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Edut - Chapter 4

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Edut - Chapter 4

1Both witnesses in cases involving capital punishment must see the person committing the transgression at the same time. They must deliver their testimony together, in the same court. These requirements do not apply with regard to cases involving financial matters.אעֵדֵי נְפָשׁוֹת - צְרִיכִין שֶׁיִּהְיוּ שְׁנֵיהֶם רוֹאִין הָעוֹשֶׂה עֲבֵרָה כְּאֶחָד, וּצְרִיכִין לְהָעִיד כְּאֶחָד, וּבְבֵית דִּין אֶחָד. אֲבָל בְּדִינֵי מָמוֹנוֹת, אֵינָן צְרִיכִין לְכָּךְ.
What is implied? If while looking from one window, a witness saw the person commit the transgression and the other witness saw him from another window, their testimonies can be combined if they can see each other. If they cannot see each other,1 their testimonies cannot be combined.כֵּיצַד? הָיָה אֶחָד רוֹאֵהוּ מֵחַלּוֹן זֶה כְּשֶׁעָבַר הָעֲבֵרָה, וְהָעֵד הָאַחֵר רוֹאֵהוּ מֵחַלּוֹן אַחֵר: אִם הָיוּ שְׁנֵי הָעֵדִים רוֹאִין זֶה אֶת זֶה, מִצְטָרְפִין; וְאִם לָאו, אֵין מִצְטָרְפִין.
If a person who administered the warning2 sees the witnesses and the witnesses see him,3 even though the witnesses do not see each other, their testimony may be combined because of the person administering the warning.הָיָה זֶה הַמַּתְרֶה בּוֹ רוֹאֶה אֶת הָעֵדִים, וְהָעֵדִים רוֹאִין אוֹתוֹ - אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאֵין רוֹאִין זֶה אֶת זֶה, הַמַּתְרֶה מְצָרְפָן.
If they do not see the transgression at the same time, their testimony is not combined. For example, the two witnesses were in one house and one stuck his head out of the window and saw a person perform a forbidden labor on the Sabbath and another person issue a warning. He then withdrew his head and the other witness stuck his head out of the same window and saw the person commit the transgression. Their testimonies cannot be combined4 unless they both see the transgression at the same time.5הָיוּ שְׁנֵי הָעֵדִים בְּבַיִת אֶחָד, וְהוֹצִיא אֶחָד מֵהֶן רֹאשׁוֹ מִן הַחַלּוֹן, וְרָאָהוּ זֶה שֶׁעוֹשֶׂה מְלָאכָה בַּשַּׁבָּת, וְאֶחָד מַתְרֶה בּוֹ, וְהִכְנִיס רֹאשׁוֹ, וְחָזַר הָעֵד הַשֵּׁנִי וְהוֹצִיא רֹאשׁוֹ מֵאוֹתוֹ הַחַלּוֹן וְרָאָהוּ - אֵין מִצְטָרְפִין, עַד שֶׁיִּרְאוּ שְׁנֵיהֶם כְּאֶחָד.
The following laws apply when two witnesses see the transgressor from one window, two other witnesses see him from another window, and there is a person who gives a warning in between. If some of them see each other, they are considered as one group of witnesses.6 If they do not see each other and the person giving the warning does not include them together, they are considered as two groups of witnesses.הָיוּ שְׁנֵי עֵדִים רוֹאִין אוֹתוֹ מֵחַלּוֹן זֶה, וּשְׁנֵי עֵדִים רוֹאִין אוֹתוֹ מֵחַלּוֹן אַחֵר, וְאֶחָד מַתְרֶה בּוֹ בָּאֶמְצָע: בִּזְמַן שֶׁמִּקְצָתָן רוֹאִין אֵלּוּ אֶת אֵלּוּ, הֲרֵי זוֹ עֵדוּת אַחַת; וְאִם לֹא הָיוּ רוֹאִין אֵלּוּ אֶת אֵלּוּ, וְלֹא צֵרַף אוֹתָן הַמַּתְרֶה - הֲרֵי אֵלּוּ שְׁתֵּי עֵדִיּוֹת.
Therefore if one group are discovered to be zomamim,7 the transgressor and the witnesses are executed. For the transgressor is executed on the basis of the testimony of the second group of witnesses.לְפִיכָךְ אִם נִמְצֵאת אַחַת מֵהֶן זוֹמְמִין - הוּא וְהֵן נֶהֱרָגִין, שֶׁהֲרֵי הוּא נֶהֱרָג בְּעֵדוּת הַכַּת הַשְּׁנִיָּה.
2With regard to cases involving financial matters, by contrast, even though they did not see each other, their testimony can be combined.8 What is implied? One witness said: “In my presence, he lent him money on this-and-this day” or “In my presence, he acknowledged a debt,” and the second witness says: “I also testify that he lent him money” or “...acknowledged a debt” on a different day, their testimony can be combined.9באֲבָל בְּדִינֵי מָמוֹנוֹת, אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁרָאוּ זֶה אַחַר זֶה - עֵדוּתָן מִצְטָרֶפֶת. כֵּיצַד? אָמַר הָאֶחָד 'בְּפָנַי הִלְוָהוּ בְּיוֹם פְּלוֹנִי', אוֹ 'בְּפָנַי הוֹדָה לוֹ', וְאָמַר הָעֵד הַשֵּׁנִי: 'וְכֵן אֲנִי מֵעִיד שֶׁהִלְוָהוּ בְּפָנַי', אוֹ 'הוֹדָה לוֹ בְּיוֹם אַחֵר' - הֲרֵי אֵלּוּ מִצְטָרְפִין.
3Similarly, if one witness states: “He gave a loan in my presence,” and the other said: “He acknowledged a debt in my presence,”10 or the first said: “He acknowledged a debt in my presence,” and the other testified afterwards, saying: “He gave a loan in my presence,” their testimony can be combined.11גוְכֵן אִם אָמַר הָאֶחָד 'בְּפָנַי הִלְוָהוּ', וְהַשֵּׁנִי אוֹמֵר 'בְּפָנַי הוֹדָה לוֹ'; אוֹ שֶׁאָמַר הָרִאשׁוֹן 'בְּפָנַי הוֹדָה לוֹ', וְהַשֵּׁנִי שֶׁהֵעִיד אַחַר זְמַן אָמַר 'בְּפָנַי הִלְוָהוּ' - הֲרֵי אֵלּוּ מִצְטָרְפִין.
4Similar concepts apply with regard to the time of their testimony in court: One may come on one day and the court will hear his testimony and the other may come at a later date and have his testimony heard. The testimonies may be combined and money expropriated on this basis.דוְכֵן בְּעֵת שֶׁמְּעִידִין בְּבֵית דִּין - יָבוֹא אֶחָד וְשׁוֹמְעִין דְּבָרָיו הַיּוֹם, וּכְשֶׁיָּבוֹא הָעֵד הַשֵּׁנִי לְאַחַר זְמַן, שׁוֹמְעִין דְּבָרָיו, וּמִצְטָרְפִין זֶה לְזֶה, וּמוֹצִיאִין בָּהֶן הַמָּמוֹן.
5Similarly, if the testimony of one witness was recorded in a legal document and the other testified orally, their testimony may be combined.12 If the witness who did not record his testimony states: “I entered into an act of contract with him concerning this matter,13 but the lender did not come and ask me to record my testimony in a legal document,” the two can join together to give the claim the status of a loan backed by a promissory note.14 The borrower may not claim: “I repaid the debt.”הוְכֵן אִם הָיָה עֵד אֶחָד בִּכְתָב וְעֵד אֶחָד עַל פֶּה - מִצְטָרְפִין. וְאִם אָמַר זֶה שֶׁלֹּא כָתַב עֵדוּתוֹ 'קָנִיתִי מִיָּדוֹ עַל דָּבָר זֶה, וְלֹא בָא הַמַּלְוֶה הַזֶּה וְלֹא שָׁאַל מִמֶּנִּי לִכְתֹּב' - שְׁנֵיהֶם מִצְטָרְפִין לַעֲשׂוֹת הַמִלְוָה בַּשְּׁטָר, וְאֵינוֹ יָכוֹל לוֹמַר 'פָּרַעְתִּי'.
6The following laws apply in cases involving financial matters. If one witness delivered testimony15 in one court and the other witness delivered testimony in a second court, the two courts should come together and combine the testimonies.16והֵעִיד הָעֵד הָאֶחָד בְּבֵית דִּין זֶה, וְהֵעִיד הַשֵּׁנִי בְּבֵית דִּין אַחֵר - יָבוֹא בֵּית דִּין אֵצֶל בֵּית דִּין, וְיִצְטָרְפוּ עֵדוּתָן.
Similarly, if two witnesses delivered testimony in one court17 and then delivered testimony in another court, a member of either court can join together with a member of the other court.18וְכֵן אִם הֵעִידוּ שְׁנֵי הָעֵדִים בְּבֵית דִּין זֶה, וְחָזְרוּ וְהֵעִידוּ בְּבֵית דִּין אַחֵר - יָבוֹא אֶחָד מִכָּל בֵּית דִּין וּבֵית דִּין, וְיִצְטָרְפוּ.
The statements of a witness and a judge before whom two witnesses testified19 may not be combined.20אֲבָל הָעֵד עִם הַדַּיָּן שֶׁהֵעִידוּ שְׁנֵי הָעֵדִים בְּפָנָיו, אֵין מִצְטָרְפִין.
7Although testimony of two witnesses may be combined in matters of financial law,21 each of the witnesses must deliver testimony concerning an entire matter, as we explained.22זאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁמְּצָרְפִין הָעֵדוּת בְּדִינֵי מָמוֹנוֹת, צָרִיךְ שֶׁיָּעִיד כָּל עֵד אֶחָד מִשְּׁנֵיהֶם, בְּכָל הַדָּבָר כְּמוֹ שֶׁבֵּאַרְנוּ.
If, by contrast, one witness testifies concerning a portion of a matter and the other witness testifies concerning another portion of the matter, we do not establish the matter on the basis of their testimony, as indicated by Deuteronomy 19:15: “According to the testimony of two witnesses shall the matter be established.”אֲבָל אִם הֵעִיד אֶחָד בְּמִקְצַת הַדָּבָר, וְהֵעִיד הַשֵּׁנִי בְּמִקְצָתוֹ - אֵין מְקַיְּמִין אֶת הַדָּבָר מֵעֵדוּת שְׁנֵיהֶם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "יָקוּם דָּבָר" (דברים יט, טו) - וְלֹא חֲצִי דָּבָר.
What is implied? One witness testifies that a person benefited from a field one year, another testifies that he benefited in the following year, and a third testifies that he benefited in the third year, the testimonies of the three cannot be linked together to say that he benefited for three years. For each of them testified only about a portion of the matter.23כֵּיצַד? זֶה אוֹמֵר פְּלוֹנִי אָכַל שָׂדֶה זוֹ שָׁנָה פְּלוֹנִית, וְזֶה הֵעִיד שֶׁאֲכָלָהּ בְּשָׁנָה שְׁנִיָּה, וְזֶה הֵעִיד שֶׁאֲכָלָהּ בְּשָׁנָה שְׁלִישִׁית - אֵין מְצָרְפִין עֵדוּת שְׁלָשְׁתָּן וְאוֹמְרִים 'הֲרֵי אֲכָלָהּ שָׁלוֹשׁ שָׁנִים'; שֶׁכָּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד הֵעִיד בְּמִקְצַת הַדָּבָר.
Similarly, if one witness testifies: “I saw one hair on the person’s right side,” and another witness testifies: “I saw one hair on the person’s left side,” their testimonies are not linked together so that we can say that two people testified that the person concerned manifested signs of physical maturity on that particular day. For each of them testified only about a portion of the physical signs required.24וְכֵן אִם הֵעִיד זֶה שֶׁ'אֲנִי רָאִיתִי שַׂעֲרָה אַחַת בְּצַד יְמִינוֹ שֶׁל זֶה', וְזֶה אוֹמֵר 'וַאֲנִי רָאִיתִי שַׂעֲרָה אַחַת בְּצַד שְׂמֹאלוֹ בְּאוֹתוֹ הַיּוֹם' - אֵין מִצְטָרְפִין דִּבְרֵי שְׁנֵיהֶם כְּדֵי שֶׁנֹּאמַר 'הֲרֵי הֵעִידוּ שְׁנֵיהֶם שֶׁהָיָה זֶה גָּדוֹל בְּיוֹם פְּלוֹנִי'; לְפִי שֶׁכָּל אֶחָד הֵעִיד בְּמִקְצַת הַסִּימָנִין.
Even if two witnesses testified that they saw one hair and two other witnesses testified that they saw another hair, their testimony is of no consequence. Since they both testified about only half the matter,25 this is not acceptable testimony.אַפִלּוּ הֵעִידוּ שְׁנַיִם בְּשַׂעֲרָה אַחַת, וְהֵעִידוּ שְׁנַיִם אֲחֵרִים בְּשַׂעֲרָה אַחַת, שֶׁהֲרֵי כָּל כַּת מֵהֶם הֵעִידָה עַל חֲצִי דָּבָר - וְאֵין זוֹ עֵדוּת.
If, however, one witness testified that he saw two hairs on the person’s right side and another witness testified that he saw two hairs on the person’s left side, their testimony can be linked together.26 Similar concepts apply in all analogous situations.אֲבָל אִם הֵעִיד הָאֶחָד שֶׁרָאָה שְׁתֵּי שְׂעָרוֹת בְּצַד יָמִין, וְהֵעִיד הַשֵּׁנִי שֶׁרָאָה שְׁתֵּי שְׂעָרוֹת בְּצַד שְׂמֹאל - מִצְטָרְפִין. וְכֵן כֹּל כַיּוֹצֵא בְּזֶה.

Quiz Yourself on Edut Chapter 4

Footnotes
1.

Even if they both see the violator perform the transgression.

2.

For capital punishment to be administered, a person must administer a warning and the transgressor must acknowledge it as stated in Hilchot Sanhedrin 12:2.

3.

The standard version of Makkot, loc. cit., reads: “If [the witnesses] see the person administering the warning or the person administering the warning sees the witnesses.” It appears, however, that the Rambam’s version of the text stated “and” instead of “or.”

4.

Despite the fact that they both saw the person commit the same transgression.

5.

Makkot 6b derives this concept from the exegesis of Deuteronomy 17:6: “One should not die on the basis of the testimony of one witness.” Implied is that seeing the transgression one by one is also insufficient.

6.

And if one of the witnesses is disqualified, the entire testimony is nullified, even though there are two acceptable witnesses who observed the transgression.

7.

Witnesses who conspire and testify falsely. When their testimony is disproved, they are given the punishment that they intended to have given the intended victim.

8.

This concept also applies with regard to testimony regarding prohibitions [Ramah (Choshen Mishpat 30:6)].

9.

For both of them are testifying that he owes him money.
As the Shulchan Aruch (Choshen Mishpat 30:7) states, their testimony is combined only when the plaintiff claims to have given two loans. If, however, he claims to have given only one loan, their testimony is unacceptable, as evident from Chapter 3, Halachah 3.

10.

In this instance, it is possible that the two witnesses are speaking about the same debt.

11.

Here it appears that although the testimony was given afterwards, the loan concerning which he testifies must have been given before the first admission of the debt. Otherwise, the plaintiff must demand payment of two accounts as above (Kessef Mishneh).

12.

And the borrower’s word is not accepted if he claims never to have made the loan.

13.

For when an act of contract is performed, the witness would have the right to record his statements in a legal document at any time; see Hilchot Malveh vLoveh 23:5-6.

14.

In his Kessef Mishneh, Rav Yosef Karo notes that the Tur (Choshen Mishpat 51) states that the document composed has the full status of a promissory note and can be used to expropriate landed property from people who purchased it from the borrower. The Kessef Mishneh differs and maintains that since neither the act of contract nor the original document was witnessed by two people, the document ultimately composed does not have the full power of a legal document and cannot be used to expropriate property. It is valuable only to negate the claim of the borrower if he asserts that he paid the debt. Significantly, in his Shulchan Aruch (Choshen Mishpat 51:1), Rav Yosef Karo rules according to the perspective of the Tur.
The Perishah (Choshen Mishpat 51) notes a difficulty with the Kessef Mishnehs interpretation, for in Hilchot Malveh ViLoveh 14:10, the Rambam writes that even when only one witness signs a promissory note, we do not accept the borrower’s word if he claims to have repaid the debt. In resolution, the Perishah explains that in Hilchot Malveh ViLoveh, the borrower’s word is accepted if he takes an oath to support his claim, while in this halachah, he is not given that option.

15.

Concerning a loan, an admission of debt, or the like.

16.

Since each witness delivered his testimony before a court of law, it is acceptable. The courts, however, must come together as an entire body. It is not sufficient for some members of one court to join together with some members of the other. Nor is it sufficient for witnesses to testify that they heard these witnesses testify, for that would be indirect testimony which is unacceptable [Ramah (Choshen Mishpat 30:11)].

17.

Bava Batra 165b interprets this as referring to an instance when witnesses testified concerning the validity of a promissory note, but the judges journeyed overseas before rendering a decision.

18.

More specifically, one member of one court may join together with two members of another court. Bava Batra, loc. cit., and the Shulchan Aruch (Choshen Mishpat 30:12) speak of the witnesses offering testimony in three different courts. Thus the expression “one judge from each court can join together” is more appropriate.
The judges from the different courts can join together, because each court heard testimony from two witnesses and thus has enough evidence on which to base a ruling. In the first clause, by contrast, each court heard only the testimony of one witness and thus does not have sufficient evidence on which to base a ruling (Sefer Me’irat Einayim 30:34).

19.

The witness will testify before the new court which will include one of the judges from the old court.

20.

For all of the judges on the court rendering the decision did not hear two witnesses offer testimony concerning the debt. Instead, the witness is testifying concerning the debt and the judge is testifying that he heard witnesses testifying concerning the debt [Rashi (Ketubot 21a)].

21.

From this preface, the Kessef Mishneh concludes that the principles the Rambam states apply only with regard to financial matters, and not with regard to questions concerning marriage and divorce, nor with regard to cases involving capital punishment.

22.

Hilchot Toein ViNitan 15:2.

23.

For a claim of possession to landed property to be established, witnesses must testify that the person benefited from the property for three consecutive years (Hilchot Toein ViNitan 11:2). In this instance, none of the witnesses can testify about the entire three year period. Hence their testimony is of no consequence.

24.

For a person to be considered an adult, a woman of 12 years and one day and a man of 13 years and one day must manifest signs of physical maturity, i.e., they must have two pubic hairs. If they do not manifest such signs of maturity, they are still considered minors. This concept has manifold consequences with regard to the laws concerning financial matters. Needless to say, it is also significant with regard to the laws concerning marriage and divorce and the laws involving punishment for transgression (Kessef Mishneh).
Two witnesses must testify that the person in question did in fact manifest such signs of physical maturity. In the instance cited by the Rambam, the testimony of the witnesses is not acceptable, because neither of them gave testimony that could serve as the basis to say that the person manifested signs of physical maturity. They mentioned only half the required information. See also Chapter 21, Halachah 7, and notes.

25.

For one hair in and of itself is of no consequence.

26.

For each of them is delivering testimony that is, in and of itself, complete. Compare to Halachah 3 and Chapter 3, Halachah 3.

The Mishneh Torah was the Rambam's (Rabbi Moses ben Maimon) magnum opus, a work spanning hundreds of chapters and describing all of the laws mentioned in the Torah. To this day it is the only work that details all of Jewish observance, including those laws which are only applicable when the Holy Temple is in place. Participating in one of the annual study cycles of these laws (3 chapters/day, 1 chapter/day, or Sefer Hamitzvot) is a way we can play a small but essential part in rebuilding the final Temple.
Download Rambam Study Schedules: 3 Chapters | 1 Chapter | Daily Mitzvah
Rabbi Eliyahu Touger is a noted author and translator, widely published for his works on Chassidut and Maimonides.
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Vowelized Hebrew text courtesy Torat Emet under CC 2.5 license.
The text on this page contains sacred literature. Please do not deface or discard.