Chapter 23

1A man shall not take his father's wife, nor shall he uncover the corner of his father's [cloak].   אלֹֽא־יִקַּ֥ח אִ֖ישׁ אֶת־אֵ֣שֶׁת אָבִ֑יו וְלֹ֥א יְגַלֶּ֖ה כְּנַ֥ף אָבִֽיו:
shall not take [I.e.,] betrothal has no effect on her [even after the father’s death], and he cannot legally marry her. — [Kid. 67a]   לֹֽא־יִקַּח  אֵין לוֹ בָּהּ לִקּוּחִין וְאֵין קִדּוּשִׁין תּוֹפְסִין בָּהּ (עי' קידושין ס"ז):
nor shall he uncover the corner of his father’s [cloak] [This seemingly superfluous phrase comes to include] the שׁוֹמֶרֶת יָבָם of his father [i.e., the widow of his father’s brother who died without children, who awaits (שׁוֹמֶרֶת) her brother-in-law (יָבָם) to either wed her or release her through the rite of חֲלִיצָה. See Deut. 25:5-10.] She is [thus] intended for his father [who is her brother-in-law]. But has he not already been admonished regarding her by [the verse] “[You shall not uncover] the nakedness of [i.e., commit incest with the wife of] your father’s brother” (Lev. 18:14)? However, [the prohibition is repeated here] to make the transgressor liable on her account for two negative commands (Yev. 4a), and to juxtapose it to “A bastard (מַמְזֵר) shall not enter [the assembly of the Lord,” to teach us that a מַמְזֵר, “bastard,” is only [a child of] a forbidden union punishable by כָּרֵת [“excision,” as is the case with a child born of one who takes his father’s שׁוֹמֶרֶת יָבָם]. All the more so [does it apply to one born] from a forbidden union punishable by the death sentence by the court, for in forbidden unions incurring the death penalty by the court, there is no case that does not [also] incur the penalty of כָּרֵת [Yev. 49a]   וְלֹא יְגַלֶּה כְּנַף אָבִיו  שׁוֹמֶרֶת יָבָם שֶׁל אָבִיו הָרְאוּיָה לְאָבִיו, וַהֲרֵי כְּבָר הֻזְהַר עָלֶיהָ מִשּׁוּם עֶרְוַת אֲחִי אָבִיךָ (ויקרא י"ח) אֶלָּא לַעֲבֹר עַל זוֹ בִּשְׁנֵי לָאוִין, וְלִסְמֹךְ לָהּ לֹא יָבֹא מַמְזֵר, לְלַמֵּד שֶׁאֵין מַמְזֵר אֶלָּא מֵחַיָּבֵי כָּרֵתוֹת, וְקַל וָחֹמֶר מֵחַיָּבֵי מִיתוֹת בֵּית דִּין, שֶׁאֵין בָּעֲרָיוֹת מִיתַת בֵּית דִּין שֶׁאֵין בָּהּ כָּרֵת (יבמות מ"ט):
2[A man] with injured testicles or whose member is cut, may not enter the assembly of the Lord.   בלֹֽא־יָבֹ֧א פְצֽוּעַ־דַּכָּ֛א וּכְר֥וּת שָׁפְכָ֖ה בִּקְהַ֥ל יְהֹוָֽה:
with injured testicles [I.e.,] one whose testicles have been injured or crushed. — [Sifrei 23:111]   פְצֽוּעַ־דַכָּא  שֶׁנִּפְצְעוּ אוֹ שֶׁנִּדְכְּאוּ בֵיצִים שֶׁלּוֹ:
whose member is cut Heb. וּכְרוּת שָׁפְכָה, one whose male organ is cut, [to the extent] that his semen no longer shoots forth in a continuous flow, but rather drips and trickles, and thus he cannot produce children. — [Yev. 75a]   וּכְרוּת שָׁפְכָה  שֶׁנִּכְרַת הַגִּיד וְשׁוּב אֵינוֹ יוֹרֶה קִלּוּחַ זֶרַע אֶלָּא שׁוֹפֵךְ וְשׁוֹתֵת וְאֵינוֹ מוֹלִיד (ספרי; יבמות ע'):
3A bastard shall not enter the assembly of the Lord; even the tenth generation shall not enter the assembly of the Lord.   גלֹֽא־יָבֹ֥א מַמְזֵ֖ר בִּקְהַ֣ל יְהֹוָ֑ה גַּ֚ם דּ֣וֹר עֲשִׂירִ֔י לֹֽא־יָבֹ֥א ל֖וֹ בִּקְהַ֥ל יְהֹוָֽה:
A bastard shall not enter the assembly of the Lord [I.e.,] he shall not marry an Israelite woman. — [Yev. 77b]   לֹֽא־יָבֹא מַמְזֵר בִּקְהַל ה'  לֹא יִשָּׂא יִשְׂרְאֵלִית:
4An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter the assembly of the Lord; even the tenth generation shall never enter the assembly of the Lord.   דלֹֽא־יָבֹ֧א עַמּוֹנִ֛י וּמֽוֹאָבִ֖י בִּקְהַ֣ל יְהֹוָ֑ה גַּ֚ם דּ֣וֹר עֲשִׂירִ֔י לֹֽא־יָבֹ֥א לָהֶ֛ם בִּקְהַ֥ל יְהֹוָ֖ה עַד־עוֹלָֽם:
An Ammonite [or Moabite] shall not enter [the assembly of the Lord] [I.e.,] he shall not marry an Israelite woman. — [Yev. 77b]   לֹֽא־יָבֹא עַמּוֹנִי  לֹא יִשָּׂא יִשְׂרְאֵלִית:
5Because they did not greet you with bread and water on the way, when you left Egypt, and because he [the people of Moab] hired Balaam the son of Beor from Pethor in Aram Naharaim against you, to curse you.   העַל־דְּבַ֞ר אֲשֶׁ֨ר לֹֽא־קִדְּמ֤וּ אֶתְכֶם֙ בַּלֶּ֣חֶם וּבַמַּ֔יִם בַּדֶּ֖רֶךְ בְּצֵֽאתְכֶ֣ם מִמִּצְרָ֑יִם וַֽאֲשֶׁר֩ שָׂכַ֨ר עָלֶ֜יךָ אֶת־בִּלְעָ֣ם בֶּן־בְּע֗וֹר מִפְּת֛וֹר אֲרַ֥ם נַֽהֲרַ֖יִם לְקַלְלֶֽךָּ:
Because Heb. עַל-דְּבַר [lit., “because of the word,” i.e.,] because of the [word of] advice they gave you (sic), to cause you to sin. — [Sifrei 23:114]   עַל־דְּבַר  עַל הָעֵצָה שֶׁיָּעֲצוּ אֶתְכֶם לְהַחֲטִיאֲכֶם:
on the way when you were in [a state of] extreme exhaustion. — [Sifrei 23:114]   בַּדֶּרֶךְ  כְּשֶׁהֱיִיתֶם בְּטֵרוּף (ספרי):
6But the Lord, your God, did not want to listen to Balaam. So the Lord, your God, transformed the curse into a blessing for you, because the Lord, your God, loves you.   ווְלֹֽא־אָבָ֞ה יְהֹוָ֤ה אֱלֹהֶ֨יךָ֙ לִשְׁמֹ֣עַ אֶל־בִּלְעָ֔ם וַיַּֽהֲפֹךְ֩ יְהֹוָ֨ה אֱלֹהֶ֧יךָ לְּךָ֛ אֶת־הַקְּלָלָ֖ה לִבְרָכָ֑ה כִּ֥י אֲהֵֽבְךָ֖ יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶֽיךָ:
7You shall not ever seek out their welfare or their good, all your days.   זלֹֽא־תִדְר֥שׁ שְׁלֹמָ֖ם וְטֹֽבָתָ֑ם כָּל־יָמֶ֖יךָ לְעוֹלָֽם:
You shall not [ever] seek out their welfare [nor their good] Since it says [in the case of a runaway slave], “He may reside with you in your midst” (verse 17), one might assume that this one [the Ammonite or the Moabite] is the same. Therefore, Scripture states: “You shall not [ever] seek out their welfare [or their good]” - [Sifrei 23:114. See Yalkut Shimoni, Mossad Harav Kook, fn. 54]   לֹֽא־תִדְרשׁ שְׁלֹמָם  מִכְּלָל שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר עִמְּךָ יֵשֵׁב בְּקִרְבְּךָ יָכוֹל אַף זֶה כֵּן, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמָר לא תדרש שלמם (עי' ספרי):
8You shall not despise an Edomite, for he is your brother. You shall not despise an Egyptian, for you were a sojourner in his land.   חלֹֽא־תְתַעֵ֣ב אֲדֹמִ֔י כִּ֥י אָחִ֖יךָ ה֑וּא לֹֽא־תְתַעֵ֣ב מִצְרִ֔י כִּי־גֵ֖ר הָיִ֥יתָ בְאַרְצֽוֹ:
You shall not despise an Edomite Completely, [but only the first two generations,] even though it is appropriate for you to despise him, because he went forth against you with the sword (see Num. 20:18-21).   לֹֽא־תְתַעֵב אֲדֹמִי  לְגַמְרֵי, וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁרָאוּי לְךָ לְתַעֲבוֹ שֶׁיָּצָא בַּחֶרֶב לִקְרָאתֶךָ:
You shall not despise an Egyptian Absolutely, [but only the first two generations,] even though they cast your male [infants] into the Nile. What is the reason [that you may not despise them]? Because they hosted you in a time of dire need; therefore:   לֹֽא־תְתַעֵב מִצְרִי  מִכֹּל וָכֹל, אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁזָּרְקוּ זְכוּרֵיכֶם לַיְאוֹר. מַה טַּעַם? שֶׁהָיוּ לָכֶם אַכְסַנְיָא בִּשְׁעַת הַדְּחָק. לְפִיכָךְ —
9Children who are born to them [in] the third generation may enter the assembly of the Lord.   טבָּנִ֛ים אֲשֶׁר־יִוָּֽלְד֥וּ לָהֶ֖ם דּ֣וֹר שְׁלִישִׁ֑י יָבֹ֥א לָהֶ֖ם בִּקְהַ֥ל יְהֹוָֽה:
Children who are born to them in the third generation But other nations, are allowed [to marry Jews] immediately [after their conversion]. Thus, you learn from here that someone who causes a person to sin does worse to him than one who kills him, for one who kills him, kills him [only] in this world, whereas one who leads him to sin removes him from [both] this world and from the world-to-come. Therefore, Edom, who came forth against them with the sword was not [completely] despised. Similarly, Egypt, who drowned them. These, however, who caused them to sin, were [completely] despised. — [Sifrei 23:117]   בָּנִים אֲשֶׁר־יִוָּֽלְדוּ לָהֶם דּוֹר שְׁלִישִׁי וגו'  וּשְׁאָר אֻמּוֹת מֻתָּרִים מִיָּד, הָא לָמַדְתָּ שֶׁהַמַּחֲטִיא לָאָדָם קָשֶׁה לוֹ מִן הַהוֹרְגוֹ, שֶׁהַהוֹרְגוֹ הוֹרְגוֹ בָעוֹלָם הַזֶּה וְהַמַּחֲטִיאוֹ מוֹצִיאוֹ מִן הָעוֹלָם הַזֶּה וּמִן הָעוֹלָם הַבָּא, לְפִיכָךְ אֱדוֹם שֶׁקִּדְּמָם בַּחֶרֶב לֹא נִתְעַב, וְכֵן מִצְרַיִם שֶׁטִּבְּעוּם, וְאֵלּוּ שֶׁהֶחֱטִיאוּם נִתְעֲבוּ (ספרי):
10When a camp goes out against your enemies, you shall beware of everything evil.   יכִּֽי־תֵצֵ֥א מַֽחֲנֶ֖ה עַל־אֹֽיְבֶ֑יךָ וְנִ֨שְׁמַרְתָּ֔ מִכֹּ֖ל דָּבָ֥ר רָֽע:
When a camp goes forth [against your enemies], you shall beware for Satan accuses in time of danger [thus extra care must be taken in time of war, when danger prevails]. — [Yerushalmi Shab. 2:6; Tanchuma, Vayiggash 1]   כִּֽי־תֵצֵא וגו' … וְנִשְׁמַרְתָּ  שֶׁהַשָּׂטָן מְקַטְרֵג בִּשְׁעַת הַסַּכָּנָה (תלמוד ירושלמי שבת ב'):
11If there is among you a man who is unclean because of a nocturnal emission, he shall go outside the camp. He shall not come within the camp.   יאכִּי־יִֽהְיֶ֤ה בְךָ֙ אִ֔ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֛ר לֹא־יִֽהְיֶ֥ה טָה֖וֹר מִקְּרֵה־לָ֑יְלָה וְיָצָא֙ אֶל־מִח֣וּץ לַמַּֽחֲנֶ֔ה לֹ֥א יָבֹ֖א אֶל־תּ֥וֹךְ הַמַּֽחֲנֶֽה:
[If there is among you a man who is unclean] because of a nocturnal emission Scripture is speaking here in terms of that which usually occurs. [Emissions usually occur at night. However, the law applies equally if it occurs during the day.]- [Sifrei 23: 120]   מִקְּרֵה־לָיְלָה  דִּבֵּר הַכָּתוּב בַּהוֹוֶה (ספרי):
he shall go outside the camp This is a positive commandment;   וְיָצָא אֶל־מִחוּץ לַמַּֽחֲנֶה  זוֹ מִצְוַת עֲשֵׂה:
He shall not come within the camp This is a negative commandment. He is forbidden to come within the camp of the Levites, and all the more so, to the camp of the Shechinah, [comprised by the Mishkan and its courtyard]. — [Sifrei 23:120, Pes. 68a]   לֹא־יָבֹא אֶל־תּוֹךְ הַמַּֽחֲנֶֽה  זוֹ מִצְוַת לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה (שם), וְאָסוּר לִכָּנֵס לְמַחֲנֵה לְוִיָּה, וְכָל שֶׁכֵּן לְמַחֲנֵה שְׁכִינָה (עי' פסחים ס"ח):
12And it shall be, towards evening, he shall bathe in water, and when the sun sets, he may come within the camp.   יבוְהָיָ֥ה לִפְנֽוֹת־עֶ֖רֶב יִרְחַ֣ץ בַּמָּ֑יִם וּכְבֹ֣א הַשֶּׁ֔מֶשׁ יָבֹ֖א אֶל־תּ֥וֹךְ הַמַּֽחֲנֶֽה:
And it will be, towards evening He should immerse [in the mikvah] close to sunset, since he does not become clean without the sunset. — [Sifrei 23:121]   וְהָיָה לִפְנֽוֹת־עֶרֶב  סָמוּךְ לְהֶעֱרֵב שִׁמְשׁוֹ יִטְבֹּל, שֶׁאֵינוֹ טָהוֹר בְּלֹא הֶעֱרֵב הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ (עי' ספרי):
13And you shall have a designated place outside the camp, so that you can go out there [to use it as a privy].   יגוְיָד֙ תִּֽהְיֶ֣ה לְךָ֔ מִח֖וּץ לַמַּֽחֲנֶ֑ה וְיָצָ֥אתָ שָׁ֖מָּה חֽוּץ:
And you shall have a designated place Heb. יָד, as the Targum [Onkelos] renders: [וַאֲתַר, a place], like “each man in his place (יָדוֹ)” (Num. 2:17).   וְיָד תִּֽהְיֶה לְךָ  כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ, כְּמוֹ אִישׁ עַל יָדוֹ (במדבר ב'):
outside the camp [I.e.,] outside the cloud [which surrounded the camp].   מִחוּץ לַמַּֽחֲנֶה  חוּץ לֶעָנָן:
14And you shall keep a stake in addition to your weapons; and it shall be, when you sit down outside [to relieve yourself], you shall dig with it, and you shall return and cover your excrement.   ידוְיָתֵ֛ד תִּֽהְיֶ֥ה לְךָ֖ עַל־אֲזֵנֶ֑ךָ וְהָיָה֙ בְּשִׁבְתְּךָ֣ ח֔וּץ וְחָֽפַרְתָּ֣ה בָ֔הּ וְשַׁבְתָּ֖ וְכִסִּ֥יתָ אֶת־צֵֽאָתֶֽךָ:
in addition to your weapons Heb. עַל-אֲזֵנֶךָ. [I.e.,] besides your other items of equipment.   עַל־אֲזֵנֶךָ  לְבַד מִשְּׁאָר כְּלֵי תַּשְׁמִישְׁךָ:
your weapons Heb. אֲזֵנֶךָ, like כְּלֵי זַיְנְךָ, your weapons.   אֲזֵנֶךָ  כְּמוֹ כְּלִי זַיִן:
15For the Lord, your God, goes along in the midst of your camp, to rescue you and to deliver your enemies before you. [Therefore,] your camp shall be holy, so that He should not see anything unseemly among you and would turn away from you.   טוכִּי֩ יְהֹוָ֨ה אֱלֹהֶ֜יךָ מִתְהַלֵּ֣ךְ | בְּקֶ֣רֶב מַֽחֲנֶ֗ךָ לְהַצִּֽילְךָ֙ וְלָתֵ֤ת אֹֽיְבֶ֨יךָ֙ לְפָנֶ֔יךָ וְהָיָ֥ה מַחֲנֶ֖יךָ קָד֑וֹשׁ וְלֹֽא־יִרְאֶ֤ה בְךָ֙ עֶרְוַ֣ת דָּבָ֔ר וְשָׁ֖ב מֵאַֽחֲרֶֽיךָ:
so that He will not see [That is,] the Holy One, Blessed is He, [will not see] anything unseemly.   וְלֹֽא־יִרְאֶה בְךָ  הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא ערות דבר:
16You shall not deliver a slave to his master if he seeks refuge with you from his master.   טזלֹֽא־תַסְגִּ֥יר עֶ֖בֶד אֶל־אֲדֹנָ֑יו אֲשֶׁר־יִנָּצֵ֥ל אֵלֶ֖יךָ מֵעִ֥ם אֲדֹנָֽיו:
You shall not deliver a slave As the Targum [Onkelos] renders it [עֲבַד עַמְמִין, a Jewish servant who had been sold to a gentile] (Gittin 45a). Another explanation: even a Canaanite servant of an Israelite who fled from outside the land to the Land of Israel. — [Gittin 45a]   לֹֽא־תַסְגִּיר עֶבֶד  כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ; דָּבָר אַחֵר — אֲפִלּוּ עֶבֶד כְּנַעֲנִי שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁבָּרַח מִחוּצָה לָאָרֶץ לְאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל (גיטין מ"ה):
17[Rather,] he shall [be allowed to] reside among you, wherever he chooses within any of your cities, where it is good for him. You shall not oppress him.   יזעִמְּךָ֞ יֵשֵׁ֣ב בְּקִרְבְּךָ֗ בַּמָּק֧וֹם אֲשֶׁר־יִבְחַ֛ר בְּאַחַ֥ד שְׁעָרֶ֖יךָ בַּטּ֣וֹב ל֑וֹ לֹ֖א תּוֹנֶֽנּוּ:
18There shall not be a prostitute of the daughters of Israel, and there shall not be a male prostitute of the sons of Israel.   יחלֹא־תִֽהְיֶ֥ה קְדֵשָׁ֖ה מִבְּנ֣וֹת יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְלֹא־יִֽהְיֶ֥ה קָדֵ֖שׁ מִבְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל:
There shall not be a prostitute Heb. קְדֵשָׁה, one who is unbridled, prepared (מְקֻדֶּשֶׁת), and ready for prostitution.   לֹא־תִֽהְיֶה קְדֵשָׁה  מֻפְקֶרֶת מְקֻדֶּשֶׁת וּמְזֻמֶּנֶת לִזְנוּת:
and there shall not be a male prostitute Heb. קָדֵשׁ, one [i.e., a male] ready for homosexual relations. - [Kid. 68b] Onkelos, however, renders: “A woman of the daughters of Israel shall not become a wife to a slave.” [Nevertheless, Onkelos 's explanation does not contradict that given above, for] such [a woman] is also susceptible to illicit relations, since this sort of marriage [between a Jewess and a slave] is not legally binding. For [slaves] are compared to donkeys, as it says, “Stay here with the donkey (עִם-הַחֲמוֹר)” (Gen. 22:5). [The choice of the word] עִם [rather אֶת [denotes] those compared to a donkey. - [Kid. 68a] [Abraham said this to his lads when he left them to take Isaac to offer him as a sacrifice. The lads were both slaves, both Eliezer and Ishmael, the son of his handmaid, Hagar. Similarly, the second half of the verse is rendered by Onkelos as follows:] “And no Israelite man shall take a maidservant as a wife,” since he too, becomes a קָדֵשׁ [“one reserved for illicit relations”] through her, because every time he cohabits with her, it is considered prostitution, since his marriage to her is not binding. — [See Pes. 88b]   וְלֹא־יִֽהְיֶה קָדֵשׁ  מְזֻמָּן לְמִשְׁכַּב זְכוּר; וְאֻנְקְלוֹס תִּרְגֵּם "לָא תְהֵא אִתְּתָא מִבְּנָת יִשְׂרָאֵל לִגְבַר עָבֵד", שֶׁאַף זוֹ מֻפְקֶרֶת לִבְעִילַת זְנוּת הִיא, מֵאַחַר שֶׁאֵין קִדּוּשִׁין תּוֹפְסִין לוֹ בָּהּ, שֶׁהֲרֵי הֻקְּשׁוּ לַחֲמוֹר, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "שְׁבוּ לָכֶם פֹּה עִם הַחֲמוֹר" – עַם הַדּוֹמֶה לַחֲמוֹר, וְלָא יִסַּב גַּבְרָא מִבְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אִתְּתָא אָמָה, שֶׁאַף הוּא נַעֲשֶׂה קָדֵשׁ עַל יָדָהּ, שֶׁכָּל בְּעִילוֹתָיו בְּעִילוֹת זְנוּת, שֶׁאֵין קִדּוּשִׁין תּוֹפְסִין לוֹ בָּהּ (עי' קידושין ס"ח):
19You shall not bring a prostitute's fee or the price of a dog, to the House of the Lord, your God, for any vow, because both of them are an abomination to the Lord, your God.   יטלֹֽא־תָבִיא֩ אֶתְנַ֨ן זוֹנָ֜ה וּמְחִ֣יר כֶּ֗לֶב בֵּ֛ית יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ לְכָל־נֶ֑דֶר כִּ֧י תֽוֹעֲבַ֛ת יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ גַּם־שְׁנֵיהֶֽם:
a prostitute’s fee [For example,] if one gave her a lamb as her fee, it is unfit to be offered up as a sacrifice. — [Sifrei 23:127]   אֶתְנַן זוֹנָה  נָתַן לָהּ טָלֶה בְּאֶתְנַנָּהּ פָּסוּל לְהַקְרָבָה:
the price of a dog If one exchanged a dog for a lamb [this lamb is unfit for a sacrifice]. — [Sifrei 23:127; Temurah 29a]   וּמְחִיר כֶּלֶב  הֶחֱלִיף שֶׂה בְכֶלֶב (ספרי; תמורה כ"ט):
because both of them [are an abomination to the Lord, your God] Heb. גַּם הֵם. [The extra word גַּם, lit. “also,” comes] to include [a prostitute’s fee or the price of a dog, which has been] converted [to another form]. For example, wheat, which he (sic) made into flour. — [Temurah 30b] [Sefer Yereim ch. 207 reads: which she made into flour.]   גַּם־שְׁנֵיהֶֽם  לְרַבּוֹת שִׁנּוּיֵיהֶם, כְּגוֹן חִטִּים וַעֲשָׂאָן סֹלֶת (שם ל'):
20You shall not give interest to your brother, [whether it be] interest on money, interest on food or interest on any [other] item for which interest is [normally] taken.   כלֹֽא־תַשִּׁ֣יךְ לְאָחִ֔יךָ נֶ֥שֶׁךְ כֶּ֖סֶף נֶ֣שֶׁךְ אֹ֑כֶל נֶ֕שֶׁךְ כָּל־דָּבָ֖ר אֲשֶׁ֥ר יִשָּֽׁךְ:
You shall not give interest Heb. לֹא-תַשִּׁיךְ‏. This is an admonition to the borrower that he should not pay interest to the lender. Afterwards is the admonition to the lender, [in the verse:] “You shall not give him your money with interest” (Lev. 25:37). - [See Sifrei 23:128] [In some editions, the word “afterwards,” is omitted, because that verse does not appear after this one, but in Leviticus (Leket Bahir).   לֹֽא־תַשִּׁיךְ  אַזְהָרָה לַלֹּוֶה שֶׁלֹּא יִתֵּן רִבִּית לַמַּלְוֶה (עי' ספרי) (וְאַחַר כָּךְ אַזְהָרָה לַמַּלְוֶה אֶת כַּסְפְּךָ לֹא תִתֵּן לוֹ בְּנֶשֶׁךְ):
21You may [however,] give interest to a gentile, but to your brother you shall not give interest, in order that the Lord, your God, shall bless you in every one of your endeavors on the land to which you are coming to possess.   כאלַנָּכְרִ֣י תַשִּׁ֔יךְ וּלְאָחִ֖יךָ לֹ֣א תַשִּׁ֑יךְ לְמַ֨עַן יְבָֽרֶכְךָ֜ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֗יךָ בְּכֹל֙ מִשְׁלַ֣ח יָדֶ֔ךָ עַל־הָאָ֕רֶץ אֲשֶׁר־אַתָּ֥ה בָא־שָׁ֖מָּה לְרִשְׁתָּֽהּ:
You may [however,] give interest to a gentile But not to your brother. A negative commandment that is derived by inference from a positive commandment [such as this,] is considered a positive commandment. [Thus, in this passage we have the positive commandment (born out of the inference: “to a gentile,” i.e., but not to your brother, plus two negative commandments: 1) “You shall not give interest to your brother” (verse 20), and 2) “but to your brother you shall not give interest” (verse 21). Hence, one who borrows from a Jew with interest] transgresses two negative commandments and one positive commandment. — [B.M. 70b]   לַנָּכְרִי תַשִּׁיךְ  וְלֹא לְאָחִיךָ, לָאו הַבָּא מִכְּלַל עֲשֵׂה, עֲשֵׂה, לַעֲבֹר עָלָיו בִּשְׁנֵי לָאוין וַעֲשֵׂה:
22When you make a vow to the Lord, your God, you shall not delay in paying it, for the Lord, your God, will demand it of you, and it will be [counted as] a sin for you.   כבכִּֽי־תִדֹּ֥ר נֶ֨דֶר֙ לַֽיהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ לֹ֥א תְאַחֵ֖ר לְשַׁלְּמ֑וֹ כִּֽי־דָר֨שׁ יִדְרְשֶׁ֜נּוּ יְהֹוָ֤ה אֱלֹהֶ֨יךָ֙ מֵֽעִמָּ֔ךְ וְהָיָ֥ה בְךָ֖ חֵֽטְא:
[When you make a vow…] you shall not delay in paying it for three Festivals. Our Rabbis learned this from a Scriptural verse [see Deut. 16:16]. — [R.H. 4b]   לֹא תְאַחֵר לְשַׁלְּמוֹ  שְׁלוֹשָׁה רְגָלִים, וּלְמָדוּהוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ מִן הַמִּקְרָא (ראש השנה ד'):
23But if you shall refrain from making vows, you will have no sin.   כגוְכִ֥י תֶחְדַּ֖ל לִנְדֹּ֑ר לֹא־יִֽהְיֶ֥ה בְךָ֖ חֵֽטְא:
24Observe and do what is emitted from your lips just as you have pledged to the Lord, your God, as a donation, which you have spoken with your mouth.   כדמוֹצָ֥א שְׂפָתֶ֖יךָ תִּשְׁמֹ֣ר וְעָשִׂ֑יתָ כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֨ר נָדַ֜רְתָּ לַֽיהֹוָ֤ה אֱלֹהֶ֨יךָ֙ נְדָבָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר דִּבַּ֖רְתָּ בְּפִֽיךָ:
Observe [and do] what is emitted from your lips This adds a positive commandment [i.e., to pay one’s vows in time,] to the [aforementioned] negative commandment [expressed in verse 22, namely, “you shall not delay in paying it”].   מוֹצָא שְׂפָתֶיךָ תִּשְׁמֹר  לִתֵּן עֲשֵׂה עַל לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה (שם ו'):
25When you enter your neighbor's vineyard, you may eat as many grapes as you desire, until you are sated, but you shall not put [any] into your vessel.   כהכִּ֤י תָבֹא֙ בְּכֶ֣רֶם רֵעֶ֔ךָ וְאָֽכַלְתָּ֧ עֲנָבִ֛ים כְּנַפְשְׁךָ֖ שָׂבְעֶ֑ךָ וְאֶל־כֶּלְיְךָ֖ לֹ֥א תִתֵּֽן:
When you enter your neighbor’s vineyard Scripture is speaking of a worker [who enters his employer’s vineyard to work there]. — [B.M. 87b]   כִּי תָבֹא בְּכֶרֶם רֵעֶךָ  בְּפוֹעֵל הַכָּתוּב מְדַבֵּר:
as you desire As many as you wish.   כְּנַפְשְׁךָ  כַּמָּה שֶׁתִּרְצֶה:
until you are sated But not excessive eating. — [B.M. 87b]   שָׂבְעֶךָ  וְלֹא אֲכִילָה גַסָּה (בבא מציעא פ"ז):
you shall not place [any] into your vessel From here [we learn that] Scripture is referring only to the period of the vintage, when you place [grapes] into the owner’s vessel (B.M. 87b). However, if the worker is entering [the vineyard] in order to hoe or cover the exposed roots [with earth], he may not eat [any of the grapes]. — [B.M. 89b]   וְאֶל־כֶּלְיְךָ לֹא תִתֵּֽן  מִכָּאן שֶׁלֹּא דִּבְּרָה תוֹרָה אֶלָּא בִּשְׁעַת הַבָּצִיר, בִּזְמַן שֶׁאַתָּה נוֹתֵן לְכֶלְיוֹ שֶׁל בַּעַל הַבַּיִת (ספרי; בבא מציעא פ"ט), אֲבָל אִם בָּא לַעֲדֹר וּלְקַשְׁקֵשׁ אֵינוֹ אוֹכֵל (שם פ"ז):
26When you enter your neighbor's standing grain, you may pick the ears with your hand, but you shall not lift a sickle upon your neighbor's standing grain.   כוכִּ֤י תָבֹא֙ בְּקָמַ֣ת רֵעֶ֔ךָ וְקָֽטַפְתָּ֥ מְלִילֹ֖ת בְּיָדֶ֑ךָ וְחֶרְמֵשׁ֙ לֹ֣א תָנִ֔יף עַ֖ל קָמַ֥ת רֵעֶֽךָ:
When you enter your neighbor’s standing grain This [verse] too, is speaking of a worker [who enters his employer’s grain field, to work there]. — [B.M. 87b]   כִּי תָבֹא בְּקָמַת רֵעֶךָ  אַף זוֹ בְּפוֹעֵל הַכָּתוּב מְדַבֵּר: