Why the Forewarned Ox Is Not Spared from Stoning

Yalkut Shimoni on Torah 340:9

Curated by Arthur·Told by Maggid·

"The ox shall be stoned" (Exodus 21:29) - why is this stated? So that one should not say, I have grounds to argue from logic: if the innocuous ox [tam, one not previously known to gore] is liable to stoning, should the forewarned ox [mu'ad, one already known to be dangerous] not all the more be liable to stoning? No! If you argued thus regarding the innocuous ox - it is because its owner does not pay the ransom, therefore it is stoned; you might say regarding the forewarned ox - since its owner does pay the ransom, therefore it should not be stoned. [To prevent this reasoning,] Scripture teaches, "the ox shall be stoned."

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