What are the connotations of "Lo Sachsom Shor"?
Rashi (in Yechezkel, 39:11: It means 'Do not close (or block) an ox'.
Targum Onkelos: It means 'Do not close the mouth of an ox'.
Targum Yonasan:It means 'Do not muzzle an ox'.
Why does the Torah juxtapose "Lo Sachson Shor" to "Arba'im Yakenu"?
Makos, 23a: To teach us that Malkos is delivered with a strap made of calf leather. 1
See Torah Temimah, note 20.
Why does the Torah mention specifically "Shor"?
Rashi: In fact, it is forbidden to muzzle any animal, wild beast or bird whilst it is threshing. 1 And the Torah mentions "Shor" a. because it is common to use an ox for threshing grain, and b. to preclude a man, who is not permitted to eat whilst threshing grain, because it is not a final task. 2
"Lo Sachsom Shor be'Disho". Does this mean that one is permitted to muzzle the ox prior to the threshing and then to thresh with it muzzled?
Rashi: "Lo Sachsom Shor" implies that one may not work with an ox that is muzzled under any circumstances 1 - and as for "be'Disho", refer to 25:4:3:1.
Bava Metzi'a, 90b: The Torah means that whilst threshing, the ox should not be muzzled. 2
Why does the Torah mention specifically "be'Disho"?
Rashi: "be'Disho" is a Binyan Av (a precedent), which confines the La'av to where the animal is working with food not yet liable to be tithed or to have Chalah taken from it, 1 and which grows from the ground, 2 is included in the Isur.
Bava Metzi'a, 89a: It confines the implied concession for a laborer to eat a. to where he is performing a final Melachah - to preclude where hs is digging garlic or onions; b. to where what he is working with is not yet subject to Ma'aser and Chalah - to preclude where he is separaing dates or figs - which are subject to Ma'aser, and where he is kneading, arranging the dough or baking, where the dough is subject to Chalah. 3
Me'ilah, 13a: In order to preclude an ox that is threshing the corn belonging to Hekdesh from the La'av 4 - to prohibit an ox that is threshing grain of Hekdesh from eating.
See Sifsei Chachamim and Hadar Zekenim. See also Torah Temimah, notes 37 & 39.
Rashi: This precludes someone who milks an animal, or makes cheese or churns milk (which does not grow from the ground), kneads dough and arranges loaves (which are already liable to Chalah); and separates dates and dried figs that stuck together (which are already liable to be tithed). See Sifsei Chachamim.
See Torah Temimah, note 39.
See Torah Temimah, note 41.
Seeing as Adam is compared to Beheimah (See next question, answer #2), how can the Torah preclude Adam from "Lo Sachsom Shor be'Disho"?
Seeing as the prohibition is in order not to cause the animal pain, why did the Torah not write simply 'Lo Tadosh ba'Chasimah'?
Moshav Zekenim: Because we would have then included muzzling a man in the prohibition.
Bava Metzi'a, 89a: To compare the one who is muzzling - a man - to the one who is being muzzled - an ox: to permit a man to eat from what is detached - like an ox, and an ox to eat from what is attatched - like a man. 1
See Torah Temimah, note 36.
Why does the Torah juxtapose "Lo Sachsom" to the Din of Malkos?
Rashi (in Pasuk #1): To teach us that one only receives Malkos for transgressing a La'av that is not Nitak la'Asei. 1
Makos 22b: To teach us that one delivers Malkos with a whip made of calf-hide. 2
See Torah Temimah, note 8, who elaborates and who adds to the conditions that it must involve performing an act, that it is not punishable by Misas Beis-Din, that it is not subjectq to monetary remuneration and that it is not a La'av she'bi'Kelalos (a general La'av incorporating a number of issues).
Rosh: The opinion that holds there - on 23a, that it is made from donkey-hide as well learns it from "Yada Shor Koneihu va'Chamor Eivus Be'alav" (Yeshayah 1:3).
QUESTIONS ON RASHI
Rashi writes that "be'Disho" precludes someone who milks, kneads or separates drie dates and figs. But "Shor" already precludes Adam?
Hadar Zekenim: We extrapolated that man is precluded from the La'av, and that he may eat when he is working with food, Melachos that resemble threshing, but not one who milks or kneads.
