No Ransom for the Condemned and the Mercy That Redeems

Yalkut Shimoni on Torah 341:1

Curated by Arthur·Told by Maggid·

Rabbi Akiva says: it is the ransom of the soul of one who is to be put to death. And so we find that we do not give ransom for those condemned to death by human hands; in every case where they are liable to death by the court, they have no ransom, as it is said, "Anything devoted to destruction" and so forth (Leviticus 27:29). Rabbi Yishmael says: Come and see how great are the mercies of the Holy One, blessed be He, upon flesh and blood, that a person can ransom himself with money from the hand of Heaven, as it is said, "When you take the sum" and so forth, "a ransom for his soul" (Exodus 30:12); and it says, "each man the ransom of his soul, according to his valuation" (2 Kings 12:5); and it says, "Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you" and so forth (Daniel 4:24); and it says, "If there be for him an angel" and so forth (Job 33:23); and it says, "and He is gracious to him and says, Deliver him" and so forth (Job 33:24). We are found to learn: consecrated things have redemption, [other] consecrated things have no redemption; things forbidden in eating have redemption, things forbidden in eating have no redemption; things forbidden in benefit have redemption, things forbidden in benefit have no redemption; fields and vineyards have redemption, fields and vineyards have no redemption; male and female slaves have redemption, male and female slaves have no redemption; those liable to death by the court have redemption, those liable to death by the court have no redemption. Even in the time to come they have redemption: Scripture teaches, saying, "No man can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him; for the redemption of their soul is costly" and so forth (Psalms 49:8-9). Beloved are Israel, for the Holy One, blessed be He, gave the Egyptians as a payment in exchange for their souls, as it is said, "I have given Egypt as your ransom" (Isaiah 43:3). For what reason? "Because you are precious in My eyes" and so forth (Isaiah 43:4).

Themes

Divine JusticeAtonementRedemption

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