What are the implications of "ve'Lo Sikchu Kofer le'Nefesh Rotze'ach?"
Rashi, Ramban, Rashbam, Targum Onkelos and Targum Yonasan: It implies 'tht one should not accept ransom for the life of a murderer be'Meizid' - to enable him to avoid the death penalty by accepting money (or by giving him Malkos, allowing him to escape to the Ir Miklat or via any other punishment- Ramban). 1
Da'as Zekenim: It implies that if a Rotze'ach be'Meizid flees to an Ir Miklat, one may take him from there to kill him - even if he is holding on to the corners of the Mizbe'ach. 2
Bava Kama, 83a: It implies that one may take a ransom from someone who severs a limb which will not regrow - in place of severing his limb 3 - 'le'Nefesh Rotze'ach I Atah Loke'ach Kofer, Aval Atah Loke'ach Kofer le'Rashei Evarim'. 4
See Rashbam. See also Torah Temimah, note 72.
Da'as Zekenim: As the Torah writes in Mishpatim Sh'mos 21:14 "me'Im Mizb'chi Tikachenu Lamus". It seems that even Yo'av, who was a great Chacham and a Rosh Sanhedrin - which the Pesikta Rabasi 1 learns from the Pasuk in Shmuel 2 23:8 "Yoshev ha'Sheves Tachkemoni Rosh ha'Shelishi" - did not know this.
See Torah Temimah, note 73.
See Rashbam.
Why does the Torah insert the (otherwise superfluous) phrase "asher hu Rasha la'Mus"?
