Why does the Torah prohibit "Shochad"?
Kesuvos, 105a: Because "Shochad" is the acronym of 'she'Hu Chad' - implying that the Dayan mindset becomes one with the mindset of the person who issued the bribe to the point that become like one person - and a person cannot see himself guilty.
Since, in Shoftim Devarim, 16:19 the Torah will warn against perversion of justice, why does it need to prohibit the taking of bribes?
Rashi: Because taking bribes is forbidden even in order to judge truthfully.
Why does the Torah write "ve'Shochad Lo Sikach" and not 'u'Betza'?
Kesuvos, 105a: Because whereas 'Betza' implies money, 'Shochad' incorporates even bribery of words. 1
Refer to 23:8:0.1:1.
See Torah Temimah, note 66.
What are the ramifications of "Ki ha'Shochad Ye'aver Pikchim"?
Rashi: Irrespective of the caliber of the Dayan, once a Dayan accepts a bribe, his mind becomes warped, he forgets his learning and the light of his eyes becomes dim. 1
Targum Onkelos: It makes the wise blind. 2
Targum Yonasan: 'Because Shochad blinds the eyes of those who accept it - It moves the Chachamim from their dwellings 3 and perverts the true rulings that are written in the Torah. 4
Kesuvos, 105a: Come and see how effective is the blindness of those who accept bribes - People give good money to be cured of a pain in the eyes and they don't know for sure that the cure will be effective, and they accept merely a P'rutah and their eyes become blind!
Mechilta: It teaches a Dayan not to say that he will take money and not pervert the Din, because the Pasuk emphatically states that he will. 5
Pe'ah, 5:9: A Dayan who takes Shochad and who twists the Din will not die of old age before he becomes blind. 6
Seeing as the Torah writes in Shoftim, Devarim, 16:19 "Ki ha'Shochad Ye'aver Einei Chachamim, why does it need to insert the current Pasuk?
Mechilta: Whereas the Pasuk in Shoftim is referring to physical blindness, the current Pasuk is referring to blindness of the Seichel. 1
What is the meaning of "vi'Yesalef Divrei Tzadikim"?
