Makos 10a Shiur Points 11/18/14

Special thanks to Eli Chitrik:

Makos 10a

1. In general we mentioned that the topic of the “Cities of Refuge” – Arei Miklot is something one find many ideas of the Rebbe. As we move along we will try to discuss them.

The Gemara asks: is it reasonable to designate three Arei Miklat in the Trans-Jordan to serve only two and a half tribes and to designate three in Eretz Yisrael proper to serve all of the rest of the tribes?

The Gemara answers that in Jordan murders are common.

The Rishonim raise an obvious difficulty with this answer: These cities provided refuge only for those who had killed inadvertently. How then can the Gemara state that because intentional murdered were common in Jordan, more cities of refuge were necessary?

There are many answers to this question. We mentioned Tosfos.

The Gemara below teaches that premeditated and inadvertent killers who escaped punishment by the courts, due to lack of witlessness, would be punished by Hashem. He would bring them together to a place where witnesses were present; the inadvertent killer would then fall off a ladder carelessly, killing the intentional murderer so that the murderer would be dead and the one who caused his death would be exiled. Thus, both people would be punished as they deserved to be. Because of the presence of many unpunished intentional murdered in Trans-Jordan, Hashem caused numerous inadvertent killers who had avoided being exiled to come from other places to Jordan. Mishaps would then occur in Jordan in which the exiled killers would inadvertently kill intentional murderess. Owing to the unusual number of intentional murderers in Jordan.

2. We mentioned the famous Rambam:

Hilchos Melochim Cahpter 11.

Halacha 1
In the future, the Messianic king will arise and renew the Davidic dynasty, restoring it to its initial sovereignty. He will build the Temple and gather the dispersed of Israel.
Then, in his days, the observance of all the statutes will return to their previous state. We will offer sacrifices, observe the Sabbatical and Jubilee years according to all their particulars as described by the Torah.
Anyone who does not believe in him or does not await his coming, denies not only the statements of the other prophets, but those of the Torah and Moses, our teacher. The Torah testified to his coming, continued.

Halacha 2
Similarly, with regard to the cities of refuge, Deuteronomy 19:8-9 states: ‘When God will expand your borders… you must add three more cities.’ This command was never fulfilled. Surely, God did not give this command in vain.
There is no need to cite proofs from the works of the prophets for all their books are filled with mention of this matter.

Question 1:

One of the main proofs of the Rambam is that “God did not give this command in vain” and so therefore it must be that Hashem will add these three cities.

The Rebbe asks, we see there are other commandments that Hashem said which never happened, for example Ir Hanidachas and Ben Sorer Umore?
In footnote 4 the Rebbe says” “V’ulie yesh lechalek” – meaning that perhaps we can differentiate. But he does not elaborate!

People in the Shiur offered some explanations.

Question 2:
Why do we have to say that the three cities will occur only once Moshiach has come?

The Rambam is of the opinion that we can create a Sanhedrin even in our times -prior to the coming of Moshiach!

It may be far-fetched but not impossible to imagine that when they established the state of Israel they could have conquered more land and designated more cities, establish a Sanhedrin and thereby creating the need for Arei Miklot and as a result of the expansion of the borders the need to add an additional 3 cities!

What is the hechrach or necessity to say that adding more cities is only once Moshicah comes?

Hit up the comments for some answers!

4. We mentioned the beautiful vort from the Rebbe about why the Rambam adds the proof from Arei Miklot even though in the previous Halacha he brings many proofs from Moshe Rabeinu talking about Moshicah. He also cites the prophecy of Bilam. What is gained by adding another proof?

The Rebbe explains (this is only in a nutshell) that in regard to the prophecy of Neviim are sometimes subject change. As we see by Ninvey and many other stories. (Although prophecy for good thing can never be reversed.)

However Halacha does not change. A Halacha is eternal.

Therefore the fact that there is a Halacha that only Moshiach can perform is the ultimate proof of the coming of Moshicah.

As to why the Torah chooses Arei Miklot for this purpose is because (again in a nutshell) the true “refuge” of a Jew is the time of Moshiach.

May he come speedily!

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