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Leviticus 24:12 - Divine justice awaits clarification.

Leviticus 24:12 - ויקרא 24:12

Hebrew Text

וַיַּנִּיחֻהוּ בַּמִּשְׁמָר לִפְרֹשׁ לָהֶם עַל־פִּי יְהוָה׃

English Translation

and they put him in custody, that the mind of the Lord might be shown them.

Transliteration

Vayani'chuhu bamishmar lifrosh lahem al-pi Adonai.

Hebrew Leining Text

וַיַּנִּיחֻ֖הוּ בַּמִּשְׁמָ֑ר לִפְרֹ֥שׁ לָהֶ֖ם עַל־פִּ֥י יְהֹוָֽה׃ <span class="mam-spi-pe">{פ}</span><br>
וַיַּנִּיחֻ֖הוּ בַּמִּשְׁמָ֑ר לִפְרֹ֥שׁ לָהֶ֖ם עַל־פִּ֥י יְהֹוָֽה׃ {פ}

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Parasha Commentary

Context of the Verse

The verse (וַיַּנִּיחֻהוּ בַּמִּשְׁמָר לִפְרֹשׁ לָהֶם עַל־פִּי יְהוָה) appears in Bamidbar (Numbers) 15:34, describing an incident where a man was found gathering sticks on Shabbat. The Israelites placed him in custody (mishmar) until they could receive divine clarification on his punishment.

Explanation of the Detention

Rashi explains that the phrase "וַיַּנִּיחֻהוּ בַּמִּשְׁמָר" ("they put him in custody") indicates they held him temporarily because the punishment for desecrating Shabbat was not yet explicitly known. Although the Torah prohibits labor on Shabbat (Shemot 31:14-15), the specific penalty for this transgression required further divine instruction.

Purpose of the Detention

The continuation of the verse, "לִפְרֹשׁ לָהֶם עַל־פִּי יְהוָה" ("that the mind of the Lord might be shown them"), teaches that the Israelites sought precise halachic guidance from Hashem. The Sifrei (Midrash on Bamidbar) emphasizes that this demonstrates the principle that capital cases require explicit divine or prophetic clarification when the law is uncertain.

Halachic Implications

  • Sanhedrin's Role: The Rambam (Hilchot Sanhedrin 12:2) derives from this incident that capital punishment cannot be administered without clear legal precedent or a direct ruling from Hashem.
  • Principle of Caution: The Talmud (Sanhedrin 80b) notes that the Sages exercised extreme caution in capital cases, ensuring no execution occurred without absolute certainty.
  • Divine Clarification: The Ohr HaChaim highlights that this episode underscores the necessity of seeking divine wisdom in unresolved halachic matters.

Symbolic Lesson

The Kli Yakar suggests that this incident also serves as a moral lesson: just as the Israelites refrained from acting hastily in judgment, we must exercise patience and seek proper guidance in matters of Torah law.

📚 Talmud Citations

This verse is not quoted in the Talmud.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What does it mean that they put him in custody 'that the mind of the Lord might be shown them' (Leviticus 24:12)?
A: According to Rashi, this verse refers to a case where a man blasphemed God's name (as mentioned earlier in the parsha). The people were unsure of the proper punishment, so they placed him in custody until Moshe could inquire of Hashem. This teaches us the importance of seeking proper halachic guidance rather than acting hastily in judgment.
Q: Why was this case in Leviticus 24:12 brought before Moshe instead of being judged immediately?
A: The Rambam explains in Hilchos Sanhedrin that capital cases required special deliberation. Since blasphemy was a new situation they hadn't encountered before (as the Midrash notes this was the first case of its kind), they needed divine instruction. This establishes the principle that difficult legal questions must be brought to proper Torah authorities.
Q: What lesson can we learn today from how they handled this situation in Leviticus 24:12?
A: The Talmud (Sanhedrin 54a) derives from this verse that we must be extremely careful in judgment, especially in serious matters. Today, this teaches us to consult rabbinic authorities for halachic questions rather than making our own determinations, showing reverence for Torah law just as our ancestors did in the wilderness.
Q: What does 'to be shown them' refer to in Leviticus 24:12?
A: Ibn Ezra explains that this phrase means the people needed clarification of God's will regarding this case. The Sforno adds that this demonstrates how even obvious sins sometimes require divine instruction for proper judgment, showing that Torah law comes from Hashem, not human reasoning alone.