1)

What is the definition of "Esnan Zonah"?

1.

Rashi: "Esnan Zonah" is the lamb (for example) that one pays a Zonah for her services.

2.

Temurah, 29a: If someone says to a prostitute 'Here is a lamb as payment for your services!' or if he says to his friend 'Take this lamb and let your Shifchah spend the night with my Eved Ivri!' 1


1

See Torah Temimah, note 88.

2)

What is the definition of a Zonah?

1.

Temurah, 29b: It is a woman whose marriage is prohibited. 1 Consequently, it incorporates all Arayos (including married women and women who are subject to incest, all of whom are subject to Kareis) with the sole exception of one's own wife who is a Nidah. 2

2.

Rashbam and Targum Yonasan: It is a prostitute (who is not married [and who is not subject to incest] - Rashbam).


1

See Torah Temimah, note 89.

2

See Torah Temimah, note 89.

3)

What will be the Din with regard to an Esnan Zoneh (a lamb that the woman gives the male prostitute for his services)?

1.

Temurah, 29b: The Torah writes specifically "Esnan Zonah" to preclude that of a male.

4)

What is the definition of "M'chir Kelev"?

1.

Rashi: "M'chir Kelev" is the lamb that one swaps for a dog.

2.

Moshav Zekenim: It includes any Kasher animal traded for any Tamei animal. The Torah mentioned a dog because it is common to use them for guarding, and sometimes one trades it for a lamb or a kid-goat.

3.

Temurah, 30a: Where Reuven says to Shimon 'Take this lamb as payment for your dog! Similarly, where they are partner, and where he takes ten lambs and Shimon, nine lambs and one dog - all the lambs that Shimon takes are considered 'M'chir Kelev', and may not be brought as a Korban. 1


1

See Torah Temimah, note 91.

5)

What does "Lo Savi ... Esnan Zonah ? " entail?

1.

Sifri: We learn via a Gezeirah Shavah "To'evah" " ? ki To'evah hi" in Devarim 17:1 in connection with sacrificing Ba'alei-Mumin, that it entails actually bringing the animal on the Mizbe'ach - not just bringing it to the Azarah. 1


1

See Torah Temimh, note 98.

6)

What are the implications of "Lo Savi ... Beis Hashem"?

1.

Avodah Zarah, 46b: It implies that the prohibition of bringing Esnan Zonah and M'chir Kelev to the Beis-Hamikdash incorporates both things that are detached from the gound and things that are attached (such as a house). 1

2.

Temurah, 30b: It incorporates donating gold to overlay any part of the Beis-Hamikdash - such as behind the Kodesh Kodshim - in the prohibition of bringing Esnan Zonah and M'chir Kelev to the Beis-Hamikdash. 2


1

See Torah Temimah, note 93.

2

See Torah Temimah, note 94.

7)

What is the word "le'Chol Neder" coming to include?

1.

Targum Yonasan: It includes bringing an Esnan Zonah or M'chir Kelev even as a voluntary Neder, how much more as a Korban that one is obligated to bring. 1

2.

Temurah, 30b: It includes birds in the prohibition, 2 and to preclude Kodshim animals, which are already Nadur. 3

3.

Sifri: It incorporates the Bamah in the prohibition of "Lo Savi ... el Beis Hashem". 4


1

See Torah Temimah, note 93.

2

See Torah Temimah, note 95.

3

See Torah Temimah, note 97.

4

See Torah Temimah, note 96.

8)

Why does the Torah forbid Esnan Zonah?

1.

Ramban: Because the Zonah tries to atone for her misdeeds by performing Mitzvos with the proceeds of her earnings, 1 thereby justifying her actions and encouraging herself to continue doing them.

2.

Alshich: It is like a Mitzvah that comes through an Aveirah.

3.

Oznayim la'Torah: Because Z'nus is the antithesis of Kedushah. 2


1

Ramban (citing the Midrash Rabah): 'The prostitute receives apples for her services and distributes them among the sick'.

2

As the Torah indicates in Emor, Vayikra, 21:9. See Oznayim la'Torah:

9)

Why does the Torah forbid M'chir Kelev?

1.

Ramban #1: This is based on the fact that hunters and those who guard the walls tend to keep ferocious dogs that wreak havoc among the public, and they, like the prostitute, attempts to atone for their misdeeds by performing Mitzvos with the proceeds of the sale of their dogs. 1

2.

Ramban #2 (citing the Ibn Ezra): Because it is disgraceful to bring the exchange of a dog (or the wages of a prostitute) on the Mizbe'ach. 2

3.

K'li Yakar: Because, since dogs mate in public, they are compared to a Zonah regarding Z'nus and brazenness. Consequently, like Esnan Zonah, it is inappropriate to bring them to a place of Kedushah, which is a fence against Ervah, and the Tzitz atones for brazenness.

4.

Oznayim la'Torah: Because people befriend dogs over and above all other species of animals - wasting time and money on pampering them. Moreover they do this because the dogs protect them, in spite of the fact that they (the dogs) do not draw a distinction between friend and foe - and attack anyone they can lay their fangs on. 3


1

Refer to 23:19:5:5 and see Ramban.

2

Ibn Ezra: As the Pasuk concludes "Ki So'avas Hashem Gam Sheneihem!" See also Kli Yakar.

3

See Oznayim la'Torah DH 'u'Mechir Kelev #2' who elaborates.

10)

Why does the Torah insert the (otherwise superfluous) words "Ki Toa'vas Hashem Elokecha ... ."

1.

Refer to 23:19:2:1:1.

2.

Sifri: To restrict the prohibition to what he pays her for her services, bu not to what he pays her for loss of work.

11)

What are the words "Gam Sheneihem" coming to teach us?

1.

Rashi: They include where the object has been changed ? such as wheat which has been ground into flour (and olives that have been made ino oil, or grapes into wine - Temurah, 30b). 1

2.

Ramban #1: The Torah writes "Gam Sheneihem" to emphasize 2 that even the M'chir Kelev, which is not as bad as the Esnan Zonah, which is connected with the abomination of Z'nus, is forbidden.

3.

Ramban #2: Having already prohibited sacrificing blemished animals on the Mizbe'ach, 3 the Torah now adds Esnan and M'chir to the prohibition, even though the animals themselves are without blemish. 4

4.

Temurah, 30a #1: The suffix "Hem" in the word "Sheneihem" comes to preclude the offspring of the Esnan and the M'chir, which are permitted. 5

5.

Temurah, 30a #2: To preclude Esnan Kelev (the lamb that he gives her in exchange for having relations with his dog) 6 and M'chir Zonah (the lamb that he gave his friend in exchange for a Zonah whom he purchased as a slave) - "Gam Sheneihem", ve'Lo Arba'ah'.


1

See Torah Temimah, note 103.

2

See Ramban who elaborates.

4

Ramban: See the same format in Mishlei, 20:12, 10.

5

Because 'Ein Z'nus li'Beheimah' (Yevamos, 59b). See also Torah Temimah, note 101.

6

See Torah Temimah, note 102.

QUESTIONS ON RASHI

12)

Rashi writes that "Gam Sheneihem" includes where the object has been changed. But that is the opinion of Beis Shamai (in Bava Kama 65b), and not Beis Hillel?

1.

Mizrachi: Rashi explains the Pasuk like Beis Shamai because the Gemara there did not know how to interpret the word "Gam" according to Beis Hillel. 1


1

See R. Chavel's notes on the Ramban.

Sefer: Perek: Pasuk:

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