כ״ג
ו׳לֹ֥א תַטֶּ֛ה מִשְׁפַּ֥ט אֶבְיֹנְךָ֖ בְּרִיבֽוֹ׃
6You shall not subvert the rights of your needy in their disputes.
אבינך. לְשׁוֹן אוֹבֶה, שֶׁהוּא מְדֻלְדָּל וְתָאֵב לְכָל טוֹבָה:
אבינך — from the root אבה “to long for”, “to desire” — one who is poverty-stricken and longs for all the good things which he lacks.
ז׳מִדְּבַר־שֶׁ֖קֶר תִּרְחָ֑ק וְנָקִ֤י וְצַדִּיק֙ אַֽל־תַּהֲרֹ֔ג כִּ֥י לֹא־אַצְדִּ֖יק רָשָֽׁע׃
7Keep far from a false charge; do not bring death on those who are innocent and in the right, for I will not acquit the wrongdoer.
ונקי וצדיק אל תהרג. מִנַּיִן לַיּוֹצֵא מִבֵּית דִּין חַיָּב וְאָמַר אֶחָד יֵשׁ לִי לְלַמֵּד עָלָיו זְכוּת שֶׁמַּחֲזִירִין אוֹתוֹ? תַּ"לֹ וְנָקִי אַל תַּהֲרֹג, וְאַעַ"פִּ שֶׁאֵינוֹ צַדִּיק, שֶׁלֹּא נִצְטַדֵּק בְּבֵית דִּין, מִכָּל מָקוֹם נָקִי הוּא מִדִּין מִיתָה שֶׁהֲרֵי יֵשׁ לְךָ לְזַכּוֹתוֹ. וּמִנַּיִן לַיּוֹצֵא מִבֵּית דִּין זַכַּאי וְאָמַר אֶחָד יֵשׁ לִי לְלַמֵּד עָלָיו חוֹבָה שֶׁאֵין מַחֲזִירִין אוֹתוֹ לְבֵית דִּין? תַּ"לֹ וְצַדִּיק אַל תַּהֲרֹג, וְזֶה צַדִּיק הוּא שֶׁנִּצְטַדֵּק בְּבֵית דִּין (סנהדרין ל"ג):
ונקי וצדיק אל תהרג AND THE GUILTLESS AND RIGHTEOUS SLAY THOU NOT — Whence may we infer that in the case that one who left the court after being found guilty and one says, “I have something to plead in his favour”, he has to be brought back in order that the court may listen to this? From what Scripture states, “and the נקי thou shalt not slay”. Although he is not a צדיק — for he has not been acquitted by the court — he is however “free” (נקי) from the death penalty, for it is your duty to plead — as far as possible — in his favour. And whence may we infer, on the other hand, that in the case of one who left the court after having been acquitted and one says, “I have something to say against him” he is not to be brought back that the judges may hear this? From what Scripture states: “and the צדיק slay thou not” — and this man is a צדיק since he has been acquitted by the court (Sanhedrin 33b).
כי לא אצדיק רשע. אֵין עָלֶיךָ לְהַחֲזִירוֹ, כִּי אֲנִי לֹא אַצְדִּיקֶנּוּ בְדִינִי, אִם יָצָא מִיָּדְךָ זַכַּאי יֵשׁ לִי שְׁלוּחִים הַרְבֵּה לַהֲמִיתוֹ בַמִּיתָה שֶׁנִּתְחַיֵּב בָּהּ (מכילתא):
כי לא אצדיק רשע FOR “I” WILL NOT JUSTIFY THE WICKED — It is not your duty, in the latter case, to bring the man back to the court, for if he is really guilty, “I” will not acquit him in My court. Altough he has left your hands as innocent “I” have many agents (many means) to inflict upon him the death to which he has made himself liable (Mekhilta).
ח׳וְשֹׁ֖חַד לֹ֣א תִקָּ֑ח כִּ֤י הַשֹּׁ֙חַד֙ יְעַוֵּ֣ר פִּקְחִ֔ים וִֽיסַלֵּ֖ף דִּבְרֵ֥י צַדִּיקִֽים׃
8Do not take bribes, for bribes blind the clear-sighted and upset the pleas of those who are in the right.
ושחד לא תקח. אֲפִלּוּ לִשְׁפֹּט אֱמֶת, וְכָל שֶׁכֵּן כְּדֵי לְהַטּוֹת אֶת הַדִּין, שֶׁהֲרֵי לְהַטּוֹת אֶת הַדִּין נֶאֱמַר כְּבָר (דברים ט"ז) לֹא תַטֶּה מִשְׁפָּט (כתובות ק"ה):
ושחד לא תקח AND THOU SHALT TAKE NO GIFT, even if you mean to give a true judgment in favour of the giver, and it is a matter of course that you must not accept one to wrest judgment, and therefore there is no need for Scripture to forbid this, for with regard to wresting judgment, whether you take a bribe or not, it is distinctly stated, (Deuteronomy 16:19) “Thou shalt not wrest judgment” (Ketubot 105a).
יעור פקחים. אֲפִלּוּ חָכָם בַּתּוֹרָה וְנוֹטֵל שֹׁחַד סוֹף שֶׁתִּטָּרֵף דַּעְתּוֹ עָלָיו וְיִשְׁתַּכַּח תַּלְמוּדוֹ וְיִכְהֶה מְאוֹר עֵינָיו (שם):
יעור פקחים [FOR THE BRIBE] BLINDETH THE OPEN-EYED — Even if he be well-versed in the Torah and takes a bribe, in the end his mind will become confused, what he has learnt will be forgotten, and the light of his eyes will become dim (Mekhilta; Ketubot 105a).
ויסלף. כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ וּמְקַלְקֵל:
ויסלף — render it as the Targum does: ויקלקל “makes bad”, “perverts”. ...
דברי צדיקים. דְּבָרִים הַמְצֻדָּקִים, מִשְׁפְּטֵי אֱמֶת, וְכֵן תַּרְגּוּמוֹ פִּתְגָמִין תְּרִיצִין – יְשָׁרִים:
דברי צדיקים means, the words which have been described by the term “righteous”, viz., the judgments of truth uttered on Sinai. Thus, too, does the Targum take it: words that are תריצין, upright.
ט׳וְגֵ֖ר לֹ֣א תִלְחָ֑ץ וְאַתֶּ֗ם יְדַעְתֶּם֙ אֶת־נֶ֣פֶשׁ הַגֵּ֔ר כִּֽי־גֵרִ֥ים הֱיִיתֶ֖ם בְּאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם׃
9You shall not oppress a stranger, for you know the feelings of the stranger, having yourselves been strangers in the land of Egypt.
וגר לא תלחץ. בְּהַרְבֵּה מְקוֹמוֹת הִזְהִירָה תּוֹרָה עַל הַגֵּר מִפְּנֵי שֶׁסּוּרוֹ רָע (בבא מציעא נ"ט):
וגר לא תלחץ AND THOU SHALT NOT OPPRESS THE STRANGER — In numerous passages (36 in number) does the Torah offer a caution about the ill-treatment of the stranger, because his original character is bad (Bava Metzia 59b).
את נפש הגר. כַּמָּה קָשֶׁה לוֹ כְּשֶׁלּוֹחֲצִים אוֹתוֹ:
אח נפש הגר [FOR YE KNOW] THE SOUL OF A STRANGER — how hard it is for him when people oppress him.
י׳וְשֵׁ֥שׁ שָׁנִ֖ים תִּזְרַ֣ע אֶת־אַרְצֶ֑ךָ וְאָסַפְתָּ֖ אֶת־תְּבוּאָתָֽהּ׃
10Six years you shall sow your land and gather in its yield;
ואספת את תבואתה. לְשׁוֹן הַכְנָסָה לַבַּיִת, כְּמוֹ וַאֲסַפְתּוֹ אֶל תּוֹךְ בֵּיתֶךָ (דברים כ"ב):
ואספת את תבואתה AND SHALT GATHER IN THE INCREASE THEREOF — אסף is a term denoting “bringing into the house”, like, (Deuteronomy 22:2) “thou shalt gather it (ואספתו) into thine house” (cf. Rashi on Genesis 49:29).
י״אוְהַשְּׁבִיעִ֞ת תִּשְׁמְטֶ֣נָּה וּנְטַשְׁתָּ֗הּ וְאָֽכְלוּ֙ אֶבְיֹנֵ֣י עַמֶּ֔ךָ וְיִתְרָ֕ם תֹּאכַ֖ל חַיַּ֣ת הַשָּׂדֶ֑ה כֵּֽן־תַּעֲשֶׂ֥ה לְכַרְמְךָ֖ לְזֵיתֶֽךָ׃
11but in the seventh you shall let it rest and lie fallow. Let the needy among your people eat of it, and what they leave let the wild beasts eat. You shall do the same with your vineyards and your olive groves.
תשמטנה. מֵעֲבוֹדָה:
תשמטנה THOU SHALT LET IT REST — by not tilling it (Mekhilta),
ונטשתה. מֵאֲכִילָה אַחַר זְמַן הַבִּעוּר. דָּ"אַ, תִּשְׁמְטֶנָּה – מֵעֲבוֹדָה גְמוּרָה, כְּגוֹן חֲרִישָׁה וּזְרִיעָה, וּנְטַשְׁתָּהּ – מִלְּזַבֵּל וּמִלְּקַשְׁקֵשׁ (סוכה מ"ד):
ונטשתה AND THOU SHALT ABANDON IT — by not eating of its produce (Mekhilta) after “the time of removal” of the produce has arrived. Another explanation is: תשמטנה THOU SHALT LET IT REST, from what is real work, as, for example, ploughing and sowing, ונטשתה AND LEAVE IT ALONE — not even to manure and to hoe it.
ויתרם תאכל חית השדה. לְהַקִּישׁ מַאֲכַל אֶבְיוֹן לְמַאֲכַל חַיָּה, מַה חַיָּה אוֹכֶלֶת בְּלֹא מַעֲשֵׂר, אַף אֶבְיוֹנִים אוֹכְלִים בְלֹא מַעֲשֵׂר; מִכָּאן אָמְרוּ אֵין מַעֲשֵׂר בַּשְּׁבִיעִית (מכילתא):
ויתרם תאכל חית השדה AND WHAT THEY LEAVE THE BEASTS OF THE FIELD (the wild animals) SHALL EAT — This cannot be a command that the wild animals shall eat it, viz., that you shall permit them to eat it. No such command is necessary since you have no control over wild animals; it intends by juxtaposition with the preceding words to place in the same category (more lit., to compare) the food of the poor with that of the beast. For how is it in the case of the wild animal? It eats food without the tithe having been separated from it! So too, the poor may in the seventh year eat food without the tithe having been separated from it. From this juxtaposition they (the Rabbis) derived the rule that the law of tithe is not to be observed in the seventh year (Mekhilta).
כן תעשה לכרמך. וּתְחִלַּת הַמִּקְרָא מְדַבֵּר בִּשְׂדֵה הַלָּבָן, כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמוּר לְמַעְלָה הֵימֶנּוּ תִּזְרַע אֶת אַרְצֶךָ:
כך תעשה לכרמך IN LIKE MANNER THOU SHALT DO WITH THY VINEYARD — The first member of the verse, however, speaks of a “white field” (i. e. a bright, shadeless field — a grain field or a vegetable field — in contrast to a שדה אילן which casts shade), as it is said above, (v. 10) “thou shalt sow thy land”.
י״בשֵׁ֤שֶׁת יָמִים֙ תַּעֲשֶׂ֣ה מַעֲשֶׂ֔יךָ וּבַיּ֥וֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִ֖י תִּשְׁבֹּ֑ת לְמַ֣עַן יָנ֗וּחַ שֽׁוֹרְךָ֙ וַחֲמֹרֶ֔ךָ וְיִנָּפֵ֥שׁ בֶּן־אֲמָתְךָ֖ וְהַגֵּֽר׃
12Six days you shall do your work, but on the seventh day you shall cease from labor, in order that your ox and your donkey may rest, and that your home-born slave and the stranger may be refreshed.
וביום השביעי תשבת. אַף בַּשָּׁנָה הַשְּׁבִיעִית לֹא תֵעָקֵר שַׁבַּת בְּרֵאשִׁית מִמְּקוֹמָהּ, שֶׁלֹּא תֹאמַר, הוֹאִיל וְכָל הַשָּׁנָה קְרוּיָה שַׁבָּת לֹא תִנְהַג בָּהּ שַׁבַּת בְּרֵאשִׁית (שם):
וביום השביעי תשבת [SIX DAYS SHALT THOU DO THY WORK] AND ON THE SEVENTH DAY THOU SHALT LEAVE OFF — Even in the Sabbatical year you shall not abrogate the weekly Sabbath: you shall not say, “Since the whole year bears the name of ‘Sabbath’, the weekly Sabbath need not to be observed” (Mekhilta).
למען ינוח שורך וחמרך. תֵּן לוֹ נִיחַ, לְהַתִּיר שֶׁיְּהֵא תוֹלֵשׁ וְאוֹכֵל עֲשָׂבִים מִן הַקַּרְקַע; אוֹ אֵינוֹ אֶלָּא יַחְבְּשֶׁנּוּ בְּתוֹךְ הַבַּיִת? אָמַרְתָּ אֵין זֶה נִיחַ אֶלָּא צַעַר:
למען ינוח שורך means, give it (the animal) some satisfaction (ניח) by permitting it to pull up and eat grass from the ground as it pleases. Or, perhaps, this is not the meaning but it means that is must rest: that one must tie it up in its stall so that it does no work in the field! You will, however, admit this is no satisfaction but a source of annoyance (Mekhilta).
בן אמתך. בְּעֶבֶד עָרֵל הַכָּתוּב מְדַבֵּר:
בן אמתך THE SON OF THY HANDMAID — Scripture speaks of an uncircumcised Canaanitish servant; (that the circumcised servant should rest is already mentioned in Deuteronomy 5:14: עבדך ואמתך כמוך) (cf. Mekhilta).
והגר. גֵּר תּוֹשָׁב:
והגר means a גר תושב, a proselyte settler (one who renounces idolatry and thus acquires limited citizenship in Palestine).
י״גוּבְכֹ֛ל אֲשֶׁר־אָמַ֥רְתִּי אֲלֵיכֶ֖ם תִּשָּׁמֵ֑רוּ וְשֵׁ֨ם אֱלֹהִ֤ים אֲחֵרִים֙ לֹ֣א תַזְכִּ֔ירוּ לֹ֥א יִשָּׁמַ֖ע עַל־פִּֽיךָ׃
13Be on guard concerning all that I have told you. Make no mention of the names of other gods; they shall not be heard on your lips.
ובכל אשר אמרתי אליכם תשמרו. לַעֲשׂוֹת כָּל מִצְוַת עֲשֵׂה בְּאַזְהָרָה, שֶׁכָּל שְׁמִירָה שֶׁבַּתּוֹרָה אַזְהָרָה הִיא בִּמְקוֹם לָאו (מנחות ל"ו):
ובכל אשר אמרתי אליכם תשמרו AND IN ALL THAT I HAVE SAID TO YOU TAKE HEED — This statement is intended to bring every positive command (מצות עשה) also under the category of a prohibition (לאו); for wherever the term שמר, “take heed”, is used in the Torah it is an admonition in the place of (having the force of) a prohibition (cf. Yalkut Shimoni on Torah 355).
לא תזכירו. שֶׁלֹּא יֹאמַר לוֹ שְׁמֹר לִי בְּצַד עֲ"זָ פְּלוֹנִית, אוֹ תַעֲמֹד עִמִּי בְּיוֹם עֲ"זָ פְּלוֹנִית; דָּ"אַ — וּבְכֹל אֲשֶׁר אָמַרְתִּי אֲלֵיכֶם תִּשָּׁמֵרוּ וְשֵׁם אֱלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים לֹא תַזְכִּירוּ, לְלַמֶּדְךָ שֶׁשְּׁקוּלָה עֲ"זָ כְּנֶגֶד כָּל הַמִּצְווֹת כֻּלָּן (הוריות ח'), וְהַנִּזְהָר בָּהּ כְּשׁוֹמֵר אֶת כֻּלָּן:
לא תזכירו MAKE NO MENTION [OF THE NAME OF OTHER GODS] — This means that one must not say to another: “Wait for me near such-and-such an idol”, or, “Stay with me on the festival of such-an-such an idol’” (mentioning its name) (cf. Mekhilta; Sanhedrin 63b). Another explanation of verse 13 is: the juxtaposition of “Be heedful in respect of everything that I have spoken to you” with “and the names of other gods ye shall not mention” is intended to teach you that the practise of idol-worship is of equal heinousness as though one had infringed every command (cf. Horayot 8a); and that one who avoids it may be regarded as though he had observed every one of them (cf. Chullin 5a).
לא ישמע מִן הַגוֹי על פיך. שֶׁלֹּא תַעֲשֶׂה שֻׁתָּפוּת עִם גוֹי וְיִשָּׁבַע לְךָ בַּעֲ"זָ שֶׁלּוֹ נִמְצֵאתָ שֶׁאַתָּה גּוֹרֵם שֶׁיִּזָּכֵר עַל יָדְךָ (סנהדרין ס"ז):
לא ישמע IT SHALL NOT BE HEARD from a heathen, THROUGH THINE AGENCY — i. e. you shall make no business partnership with a heathen through which it might happen that he will take an oath by the name of his god, for consequently you will have brought it about that it has been mentioned through your agency (cf. Sanhedrin 63b).
י״דשָׁלֹ֣שׁ רְגָלִ֔ים תָּחֹ֥ג לִ֖י בַּשָּׁנָֽה׃
14Three times a year you shall hold a festival for Me:
רגלים. פְּעָמִים; וְכֵן כִּי הִכִּיתַנִי זֶה שָׁלֹשׁ רְגָלִים (במדבר כ"ב):
רגלים means TIMES. Similar is, (Numbers 22:28) “that thou hast smitten me these three times (רגלים)”.
ט״ואֶת־חַ֣ג הַמַּצּוֹת֮ תִּשְׁמֹר֒ שִׁבְעַ֣ת יָמִים֩ תֹּאכַ֨ל מַצּ֜וֹת כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֣ר צִוִּיתִ֗ךָ לְמוֹעֵד֙ חֹ֣דֶשׁ הָֽאָבִ֔יב כִּי־ב֖וֹ יָצָ֣אתָ מִמִּצְרָ֑יִם וְלֹא־יֵרָא֥וּ פָנַ֖י רֵיקָֽם׃
15You shall observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread—eating unleavened bread for seven days as I have commanded you—at the set time in the monthcin the month See note at 13.4. of Abib, for in it you went forth from Egypt; and none shall appear before Me empty-handed;
חדש האביב. שֶׁהַתְּבוּאָה מִתְמַלֵּאת בּוֹ בְּאִבֶּיהָ. אָבִיב לְשׁוֹן אָב, בְּכוֹר וְרִאשׁוֹן לְבַשֵּׁל פֵּרוֹת:
חודש האביב THE MONTH OF אביב — it is the month when the grain becomes full in its ripe state (באביה). The word אביב is connected with אַב which signifies maturity, and being the first of the fruit to ripen (cf. Rashi on Exodus 9:31).
ולא יראו פני ריקם. כְּשֶׁתָּבֹאוּ לִרְאוֹת פָּנַי בָּרְגָלִים, הָבִיאוּ לִי עוֹלוֹת (מכילתא):
ולא יראו פני ריקם AND NONE SHALL APPEAR BEFORE MY FACE EMPTY — When you come to appear before My face on the festivals, bring Me burnt-offerings (Mekhilta; Chagigah 7a).
ט״זוְחַ֤ג הַקָּצִיר֙ בִּכּוּרֵ֣י מַעֲשֶׂ֔יךָ אֲשֶׁ֥ר תִּזְרַ֖ע בַּשָּׂדֶ֑ה וְחַ֤ג הָֽאָסִף֙ בְּצֵ֣את הַשָּׁנָ֔ה בְּאׇסְפְּךָ֥ אֶֽת־מַעֲשֶׂ֖יךָ מִן־הַשָּׂדֶֽה׃
16and the Feast of the Harvest, of the first fruits of your work, of what you sow in the field; and the Feast of Ingathering at the end of the year, when you gather in the results of your work from the field.
וחג הקציר. הוּא חַג שָׁבוּעוֹת:
וחג הקציר AND THE FESTIVAL OF HARVEST — this is the Feast of Weeks,
בכורי מעשיך. שֶׁהוּא זְמַן הֲבָאַת בִּכּוּרִים, שֶׁשְּׁתֵי הַלֶּחֶם הַבָּאִין בַּעֲצֶרֶת הָיוּ מַתִּירִין הֶחָדָשׁ לַמְּנָחוֹת וּלְהָבִיא בִכּוּרִים לַמִּקְדָּשׁ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר וּבְיוֹם הַבִּכּוּרִים וְגוֹ' (במדבר כ"ח):
בכורי מעשיך which is the time for bringing the first-fruits, for the offering of the two loaves that were brought on the Feast of Weeks made it permissible for the first time during the year to use the new harvest of wheat for the meal offerings (Menachot 68b), and to bring the first fruits into the Temple, (Mishnah Bikkurim 1:3) for it is said, (Numbers 28:26) “And on the day of the first fruits etc., [בשבעתיכם on your weeks etc.]” (cf. Rashi on that verse).
וחג האסף. הוּא חַג הַסֻּכּוֹת:
וחג האסף AND THE FESTIVAL OF THE INGATHERING — that is the Feast of Tabernacles.
באספך את מעשיך. שֶׁכָּל יְמוֹת הַחַמָּה הַתְּבוּאָה מִתְיַבֶּשֶׁת בַּשָּׂדוֹת, וּבֶחָג אוֹסְפִים אוֹתָהּ אֶל הַבַּיִת מִפְּנֵי הַגְּשָׁמִים:
באספך את מעשיך WHEN THOU HAST GATHERED IN THY LABOURS — For during the whole summer-time the fruits are drying in the fields and about the Festival (הָחָג is a Talmudical term for the Feast of Tabernacles) they are gathered into the barns on account of the rain that is then due.
י״זשָׁלֹ֥שׁ פְּעָמִ֖ים בַּשָּׁנָ֑ה יֵרָאֶה֙ כׇּל־זְכ֣וּרְךָ֔ אֶל־פְּנֵ֖י הָאָדֹ֥ן ׀ יְהֹוָֽה׃
17Three times a year all your males shall appear before the Sovereign, GOD.
שלש פעמים וגו'. לְפִי שֶׁהָעִנְיָן מְדַבֵּר בַּשְּׁבִיעִית, הֻצְרַךְ לוֹמַר שֶׁלֹּא יִסְתָּרְסוּ רְגָלִים מִמְּקוֹמָן:
שלש פעמים וגו׳ THREE TIMES etc. — Because this section speaks mainly of the Sabbatical year, it was necessary to state that the sequence of the festivals should not be disturbed even in this year of agricultural rest (Mekhilta; cf. Rashi on v. 12).
כל זכורך. הַזְּכָרִים שֶׁבְּךָ:
כל זכורך means all the male population among you.
י״חלֹֽא־תִזְבַּ֥ח עַל־חָמֵ֖ץ דַּם־זִבְחִ֑י וְלֹֽא־יָלִ֥ין חֵֽלֶב־חַגִּ֖י עַד־בֹּֽקֶר׃
18You shall not offer the blood of My sacrifice with anything leavened; and the fat of My festal offering shall not be left lying until morning.
לא תזבח על חמץ וגו'. לֹא תִשְׁחַט אֶת הַפֶּסַח בְּי"ד בְּנִיסָן עַד שֶׁתְּבַעֵר הֶחָמֵץ (מכילתא):
לא תזבח על חמץ וגו׳ means, you shall not sacrifice the Passover-lamb on the fourteenth day of Nisan before you have removed the leavened bread from your house (Mekhilta). (This verse is to be connected with v. 15).
ולא ילין חלב חגי חוּץ לַמִּזְבֵּחַ:
ולא ילין חלב חגי NEITHER SHALL THE FAT OF MY SACRIFICE REMAIN away from the altar (cf. the Targum).
עד בקר. יָכוֹל אַף עַל הַמַּעֲרָכָה יִפָּסֵל בְּלִינָה, תַּ"לֹ עַל מוֹקְדָה עַל הַמִּזְבֵּחַ כָּל הַלַּיְלָה (ויקרא ו'):
UNTIL MORNING. One might think, however, that the meaning is, that it shall not remain overnight on the altar and that the sacrifice would therefore become invalid even through the fat remaining overnight on the “wood-pile” of the altar! Scripture, however, states, (Leviticus 6:2) “[This is the law of the burnt-offering; it is that which may go up] on the fire-place of the altar all the night, [any time until the morning]”(Mekhilta), —
ולא ילין. אֵין לִינָה אֶלָּא בְעַמּוּד הַשַּׁחַר, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר עַד בֹּקֶר, אֲבָל כָּל הַלַּיְלָה יָכוֹל לְהַעֲלוֹתוֹ מִן הָרִצְפָּה לַמִּזְבֵּחַ (מגילה כ'):
Therefore the statement ולא ילין means, that this law of leaving the fat away from the altar overnight is infringed only if it has not been placed on the altar by the dawn of the morning, for it says, “[neither shall the fat remain] until morning”, but any time during the whole night one may lift it up from the pavement on to the altar (cf. Megillah 20b).
י״טרֵאשִׁ֗ית בִּכּוּרֵי֙ אַדְמָ֣תְךָ֔ תָּבִ֕יא בֵּ֖ית יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ לֹֽא־תְבַשֵּׁ֥ל גְּדִ֖י בַּחֲלֵ֥ב אִמּֽוֹ׃ {פ}
19The choice first fruits of your soil you shall bring to the house of the ETERNAL your God.You shall not boil a kid in its mother’s milk.
ראשית בכורי אדמתך. אַף הַשְּׁבִיעִית חַיֶּבֶת בְּבִכּוּרִים, לְכָךְ נֶאֱמַר אַף כָּאן בִּכּוּרֵי אַדְמָתְךָ. כֵּיצַד? אָדָם נִכְנָס לְתוֹךְ שָׂדֵהוּ, רוֹאֶה תְּאֵנָה שֶׁבִּכְּרָה, כּוֹרֵךְ עָלֶיהָ גְּמִי לְסִימָן וּמַקְדִּישָׁהּ, וְאֵין בִּכּוּרִים אֶלָּא בְּשִׁבְעַת הַמִּינִין הָאֲמוּרִין בַּמִּקְרָא – אֶרֶץ חִטָּה וּשְׂעֹרָה וְגוֹ' (בכורים פ"א):
ראשית בכורי אדמתך THE FIRST OF THE FIRST-FRUITS OF THY GROUND [THOU SHALT BRING etc.] — Even in the seventh year the offering of the first fruits is obligatory in some cases, therefore here also (where Scripture mainly deals with the laws of the Sabbatical year) it is stated: “the first of the first-fruits of thy land [shalt thou bring, etc.]”. How was the procedure at the setting apart of the first fruits? A man goes into his field and sees a fig which was the first to ripen; he ties a piece of reed-grass round it to distinguish it and so marks its sacred character (Mishnah Bikkurim 3:1). The law of the first fruits applies only to the seven kinds of produce that are mentioned in Scripture: (Deuteronomy 8:8) “a land of wheat and barley etc.”, for which Palestine is praised in that verse (Mishnah Bikkurim 3:1).
לא תבשל גדי. אַף עֵגֶל וְכֶבֶשׂ בִּכְלַל גְּדִי, שֶׁאֵין גְּדִי אֶלָּא לְשׁוֹן וָלָד רַךְ, מִמַּה שֶּׁאַתָּה מוֹצֵא בְּכַמָּה מְקוֹמוֹת בַּתּוֹרָה שֶׁכָּתוּב גְּדִי וְהֻצְרַךְ לְפָרֵשׁ אַחֲרָיו עִזִּים, כְּגוֹן אָנֹכִי אֲשַׁלַּח גְּדִי עִזִּים (בראשית ל"ח), אֶת גְּדִי הָעִזִּים (שם), שְׁנֵי גְּדָיֵי עִזִּים (שם כ"ז), לְלַמֶּדְךָ שֶׁכָּל מָקוֹם שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר גְּדִי סְתָם אַף עֵגֶל וְכֶבֶשׂ בְּמַשְׁמָע. וּבְג' מְקוֹמוֹת נִכְתַּב בַּתּוֹרָה, אֶחָד לְאִסּוּר אֲכִילָה, וְאֶחָד לְאִסּוּר הֲנָאָה, וְאֶחָד לְאִסּוּר בִּשּׁוּל (מכילתא, חולין קט"ו):
לא תבשל גדי THOU SHALT NOT COOK A KID — A calf and a lamb also are comprehended under the term גדי, for גדי means nothing more than a young tender animal, as you may gather from the fact that you will find in several passages in the Torah that the term גדי is used and that the writer felt it necessary specially to explain it by adding after it the word עזים, as, e. g., (Genesis 38:17) “I will send forth a גדי of the goats”; (Genesis 38: 20) “the גדי of the goats”; (Genesis 27:9) “two kids of the goats (גדיי עזים)”. This fact serves to show you that wherever גדי is mentioned without further description the term implies also a calf and a lamb. — In three different passages the law לא תבשל גדי is written: once for the purpose of prohibiting the eating of meat-food with milk-food, once to prohibit us from deriving any other benefit (besides eating) from such mixture, and once to prohibit the boiling of meat with milk (Mekhilta; Chullin 115b).