וַעֲשִׂ֣יתֶם ל֔וֹ כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר זָמַ֖ם לַעֲשׂ֣וֹת לְאָחִ֑יו וּבִֽעַרְתָּ֥ הָרָ֖ע מִקִּרְבֶּֽךָ׃
כאשר זמם. וְלֹא כַאֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה, מִכָּאן אָמְרוּ הָרְגוּ אֵין נֶהֱרָגִין (מכות ה'):
Rashi rules once the accused has been put to death, even if the witness is then proved to be false, we don't kill the witness. Only if the accused is still alive to we put the false witnesses to death.
יַ֣ד הָעֵדִ֞ים תִּֽהְיֶה־בּ֤וֹ בָרִאשֹׁנָה֙ לַהֲמִית֔וֹ וְיַ֥ד כׇּל־הָעָ֖ם בָּאַחֲרֹנָ֑ה וּבִֽעַרְתָּ֥ הָרָ֖ע מִקִּרְבֶּֽךָ׃ {פ}
Let the hands of the witnesses be the first to put [the condemned] to death, followed by the hands of the rest of the people. Thus you will sweep out evil from your midst.
ואם לאו רגימתו כו': והתניא מעולם לא שנה בה אדם מי קאמינא דעביד דאי מיצריך קאמינא
The witness who testified against the accused put to death the accused, first they push him, if he is still alive the Gemora adds this never happened, then everyone else would push him.
Why would the witnesses not be killed for putting an innocent person to death?
- Who was the decider this person had to die?
- If there would not have been these witnesses would this person still die?
- Was it wrong for these to testify?
QUESTION: If one is sitting on the board of the 71 Sanhedrin, the greatest beis din ever, you are the last judge to a clear guilty case. If you rule guilty this person is let free (unanimous death sentences are not carried out) If you lie and say innocent this person will get the punishment he deserves.
WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
