He Must Pay Money for Stealing an Animal

Mekhilta DeRabbi Yishmael Mekhilta Tractate Nezikin 12:25 View source
Curated by Maggid·Edited by Arthur Sabintsev·

R. Akiva says: "tachath ('in place of') the ox; "tachath the sheep", to exclude (from "four and five" payment an animal [as opposed to a beast]). For it would follow (otherwise), viz. Since he (the thief) must pay (money) for stealing a beast, and he must pay (money) for stealing an animal, then if you have learned about a beast that he pays "four and five," so, he should be similarly liable for an animal. No, this may be so with a beast, which is sacrificed on the altar, as opposed to an animal, which is not, wherefore it does not pay "four and five."

Themes

WisdomTempleAnimalsSacrifice

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