Positive Commandment #491 of 613
Break the neck of a calf by the river valley following an unsolved murder
Commandment #491 — a positive obligation from Deuteronomy 21:4, classified under Courts, Crimes, and Punishments in the 613 commandments of the Torah.
Scripture
“and the elders of that city shall bring the heifer down to a valley with running water, which has not been plowed or sown, and shall break the heifer's neck there in the valley.”
— Deuteronomy 21:4
Hebrew
ד וְהוֹרִדוּ זִקְנֵי הָעִיר הַהִוא אֶת-הָעֶגְלָה, אֶל-נַחַל אֵיתָן, אֲשֶׁר לֹא-יֵעָבֵד בּוֹ, וְלֹא יִזָּרֵעַ; וְעָרְפוּ-שָׁם אֶת-הָעֶגְלָה, בַּנָּחַל.
Greek (Septuagint)
4 καὶ καταβιβάσουσιν ἡ γερουσία τῆς πόλεως ἐκείνης τὴν δάμαλιν εἰς φάραγγα τραχεῖαν, ἥτις οὐκ εἴργασται οὐδὲ σπείρεται, καὶ νευροκοπήσουσιν τὴν δάμαλιν ἐν τῇ φάραγγι.
Classification
- Type
- Positive (Thou Shalt)
- Category
- Courts, Crimes, and Punishments
- Book
- deuteronomy
- Chapter
- 21
Scholarly References
- Parashah
- Shoftim
- Sefer HaChinuch
- #530
- Mishneh Torah
- InjuriesA Murder and the Preservation of Life
Related Commandments in “Courts, Crimes, and Punishments”
#131: The court must fine one who sexually seduces a maiden
Exodus 22:16
#464: The court must judge the damages incurred by an animal eating
Exodus 22:5
#465: The court must judge the damages incurred by a pit
Exodus 21:33
#466: The court must judge the damages incurred by fire
Exodus 22:6
#468: The court must implement punitive measures against a thief
Exodus 22:1
#469: Each individual must ensure that his scales and weights are accurate
Leviticus 19:36
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