“Every raven after its kind” (Leviticus 11:15) – in the days of Rabbi Ḥiyya Rabba, a certain starling ascended to the Land of Israel. They took it and carried it to him. They said to him: ‘Is it permitted to eat it?’ He said to them: ‘Go and place it on the roof; any bird that comes and alights next to it, it is of that species.’
They went and placed it on the roof and an Egyptian raven alighted next to it. He said: ‘It is impure, as it is of that species. That is what is written: “Every raven after its kind.”’ They said:2Meaning, this is a known phrase. ‘The raven went to the starling only because it is of the same species.’
So, because it is written: “Rather, you shall destroy them” (Deuteronomy 20:17) – let this one, may his name be blotted out, come and marry that one, may her name be blotted out. “Esau was forty years old.”