What is the meaning of "Vehikrisem lachem"?
Rashi, Rashbam, Targum Onkelos and Targum Yonasan: It means that you shall prepare 1 for yourselves. 2
R. Bachye: It means ?Buildfor yourselves towns. 3
Rashi: As in Bereishis 27:5.
Targum Yonasan: By installing market-places and stores that provide whatever is needed for one's livelihood (See Na'ar Yonasan).
R. Bachye: From the Lashon ?Kiryah? (a town).
What is the definition of "Arim"?
Sifri: It means regular-size towns, with markets and basic living requirements - not K'rachim (large rowns) and not Kefarim (villages). 1
See Torah Temimah, note 12.
Why does the Torah insert the word "Tih'yenah four times in the current Parshah - here, in Pasuk 13, 14, & 15?
Oznayim la'Torah (citing the Sifri Zuta): 1. Refer to 35:14:3:2. 2. To have pity on them - not to tax them too heavily; 3. To rebuild the Arei Mikllat should they collapse; 4. To obligate Yisrael to arrange the Arei Miklat with their own money.
Why does the Torh repeat the (otherwise superfluous) word "Arei Miklat Tih'yenah lachem"?
Oznayim la'Torah: To stress that, as opposed to the forty-two towns, they belonged to all of Yisrael 1 and the murderers were permitted to live there free of charge.
Why does the Torah insert the (otherwise superfluous) word "ve'Nas Shamah Rotze'ach ... "
Sanhedrin, 33b: To learn via a Gezeirah Shavah "Rotze'ach" "Rotze'ch" - Pasuk 17 1 that the Din that if the defendent leaves Beis-Din Chayav and one of the Talmidim claims to have something to say in his favor, he is returned to Beis-Din, and that, in the reverse case, he is not. Extends to Chayvei Galus.
See Torah Temimah, citing Sanhedrin and note 13.
What are the implications of "Makeh Nefesh ... "?
Makos, 5b: It precludes someone who strikes his father be'Shogeg and wounds him, from the Din of Galus. 1 2
R. Bachye, Targum Onkekos and Targum Yonasan: It refers to Reuven who killed Shimon be?Shogeg. 3
What are the implications of "bi'Shegagah"?
R. Bachye (citing the Tanchuma): It precludes Reuven who killed Shimon be?Meizid and who claims that he killed him be?Shogeg from Galus; 1 even if he ran there, Beis-Din take him out and sentence him to death - even if he ran to the Mizbe?ach, 2 like we find by Yo?av in Melachim 1, 2:28.
Makos, 7b: It precludes someone who thinks that it is permitted to kill, from the Din of Galus. 3
