Sanhedrin - Daf 111

  • Moshe is punished for being מהרהר אחר מדותיו, and Hashem mourns the loss of the Avos

An old Egyptian told Rebbe Elazar bar Rebbe Yose how his ancestors killed the Jews by drowning, by the sword, and by crushing them into the walls of buildings. Moshe was punished for complaining to Hashem about this, saying, “Ever since I came to פרעה to speak in Your Name, he has done evil to this people.” Hashem said: “חבל על דאבדין ולא משתכחין – Alas for those who are lost and cannot be found! Many times, I appeared to the Avos with the Name "קל שקי", ולא הרהרו על מדותי – but they did not question my ways when they did not see My promises fulfilled, nor did they ask ‘מה שמך – What is Your Name?’” Avraham was promised all of Eretz Yisroel, yet had to purchase a place to bury Sarah for four hundred silver shekel. Yitzchok was promised that Hashem would be with him and bless him, yet his servants could not obtain drinking water without quarreling with the local residents. Yaakov was also promised Eretz Yisroel, yet had to purchase a place to pitch his tent for one hundred קשיטה. Still, none of them questioned Hashem’s ways. But Moshe asked for Hashem’s Name, and questioned Hashem’s ways for not saving them. Hashem concluded: עתה תראה אשר אעשה לפרעה – “Now” you will see what I shall do to פרעה,” meaning he would witness their redemption from מצרים, but not their conquest of Eretz Yisroel.

  • ארך אפים לרשעים

A Baraisa teaches that when Moshe ascended the Heavens to receive the Torah, he found Hashem sitting and writing "ארך אפים" – slow to anger in the Torah. Moshe said: “Ribbono Shel Olam, ארך אפים לצדיקים – are You slow to anger only for the righteous?” Hashem responded: אף לרשעים – “Even for the wicked.” Moshe said: “רשעים יאבדו – the wicked should perish!” to which Hashem replied: “השתא חזית מאי דמבעי לך – Now you will see that which you need.” Later, when Yisroel sinned regarding the מרגלים, Moshe davened that they should not be destroyed, saying that Hashem is "ארך אפים". Hashem said to him: “לא כך אמרת לי ארך אפים לצדיקים – Did you not say to Me, ‘You should only be slow to anger for the righteous,’ which would not apply to Klal Yisroel now?” Moshe responded, “But did You not tell me, ‘אף לרשעים – even for the wicked’?” This is the meaning of the passuk: ועתה יגדל נא כח ה' כאשר דברת לאמר – and now, the strength of my Lord should be amplified, as You have said, (‘Hashem, slow to anger, etc.’).”

  • עיר הנדחת – The four conditions that must be met

The next Mishnah states: אנשי עיר הנדחת אין להם חלק לעולם הבא – the residents of a city led astray to idolatry have no share in עולם הבא. They are only beheaded (the execution specific to עיר הנדחת) if four conditions are met: (1) מדיחיה – those who led it astray are from that city, (2) and from that שבט, (3) the majority of the city was led astray to idolatry, and (4) men led them astray, not women or children. [A Baraisa adds that two men are required]. If any of these requirements is lacking, each idol-worshipper is killed as an individual, with סקילה. Each violator must have two witnesses and התראה to be convicted, like standard דיני נפשות.

The Mishnah notes: זה חומר ביחידים מבמרובים – [the following] is a stringency regarding individuals who served idolatry over masses (i.e., an עיר הנדחת): שהיחידים בסקילה לפיכך ממונם פלט – for individuals are killed with stoning; therefore, their assets are spared. והמרובין בסייף לפיכך ממונם אבד – But masses convicted of idolatry are killed by the sword (beheading), the less severe execution; therefore, their assets are destroyed.