118 Torah Book & Portion, Book of Exodus, Mishpatim (Exodus 21:1-24:18), Source Book Keys, LEHRMAN EXODUS | 21:23 eye — EXOD589 When the aim of a Rabbinic command is to ... EXOD589 When the aim of a Rabbinic command is to enforce Biblical ruling in monetary assessments of damage, or to strengthen the claims of a hired servant, the Rabbis are vested with full authority to read a new meaning into the command, as in the case of the Lex Talionis [this verse]. Even in matters not strictly monetary such Rabbinic power was made manifest. Take the case of the Agunah, the anxious widow, whose remarriage was allowed on the corroboration of one witness only testifying that her lost husband was found dead. Even if that witness be a woman who elsewhere was incompetent in the eyes of the law to act as a witness, her evidence here was considered valid. The plight of such hard examples force to the Rabbis to reinterpret some of the Biblical laws on the grounds of humanitarian reasons advocated by the Torah [Yeb. 88a; Gitt. 3a]. Share Print Source KeyLEHRMANVerse21:23Keyword(s)eyeSource Page(s)182 Switch article EXODUS | 21:23 eye — EXOD588 The Talmudic interpretation of the words ... Previous Article EXODUS | 21:23 harm — EXOD590 See [[EXOD583]] Exodus 21:22 fined FREUND... Next Article