What is the significance of the fact that the Torah gives an example of a forest?
Makos, 8a: To confine the Din of Galus to a domain which the victim has authority to enter - to preclude where the accident occurred when he entered the courtyard of the person who is chopping wood uninvited. 1
See Torah Temimah, note 12.
What is the significance of the fact that the Torah gives an example of a person chopping wood?
Makos, 8a: To confine the Din of Galus to an activity that is voluntary - to preclude a father who strikes his son, a Rebbe who strikes his Talmid and a Shali'ach Beis-Din who is administering Malkos, who are Patur from Galus in the event that the son, the Talmid or the sinner dies. 1
See Torah Temimah, note 13.
What is the meaning of the words "Venidchah Yado ba'Garzen"?
Targum Yonasan: It means that his hand was holding on to the axe.
RS"R Hirsh: Where his hand slipped and he swung it more forcefully than intended, thereby causing the blade to fly off the handle.
Rashi: As Targum Yonasan translates "ki Shamtu ha'Bakar" in Shmuel 2, 6:6.
What is the meaning of "Ve'nashal ha'Barzel min ha'Eitz"?
Rashi #1 (according to the Chachamim in Makos 7b) and Targum Yonasan: It means that the metal (the blade) slipps off the wood 1 (the handle),' 2 because that is the way we read the word 'Venashal' (Yesh Eim le'Mikra'). 3
Rashi #2 (according to Rebbi, Makos 7b), Rashbam and Targum Onkelos: It means 'The metal (the blade) removes some of the wood that is being chopped, which subsequently strikes the victim' 4 (And he is Chayav Galus even though he cut the tree be'Meizid) 5
Rambam (Hilchos Rotze'ach 6:15): It means 'The blade (or the entire ax) bounced off the wood that he wanted to chop'.
Yerushalmi, Makos, 2:2: We learn via a Gezeirah Shavah "Ve'nashal" "Ve'nashal Hashem ... es ha'Goyim ha'Eil" - in Eikev, 7:22 - that it means to strike.
Rashi in Va'eschsnan, 7:1: Like "Venashal Goyim Rabim mi'Panecha".
Because that is the way we read the word 'Venashal' (Yesh Eim le'Mikra'). He is not Chayav however, if the blade chopped of some wood from the tree, and the wood struck the victm and killed him. See Torah Torah Temimah, citing Makos, 7b and note 15, who elaborates.
See Torah Temimah, note 15, citing the Ritva. Sifri: From here we learn that if someone intentionally cut down a tree, which fell on a person and killed him, he is Chayav to run to an Ir Miklat.
Rashi in Sh'mos, 3:5: "Shal Ne'alecha me'al Raglecha". This is 'Ko'ach Kocho', which the Chachamim in answer #1 maintain is Patur. That is also the opinion of the Yerushalmi. which learns via a Gezeirah Shavah "Ve'nashal" "Ve'nashal Hashem ... es ha'Goyim ha'Eil" - in Devarim 7:22 - See answer #4.
See Torah Temimah, citing the Sifri.
What are the implications of "u'Matza es Re'eihu"?
Makos, 8a: It implies that the victim was in line of the blade or the wood when the owner swung the axe, bu not if he stuck his head in line with them afterwards. 1
See Torah Temimah, note 17.
What is the word "Hu Yanus" coming to preclude?
Makos, 2b: It precludes Eidim Zom'min, who do not go into Galus - like they wanted the murderer to do - but who recive Malkos instead.
What are the implications of 'el Achas he'Arim ... "?
Sifri: It implies that he is obligated to remain in the Ir Miklat of his choice, and is not permitted to move from one Ir Miklat to another. 1
See Torah Temimah, note 19.
How will we reconcile this Pasuk with the Pasuk in Vayikra 24:21 ? "u'Makeh Adam Yumas" (implying Shogeg as well as Meizid)?
Rashi (in the Beraisa of R. Yishmael): This is the source for the principle that ''Something that was part of a K'lal, but which the Torah mentioned independently ? it does so exclusively in order to rule leniently (to be subject to Galus and not stringently, to be Chayav Misah)'.
Why does the Torah add the word "asher Yanus el Achas he'Arim ha'Eileh Vachai"?
Refer to 4:42:3:1-3.
