The Ransom That Redeems the Owner of a Killer Ox

Mekhilta DeRabbi Shimon Ben Yochai 21:30

Curated by Arthur·Told by Maggid·

"If a ransom is laid upon him" (Exodus 21:30). Might one think the ransom is optional? Scripture teaches, "then he shall give the redemption of his life": it is an obligation, not a matter of choice. "A ransom shall be laid upon him": might one think that if the court said a maneh he gives a maneh, and if it said a hundred maneh he gives a hundred maneh? It is said here "shall be laid upon him," and it is said elsewhere (Exodus 21:22) "he shall be made to pay." Just as the "made to pay" stated there is set by the court, so the "laid upon him" stated here is set by the court. "Then he shall give the redemption of his life." Might one think it is the redemption of the life of the one harmed? Rabbi Ishmael the son of Rabbi Yochanan ben Beroka says: since you have made the owner liable to death yet exempted him through ransom, say from now on that it is the redemption of the life of the one who caused the harm. From here they said: an ox belonging to partners that killed [a person], each of the partners pays a full ransom, for each of them requires complete atonement. "That shall be laid upon him" comes to include the son and the daughter. "According to all that shall be laid upon him" comes to include the unpaid bailee, the borrower, the hired worker, and the paid bailee.

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Divine JusticeCommandmentsLaw

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