statutes", taught the Sifra, refers to those rules that the impulse to do evil and the nations of the world try to undermine, like eating pork, wearing wool-linen mixtures, release from levirate marriage, purification of a person affected by skin disease, and the goat sent off into the wilderness. In regard to these, taught the Sifra, the Torah says simply that God legislated them and we have no right to raise doubts about them.
Rabbi Eleazar ben Azariah taught that people should not say that they do not want to wear a wool-linen mixture, eat pork, or be intimate with forbidden partners, but rather should say that they would love to, but God has decreed that they not do so. For in, God says, "I have separated you from the nations to be mine." So one should separate from transgression and accept the rule of Heaven.
The Mishnah taught that the fines for rape, seduction, the husband who falsely accused his bride of not having been a virgin, and any judicial court matter are not canceled by the Sabbatical year.
Chapter 3 of tractate Ketubot in the Mishnah, Tosefta, and Babylonian Talmud interpreted the laws of seducers and rapists in.

Deuteronomy chapter 23

Interpreting, “An Ammonite or a Moabite shall not enter into the assembly of the Lord,” the Mishnah taught that whereas an Ammonite and a Moabite are forbidden to enter into the congregation of Israel, their women are permitted immediately. The Babylonian Talmud reported that Rava said that this tradition came from the prophet Samuel, and it thus allowed David and his family to marry into the Israelite congregation.
Rabbi Abba bar Kahana said that all of Balaam's curses, which God turned into blessings, reverted to curses, except for Balaam's blessing of Israel's synagogues and schoolhouses, for says, "But the Lord your God turned the curse into a blessing for you, because the Lord your God loved you," using the singlular "curse," and not the plural "curses". Rabbi Johanan taught that God reversed every curse that Balaam intended into a blessing. Thus Balaam wished to curse the Israelites to have no synagogues or school-houses, for, "How goodly are your tents, O Jacob," refers to synagogues and school-houses. Balaam wished that the Shechinah should not rest upon the Israelites, for in, "and your tabernacles, O Israel," the Tabernacle symbolizes the Divine Presence. Balaam wished that the Israelites’ kingdom should not endure, for, "As the valleys are they spread forth," symbolizes the passing of time. Balaam wished that the Israelites might have no olive trees and vineyards, for in, he said, "as gardens by the river's side." Balaam wished that the Israelites’ smell might not be fragrant, for in, he said, "as the trees of lign aloes that the Lord has planted." Balaam wished that the Israelites’ kings might not be tall, for in, he said, "and as cedar trees beside the waters." Balaam wished that the Israelites might not have a king who was the son of a king, for in, he said, "He shall pour the water out of his buckets," signifying that one king would descend from another. Balaam wished that the Israelites’ kingdom might not rule over other nations, for in, he said, "and his seed shall be in many waters." Balaam wished that the Israelites’ kingdom might not be strong, for in, he said, "and his king shall be higher than Agag. Balaam wished that the Israelites’ kingdom might not be awe-inspiring, for in, he said, "and his kingdom shall be exalted.
Rabbi Jose noted that the law of rewarded the Egyptians for their hospitality notwithstanding that indicated that the Egyptians befriended the Israelites only for their own benefit. Rabbi Jose concluded that if Providence thus rewarded one with mixed motives, Providence will reward even more one who selflessly shows hospitality to a scholar.
Rabbi Samuel ben Nahman compared the laws of camp hygiene in to the case of a High Priest who was walking on the road and met a layman who wanted to walk with him. The High Priest answered the layman that he was a priest and needed to go along a ritually clean path, and that it would thus not be proper for him to walk among graves. The High Priest said that if the layman would come with the priest, it was well and good, but if not, the priest would eventually have to leave the layman and go his own way. So Moses told the Israelites, in the words of, "The Lord your God walks in the midst of your camp, to deliver you."
Rabbi Eleazar ben Perata taught that manna counteracted the ill effects of foreign foods on the Israelites. But the Gemara taught after the Israelites complained about the manna in, God burdened the Israelites with the walk of three parasangs to get outside their camp to answer the call of nature. And it was then that the command of, "And you shall have a paddle among your weapons," began to apply to the Israelites.
The Mishnah taught that a red cow born by a caesarean section, the hire of a harlot, or the price of a dog was invalid for the purposes of. Rabbi Eliezer ruled it valid, as states, "You shall not bring the hire of a harlot or the price of a dog into the house of the Lord your God," and the red cow was not brought into the house.
In part by reference to, the Gemara interpreted the words in, "This is the law of the burnt-offering: It is that which goes up on its firewood upon the altar all night into the morning." From the passage, "which goes up on its firewood upon the altar all night," the Rabbis deduced that once a thing had been placed upon the altar, it could not be taken down all night. Rabbi Judah taught that the words "This... goes up on... the altar all night" exclude three things. According to Rabbi Judah, they exclude an animal slaughtered at night, an animal whose blood was spilled, and an animal whose blood was carried out beyond the curtains. Rabbi Judah taught that if any of these things had been placed on the altar, it was brought down. Rabbi Simeon noted that says "burnt-offering." From this, Rabbi Simeon taught that one can only know that a fit burnt-offering remained on the altar. But Rabbi Simeon taught that the phrase "the law of the burnt-offering" intimates one law for all burnt-offerings, namely, that if they were placed on the altar, they were not removed. Rabbi Simeon taught that this law applied to animals that were slaughtered at night, or whose blood was spilt, or whose blood passed out of the curtains, or whose flesh spent the night away from the altar, or whose flesh went out, or were unclean, or were slaughtered with the intention of burning its flesh after time or out of bounds, or whose blood was received and sprinkled by unfit priests, or whose blood was applied below the scarlet line when it should have been applied above, or whose blood was applied above when it should have been applied below, or whose blood was applied outside when it should have been applied within, or whose blood was applied within when it should have been applied outside, or a Passover-offering or a sin-offering that one slaughtered for a different purpose. Rabbi Simeon suggested that one might think that law would also include an animal used for bestiality, set aside for an idolatrous sacrifice or worshipped, a harlot's hire or the price of a dog, or a mixed breed, or a trefah, or an animal calved through the cesarean section. But Rabbi Simeon taught that the word "This" serves to exclude these. Rabbi Simeon explained that he included the former in the general rule because their disqualification arose in the sanctuary, while he excluded the latter because their disqualification did not arise in the sanctuary.
Tractates Nedarim and Shevuot in the Mishnah, Tosefta, Jerusalem Talmud, and Babylonian Talmud interpreted the laws of vows and oaths in, and,, and.
The Rabbis taught that Providence examines one's record of deeds on three occasions: if one goes on a journey alone, if one sits in an unstable house, and if one vows and does not fulfill one's vow. The Midrash taught that we know about the problem of vowing and not paying from, “When you vow a vow to the Lord your God, you shalt not be slack to pay it”; and from, “It is a snare to a man rashly to say, ‘Holy,’ and after vows to make inquiry.” If one delays paying one’s vow, Providence examines one’s record, and the angels assume a prosecutorial stance, and scrutinize one’s sins. The Midrash illustrated this by noting that when Jacob left Canaan for to Aram-Naharaim, reports, “Jacob made a vow.” Then he became wealthy, returned, and did not pay his vow. So God brought Esau against him, bent on killing Jacob, and Esau took a huge gift from him of the 200 goats and other gifts reported in, yet Jacob did not fulfill his vow. So God brought the angel against him, and the angel wrestled with Jacob but did not kill him, as reports, “Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the break of dawn.” The Midrash taught that it was Samael, Esau's guardian angel, who wanted to kill him, as reports, “He saw that he could not prevail against him.” But Jacob left disabled. And when Jacob still did not pay his vow, the trouble with Dinah came upon him, as reported in. When Jacob still did not pay his vow, as reports, “Rachel died and was buried.” Then God asked how long Jacob would take punishment and not pay attention to the sin for which he suffered. So God told Jacob to go to Bethel, make an altar there, at the very place where Jacob vowed to God.

Deuteronomy chapter 24

Tractate Gittin in the Mishnah, Tosefta, Jerusalem Talmud, and Babylonian Talmud interpreted the laws of divorce in.
The Mishnah interpreted the prohibition of, "No man shall take the mill or the upper millstone to pledge," to teach that a creditor who took a mill as security for a loan transgressed a negative commandment and was guilty on account of two forbidden utensils. The Mishnah interpreted to prohibit a creditor from taking in security not only millstones, but everything employed in the preparation of food for human consumption. For the continuation of says of the creditor, "for he takes a man's life to pledge".
A Midrash interpreted the words of, "there was no water in it," to teach that there was no recognition of Torah in the pit into which Joseph's brothers cast him, as Torah is likened to water, as says, "everyone that thirsts, come for water." For the Torah says, "If a man be found stealing any of his brethren of the children of Israel... and sell him, then that thief shall die," and yet Joseph's brothers sold their brother.
The Gemara read the emphatic words of, "you shall surely restore... the pledge," repeating the verb in the Hebrew, to teach that required a lender to restore the pledge whether or not the lender took the pledge with the court's permission. And the Gemara taught that the Torah provided similar injunctions in and to teach that a lender had to return a garment worn during the day before sunrise, and return a garment worn during the night before sunset.
Rabbi Eliezer the Great taught that the Torah warns against wronging a stranger in 36, or others say 46, places. The Gemara went on to cite Rabbi Nathan's interpretation of, "You shall neither wrong a stranger, nor oppress him; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt," to teach that one must not taunt one's neighbor about a flaw that one has oneself. The Gemara taught that thus a proverb says: If there is a case of hanging in a person's family history, do not say to the person, "Hang up this fish for me."
The Mishnah interpreted and to teach that a worker engaged by the day could collect the worker's wages all of the following night. If engaged by the night, the worker could collect the wages all of the following day. If engaged by the hour, the worker could collect the wages all that day and night. If engaged by the week, month, year, or 7-year period, if the worker's time expired during the day, the worker could collect the wages all that day. If the worker's time expired during the night, the worker could collect the wages all that night and the following day.
The Mishnah taught that the hire of persons, animals, or utensils were all subject to the law of that "in the same day you shall give him his hire" and the law of that "the wages of a hired servant shall not abide with you all night until the morning." The employer became liable only when the worker or vendor demanded payment from the employer. Otherwise, the employer did not infringe the law. If the employer gave the worker or vendor a draft on a shopkeeper or a money changer, the employer complied with the law. A worker who claimed the wages within the set time could collect payment if the worker merely swore that the employer had not yet paid. But if the set time had passed, the worker's oath was insufficient to collect payment. Yet if the worker had witnesses that the worker had demanded payment, the worker could still swear and receive payment.
The Mishnah taught that the employer of a resident alien was subject to the law of that "in the same day you shall give him his hire", but not to the law of that "the wages of a hired servant shall not abide with you all night until the morning."
The Gemara reconciled apparently discordant verses touching on vicarious responsibility. The Gemara noted that states: "The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers; every man shall be put to death for his own sin," but says: "visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children." The Gemara cited a Baraita that interpreted the words "the iniquities of their fathers shall they pine away with them" in to teach that God punishes children only when they follow their parents’ sins. The Gemara then questioned whether the words "they shall stumble one upon another" in do not teach that one will stumble through the sin of the other, that all are held responsible for one another. The Gemara answered that the vicarious responsibility of which speaks is limited to those who have the power to restrain their fellow from evil but do not do so.
Reading the words of, "You shall not take a widow’s raiment to pledge," the Mishnah taught that a person may not take a pledge from a widow whether she is rich or poor. The Gemara explained that Rabbi Judah expounded the view that no pledge may be taken from her whether she is rich or poor. Rabbi Simeon, however, taught that a wealthy widow was subject to distraint, but not a poor one, for the creditor was bound to return the pledge to her, and would bring her into disrepute among her neighbors.
Tractate Peah in the Mishnah, Tosefta, and Jerusalem Talmud interpreted the laws of the harvest of the corner of the field and gleanings to be given to the poor in and, and.
The Mishnah taught that the Torah defines no minimum or maximum for the donation of the corners of one's field to the poor. But the Mishnah also taught that one should not make the amount left to the poor less than one-sixtieth of the entire crop. And even though no definite amount is given, the amount given should accord with the size of the field, the number of poor people, and the extent of the yield.
Rabbi Eliezer taught that one who cultivates land in which one can plant a quarter kav of seed is obligated to give a corner to the poor. Rabbi Joshua said land that yields two seah of grain. Rabbi Tarfon said land of at least six handbreadths by six handbreadths. Rabbi Judah ben Betera said land that requires two strokes of a sickle to harvest, and the law is as he spoke. Rabbi Akiva said that one who cultivates land of any size is obligated to give a corner to the poor and the first fruits.
The Mishnah taught that the poor could enter a field to collect three times a day — in the morning, at midday, and in the afternoon. Rabban Gamliel taught that they said this only so that landowners should not reduce the number of times that the poor could enter. Rabbi Akiva taught that they said this only so that landowners should not increase the number of times that the poor had to enter. The landowners of Beit Namer used to harvest along a rope and allowed the poor to collect a corner from every row.
The Mishnah defined “a defective cluster ” within the meaning of and to mean any cluster that had neither a shoulder nor a dangling portion. If the cluster had a shoulder or a dangling portion, it belonged to the property owner, but if there was a doubt, it belonged to the poor. A cluster that was attached to the joint between branches or the stem and the trunk, if it was plucked with the grape cluster, it belonged to the property owner; if not, it belonged to the poor. Rabbi Judah said that a single-grape cluster was a cluster, but the Sages said that it was a defective cluster.
The Mishnah taught that if a wife foreswore all benefit from other people, her husband could not annul his wife's vow, but she could still benefit from the gleanings, forgotten sheaves, and the corner of the field that and, and commanded farmers to leave for the poor.
Noting that the discussion of gifts to the poor in appears between discussions of the festivals — Passover and Shavuot on one side, and Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur on the other — Rabbi Avardimos ben Rabbi Yossi said that this teaches that people who give immature clusters of grapes, the forgotten sheaf, the corner of the field, and the poor tithe is accounted as if the Temple existed and they offered up their sacrifices in it. And for those who do not give to the poor, it is accounted to them as if the Temple existed and they did not offer up their sacrifices in it.

Deuteronomy chapter 25

Tractate Yevamot in the Mishnah, Tosefta, Jerusalem Talmud, and Babylonian Talmud interpreted the laws of levirate marriage in.
Interpreting the laws of Levirite marriage under, the Gemara read to address a Hebrew slave who married the Master's Canaanite slave, and deduced from that the children of such a marriage were also considered Canaanite slaves and thus that their lineage flowed from their mother, not their father. The Gemara used this analysis of to explain why taught that the son of a Canaanite slave mother does not impose the obligation of Levirite marriage under.
Chapter 3 in tractate Makkot in the Mishnah and Babylonian Talmud interpreted the laws of punishment by lashes in.
The Gemara interpreted to teach that both one's wealth and one's necessities depend on one's honesty.
Reading, Rabbi Levi taught that blessed actions bless those who are responsible for them, and cursed actions curse those who are responsible for them. The Midrash interpreted the words of, "A perfect and just weight you shall have," to mean that if one acts justly, one will have something to take and something to give, something to buy and something to sell. Conversely, the Midrash read to teach, "You shall not have in your bag diverse weights, a great and a small. You shall not have in your house diverse measures, a great and a small." Thus, if one does employ deceitful measures, one will not have anything to take or give, to buy or sell. The Midrash taught that God tells businesspeople that they "may not make" one measure great and another small, but if they do, they "will not make" a profit. The Midrash likened this commandment to that of "You shall not make with Me gods of silver, or gods of gold, you shall not make," for if a person did make gods of silver and gold, then that person would not be able to afford to have even gods of wood or stone.
Rabbi Levi taught that the punishment for false weights or measures was more severe than that for having intimate relations with forbidden relatives. For in discussing the case of forbidden relatives, uses the Hebrew word, eil, for the word "these," whereas in the case of false weights or measures, uses the Hebrew word, eileh, for the word "these" The Gemara taught that one can derive that, eil, implies rigorous punishment from, which says, "And the mighty of the land he took away." The Gemara explained that the punishments for giving false measures are greater than those for having relations with forbidden relatives because for forbidden relatives, repentance is possible, but with false measure, repentance is impossible.
Rabbi Hiyya taught that the words of, "You shall do no unrighteousness in judgment," apply to judgment in law. But a Midrash noted that already mentioned judgment in law, and questioned why would state the same proposition again and why uses the words, "in judgment, in measures." The Midrash deduced that teaches that a person who measures is called a judge, and one who falsifies measurements is called by the five names "unrighteous," "hated," "repulsive," "accursed," and an "abomination," and is the cause of these five evils. Rabbi Banya said in the name of Rav Huna that the government comes and attacks that generation whose measures are false. The Midrash found support for this from, "A false balance is an abomination to the Lord," which is followed by, "When presumption comes, then comes shame." Reading, "Shall I be pure with wicked balances?" Rabbi Berekiah said in the name of Rabbi Abba that it is impossible for a generation whose measures are false to be meritorious, for continues, "And with a bag of deceitful weights". Rabbi Levi taught that Moses also hinted to Israel that a generation with false measures would be attacked. warns, "You shall not have in your bag diverse weights... you shall not have in your house diverse measures." But if one does, one will be attacked, as, reports, "For all who do such things, even all who do unrighteously, are an abomination to the Lord your God," and then immediately following, says, "Remember what Amalek did to you by the way as you came forth out of Egypt."
Rabbi Judah said that three commandments were given to the Israelites when they entered the land: the commandment of to appoint a king, the commandment of to blot out Amalek, and the commandment of to build the Temple in Jerusalem. Rabbi Nehorai, on the other hand, said that did not command the Israelites to choose a king, but was spoken only in anticipation of the Israelites’ future complaints, as says, "And shall say, ‘I will set a king over me.’"

In medieval Jewish interpretation

The parashah is discussed in these medieval Jewish sources:

Deuteronomy chapter 22

wrote that the commandment of to return lost property appears in the Torah portion that begins in, “When you go forth to battle”, to teach that the duty to return lost property applies even in a time of war.
Reading, Maimonides taught that if a person sees a lost object and the person's father says not to return it, the person should return it instead of obeying the person's father. For by obeying the father and fulfilling the positive commandment “Honor your father” in, the person would violate the positive commandment “And you shall certainly return it,” as well as the negative commandment “You may not ignore it.” And reading, “All objects lost by your colleague,” Maimonides taught that if a person sees flood waters coming that will ruin a building or a field belonging to a colleague, the person is obligated to put up a barrier before the waters to check them. Maimonides said that the mention of “All” in includes the devastation of property.
Maimonides wrote that the object of the law of restoring lost property to its owner in is plain. In the first instance, it is in itself a good feature in a person's character. Secondly, its benefit is mutual: For if a person does not return the lost property of another, nobody will restore to the person what the person may lose, just as those who do not honor their parents cannot expect to be honored by their children.
The Sefer ha-Chinuch also taught that the root of is plain — as there is in it a benefit to all, and to the ordering of the state, as all people are forgetful, and their animals flee here and there. The Sefer ha-Chinuch argued that with this commandment in place, beasts and vessels will be safe anywhere in the holy land as if they were under the hand of their owners.
Nachmanides noted that says “your brother’s,” while the parallel commandment in states “your enemy’s” and says “of him who hates you.” Nachmanides taught that Scripture thus means to say, “Do this for him, and remember the brotherhood between you and forget the hatred.”
Similarly, Bahya ben Asher noted the parallel between and. Bahya concluded that thus promises that if you assist your enemy with his falling donkey, he will eventually appreciate you and become “your brother.” When you assist him, he will forget the “hatred” between you and only remember the bond of love that unites brothers. Bahya taught that there is more to the commandment to restore lost property than merely the act of restoring it. If one is in a position to perform a useful service for one's fellow and to thereby protect one's fellow against loss, this is part of the commandment. Bahya also found in encouragement regarding the resurrection, reading that God will practice this commandment personally by restoring the souls of the departed bodies to their original owners after the arrival of the Messiah. Noting that continues, “You must not hide yourself,” Bahya found the moral lesson: Do not hide yourself from God, so that when the time comes, God will not hide from you.
Maimonides read, “You shall not see your brother's ass or his ox fallen down by the way, and hide yourself from them; you shall surely help him to lift them up again,” together with, “If you see the ass of him that hates you lying under its burden, you shall forbear to pass by him; you shall surely release it with him.” Maimonides taught that when a person encounters a colleague on a journey and the colleague's animal has fallen under its load, commands the person to unload the burden from it, whether or not the animal was carrying an appropriate burden for it. Maimonides interpreted to command that one should not unload the animal and depart, leaving the wayfarer in panic, but one should lift up the animal together with its owner, and reload the animal's burden on it. Maimonides taught that the general principle is that if the animal were one's own and one would unload and reload it, one is obligated to unload and reload it for a colleague. If one is pious and goes beyond the measure of the law, even if one is a great prince, and sees an animal belonging to a colleague fallen under a load of straw, reeds or the like, one should unload and load it with its owner. Maimonides interpreted the intensified form of the verbs in and to indicate that if one unloaded and reloaded the animal, and it fell again, one is obligated to unload and reload it another time, indeed even 100 times. Thus, one must accompany the animal for a distance thereafter, unless the owner of the burden says that it is not necessary. Maimonides read to obligate one when one sees the fallen animal in a way that can be described as an encounter, for says, “When you see your colleague’s donkey,” and says, “When you encounter....” Maimonides taught that if one finds an animal belonging to a colleague fallen under its load, it is a commandment to unload and reload it even if its owner is not present, for the words “You shall certainly help” and “You shall certainly lift up” imply that one must fulfill these commandments in all situations. Maimonides said that says “together with him” to teach that if the owner of the animal was there and goes off to the side and relies on the passerby to unload it alone because the passerby is subject to a commandment, then the passerby is not obligated. If the owner of the animal is old or ailing, however, the passerby is obligated to load and unload the animal alone.
Maimonides taught that enjoins that one should let the mother fly away when one takes the young to prevent pain to the mother bird. Maimonides argued that there is no difference between the pain of humans and animals. Maimonides concluded that if the Torah provides that we should not cause such grief to animals, how much more careful should we be not to cause grief to other people.
Rabbi David Kimchi stated that a parapet needed to be "ten hands high, or more, that a person might not fall from it".

Deuteronomy chapter 23

Maimonides used to interpret how far to extend the principle of charity. Maimonides taught that the Law correctly says in, "You shall open your hand wide to your brother, to your poor." Maimonides continued that the Law taught how far we have to extend this principle of treating kindly every one with whom we have some relationship — even if the other person offended or wronged us, even if the other person is very bad, we still must have some consideration for the other person. Thus says: "You shall not abhor an Edomite, for he is your brother." And if we find a person in trouble, whose assistance we once enjoyed, or of whom we have received some benefit, even if that person has subsequently wronged us, we must bear in mind that person's previous good conduct. Thus says: "You shall not abhor an Egyptian, because you were a stranger in his land," although the Egyptians subsequently oppressed the Israelites very much.

Deuteronomy chapter 25

Reading the words of, "You shall not take a widow’s raiment to pledge," Maimonides taught that collateral may not be taken from a widow, whether she is rich or poor, whether it is taken at the time the loan is given or after the time the loan is given, and even when a court would supervise the matter. Maimonides continued that if a creditor takes such collateral, it must be returned, even against the creditor's will. If the widow admits the debt, she must pay, but if she denies its existence, she must take an oath. If the security the creditor took was lost or consumed by fire before the creditor returned it, the creditor was punished by lashes.

In modern interpretation

The parashah is discussed in these modern sources:

Deuteronomy chapter 21

Professor Tamara Cohn Eskenazi of the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion cited, which describes a process by which a woman captured in war could become the wife of an Israelite man, as an example of intermarriage in the Torah, for although the text does not specify the woman's ethnic identity, the context implies that she was non-Israelite.
Rabbi David Wolpe of Sinai Temple said that although the law of the beautiful captive is barbaric by the ethical standards of the 21st century, it was ahead of its time by the ethical standards of antiquity. The law, according to Wolpe, indicates that the Torah distrusts people to control their sexual urges towards people over whom they hold power.

Deuteronomy chapter 22

Rabbi Donniel Hartman argued that contains one of Judaism's central answers to the question of what is just and right, what he called “the religious ethic of nonindifference.”
Writing for the Committee on Jewish Law and Standards of Conservative Judaism, Rabbis Elliot N. Dorff and Aaron L. Mackler relied on, among other verses, to find a duty to help see that our society provides health care to those who need it. Dorff and Mackler noted that the Rabbis found the authorization and requirement to heal in several verses, including, according to which an assailant must insure that his victim is “thoroughly healed,” and, “And you shall restore the lost property to him.” Dorff and Mackler reported that on the basis of an extra letter in the Hebrew text of, the Talmud declared that includes the obligation to restore another person's body as well as his or her property, and hence there is an obligation to come to the aid of someone in a life-threatening situation.
Rabbi Joseph Telushkin noted that the Torah three times promises long life for obeying commandments — and and — and all three involve issues of ethics and kindness.
Professor William Dever of Lycoming College noted that most of the 100 linen and wool fragments, likely textiles used for cultic purposes, that archeologists found at Kuntillet Ajrud in the Sinai Desert adhered to the regulations in and.
In April 2014, the Committee on Jewish Law and Standards of Conservative Judaism ruled that women are now equally responsible for observing commandments as men have been, and that women are thus responsible for the mitzvah of wearing tzitzit, as commanded in.

Deuteronomy chapter 25

Professor James Kugel of Bar Ilan University noted that Deuteronomy shares certain favorite themes with Wisdom literature, such as the prohibition of using false weights in and, and . As well, in the wisdom perspective, history is the repository of eternal truths, lessons that never grow old, and thus Deuteronomy constantly urges its readers to "remember," as does when it admonishes to "Remember what Amalek did to you." Kugel concluded that the Deuteronomist was closely connected to the world of wisdom literature.

In critical analysis

Some scholars who follow the Documentary Hypothesis consider all of the parashah to have been part of the original Deuteronomic Code that the first Deuteronomistic historian included in the edition of Deuteronomy that existed during Josiah’s time.

Commandments

According to the , there are 27 positive and 47 negative commandments in the parashah.
The parashah is reflected in these parts of the Jewish liturgy:
Following the Shacharit morning prayer service, some Jews recite the Six Remembrances, among which is, "Remember what the Lord your God did to Miriam by the way as you came forth out of Egypt," recalling that God punished Miriam with skin disease.

The Weekly Maqam

In the Weekly Maqam, Sephardi Jews each week base the songs of the services on the content of that week's parashah. For Parashah Ki Teitzei, Sephardi Jews apply Maqam Saba. Saba, in Hebrew, literally means "army." It is appropriate here, because the parashah commences with the discussion of what to do in certain cases of war with the army.

Haftarah

The haftarah for the parashah is. The haftarah is the fifth in the cycle of seven haftarot of consolation after Tisha B'Av, leading up to Rosh Hashanah.

Biblical

Early nonrabbinic

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