Sanhedrin - Daf 7
- אין תחילת דינו של אדם נידון אלא על דברי תורה
On the previous Daf, Rebbe Shimon ben Menasya said a judge cannot offer compromise after he knows where the judgement is leaning, based on the passuk "פוטר מים ראשית מדון" – releasing water is the beginning of strife. The Tannaim who disagree with him can darshen this passuk like Rav Hamnuna: אין תחילת דינו של אדם נידון אלא על דברי תורה – the beginning of a person’s judgement in the World to Come is only about [not having learned] words of Torah, based on this passuk describing “water” (i.e., Torah) as the beginning of judgement. Rav Huna said the passuk teaches us about disputes: האי תיגרא דמיא לצינורא דבידקא דמיא – discord is comparable to a channel made by a gush of water from an overflowing river. כיון דרווח רווח – Once it widens, it progressively widens more, and can no longer be blocked. If a dispute is not resolved right away, it will get progressively worse. Abaye Kashisha taught that a dispute is דמי לגודא דגמלא – similar to a new plank in a bridge; כיון דקם קם – once it becomes set by walking on it, it is set.
- כל דיין שדן דין אמת לאמיתו
Rebbe Yonasan said: כל דיין שדן דין אמת לאמיתו – Any judge who renders a true judgement to its absolute truth, משרה שכינה בישראל – causes the Shechinah to rest among Yisroel, as the passuk says: אלקים נצב בעדת אל בקרב אלהים ישפט – Hashem stands in the Divine assembly; in the midst of judges shall He judge. Any judge who does not judge דין אמת לאמתו, גורם לשכינה שתסתלק מישראל – causes the Shechinah to depart from Yisroel, based on a passuk. Rebbe Yonasan said: כל דיין שנוטל מזה ונותן לזה שלא כדין – any judge who takes from one party and gives to another party wrongfully, הקדוש ברוך הוא נוטל ממנו נפשו – Hashem takes away [the judge’s] life, as the passuk says not to rob the poor or oppress the afflicted in the gate (of court), כי ה' יריב ריבם וקבע את קבעיהם נפש – because Hashem will fight their battle, and rob the life of those who rob them. Rebbe Yonasan said: לעולם יראה דיין עצמו כאילו חרב מונחת לו בין ירכותיו – a judge should always view himself as if a sword is resting between his thighs, וגיהנם פתוחה לו מתחתיו – and Gehinnom is open under him, because a passuk describes גבורים – mighty scholars, as אחוזי חרב – with his sword on his thigh, מלומדי מלחמה – learned in battle of Torah, מפחד בלילות – for fear of nights, referring to גיהנם, which is similar to night.
- אם ברור לך הדבר כבקר, כאחותך
Rebbe Yoshiyah darshened the passuk: בית דוד כה אמר ה' – House of Dovid, so said Hashem, דינו לבקר משפט והצילו גזול מיד עושק – “Execute judgement in the morning and save he that was robbed from the oppressor’s hand.” Does one judge only in the morning and not the entire day?! Rather, the passuk means: אם ברור לך הדבר כבקר אמרהו – if the matter is as clear to you as the morning, say [the verdict], ואם לאו אל תאמרהו – but if not, do not say it. Rebbe Yonasan derived this from a different passuk: אמר לחכמה אחתי את – Say to wisdom, “You are my sister.” This means: אם ברור לך הדבר כאחותך שהיא אסורה לך – If the matter is as clear to you as the knowledge that your sister is forbidden to you, אומרהו – then say [the verdict,] ואם לאו אל תאמרהו – but if not, do not say it.
