When the Ransom for a Goring Ox Comes Due

Yalkut Shimoni on Torah 341:6

Curated by Arthur·Told by Maggid·

Rava said: An ox that killed a free person without intent exempts its owner from the ransom payment, for it is said (in the verse above, 21:29), "the ox shall be stoned, and its owner also shall be put to death." If there is to be a ransom, then at the time when the ox is liable to stoning the owners pay ransom; when the ox is not liable to stoning the owners do not pay ransom. When Rav Dimi came he said in the name of Rabbi Yochanan: regarding ransom, what does the verse teach by saying "if ransom"? It comes to include a ransom incurred without intent as equal to a ransom incurred with intent. When Rav Dimi came he said in the name of Rabbi Yochanan: regarding a slave, what does the verse teach by saying "if a slave"? It comes to include the case of a slave killed without intent as equal to a slave killed with intent. And Reish Lakish holds: "a slave," "if a slave" is not expounded, because it is not written in the place of payments; "ransom," "if ransom" is expounded, because it is written in the place of payments.

Themes

Divine JusticeCommandmentsJudgment

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