Moshe Perkal asked:
Dear Collel,
What are we supposed to learn from this statement of the Cohen Gadol's grandmother? Is there a halacha that she is supposed to say it (the Rambam quotes it also)? If so, why? Is she adding her voice to those of the murderers who want him to leave this world, or merely asking that this situation doesn't happen to anyone else, like Rashi implies? What midah tova is this?
Moshe Perkal
The Kollel replies:
It seems to be a "Siman," a type of mnemonic which the Mishnah uses when recording a Halachah that sounds at face value implausable (and which might be accidentally inverted).
Similar phrases can be found in Mishnayos Parah 8:2-7.
Be well,
Mordecai Kornfeld