The Sacred Dance of Justice, Intention, and Death

Yalkut Shimoni on Torah 787:22

"mot yumat, he shall surely be put to death" (written in a remez 322). "mot yumat, he shall surely be put to death," the murderer shall be put to death, meaning you shall kill him, and if you do not kill him, for the killing of his ox, it is written in a hint. "the murderer-murderer verbal analogy applies" (written in a hint, i.e., indirectly). A murderer should be treated as a murderer. "murderer and blood avenger" (written in two separate verses) that come together, but they do not teach us anything new (written in the book of Judges). And if he struck him with a stone in his hand, why is it stated? Because it says, "If men quarrel and one strikes the other," I understand that if they struck each other whether with a matter that can cause death or with a matter that cannot cause death, it is stated, "And if he struck him with a stone in his hand," to indicate that he is not liable unless he struck him with a matter that can cause death. And from where do we derive that in a place that can cause death? It is derived from the phrase, "And he throws upon him a stone, and he dies," which indicates that he is not liable unless he struck him with a matter that can cause death. And concerning a place that can cause death, I have only that if he struck him with a stone, he is liable. From where do we derive that rolling stones and pillars upon him are also included? It is stated, "He is a murderer; he shall surely be put to death."

Themes