Translation:Mishnah/Seder Nezikin/Tractate Makkot/Chapter 3/9

Introduction

The Rabbis imagined how one could with one action violate up to nine separate commandments.

Hebrew Text

יש חורש תלם אחד וחיב עליו משום שמונה לאוין, החורש בשור וחמור, והן מקדשים, בכלאים בכרם, ובשביעית, ויום טוב, וכהן ונזיר בבית הטמאה.

חנניא בן חכינאי אומר:
אף הלובש כלאים.

אמרו לו:
אינו השם.

אמר להם:
אף לא הנזיר הוא השם.
 

English Translation

There is [the possibility that one could] plow only one furrow and become liable [on that account] for eight prohibited acts:
[This is the case where] one
(1) plows with an ox and a donkey [yoked together] (in violation of Deuteronomy 22:10)
(2 and 3) that are [two animals] dedicated to the sanctuary,
(4) [plowing] mixed seeds [sown] in a vineyard (in violation of Deuteronomy 22:9),
(5) during a Sabbatical year (in violation of Leviticus 25:4),
(6) on a Festival-day (in violation of, for example, Leviticus 23:7),
(7) [when the plower is] a priest (in violation of Leviticus 21:1)
(8) and a Nazirite (in violation of Numbers 6:6) plowing in a contaminated place.

Chananya ben Chachinai says:
Also he may have been wearing [while plowing] a garment of mixed [wool and linen] fabrics (in violation of Leviticus 19:19 and Deuteronomy 22:11).

They said to him:
This is not in the same category [as the other violations].

He said to them:
Neither is the Nazirite in the same category [as the other violations].

Explanation

In the Babylonian Talmud, the discussion of Mishnah Makkot 3:6 begins on Babylonian Talmud Makkot 21b.

Deuteronomy 22:10 provides: “You shall not plow with an ox and an ass together.”

Deuteronomy 22:9 provides: “You shall not sow your vineyard with two kinds of seed.”

Leviticus 25:4 provides: “The seventh year shall be a Sabbath of solemn rest for the land, a Sabbath to the Lord; you shall neither sow your field, nor prune your vineyard.”

Leviticus 23:7 provides: “On the first day [of Passover,] you shall have a holy convocation; you shall do no manner of servile work.”

Leviticus 21:1 provides: “No one shall defile himself for the dead among his people.”

Numbers 6:6 provides with regard to a Nazirite, a person who takes a particular vow of consecration: “All the days that he consecrates himself to the Lord he shall not come near a dead body.”

Leviticus 19:19 provides: “Neither shall there come on you a garment of two kinds of stuff mingled together.”

Deuteronomy 22:11 provides: “You shall not wear mingled stuff, wool and linen together.”