Talmud zu Bamidbar 11:27

Rebbi Yose ben Rebbi Abun, Rebbi Ḥuna in the name of Rebbi Yose. It is said here two,[by the mouth of two witnesses¹⁷Deut. 17:6.], and it is said there two, two men remained in the camp¹⁸Num. 11:27.. Since there two means men but not women nor underaged, also here two means men but not women nor underaged. Then why is it said (two) [and the two men shall stand]¹⁹If actually the same price was paid for the two he-goats used on the Day of Atonement, but if they were regularly sold in the market one of them clearly would fetch a higher price, they are not disqualified but do not fulfill the biblical requirement of equality.? Lest one of them be standing while the other be sitting; [one is silent while the other talks]¹¹Corrector’s addition from the parallel sources., one says everything he has to say, but to the other one says, make your statement short. With one the judge is friendly, to the other he is unfriendly, lets one sit and the other stand. [They said in the name of Rebbi Ismael, one says to him, either you dress as he is dressed or pay him to be dressed as you are.]¹¹Corrector’s addition from the parallel sources.

Rebbi Ḥaggai objected to Rebbi Yasa. Is there not written: The two men shall stand¹⁵⁶Deut. 19:17. The verse can be read either as referring to the parties in a lawsuit or to the witnesses in a civil or criminal suit. Cf. Babli Ševuˋot 30a.? Now, is not two the minimum of “men”? Why does the verse say two? That both be equal? But it is written¹⁵⁷Deut. 24:17.: Do not bend the lawsuit of the proselyte, the orphan, … That means that a proselyte can have a lawsuit against one who is not a proselyte, an orphan may have a lawsuit against one who is not an orphan. Then why is there written two? It is free to be combined and to infer from it an equal cut¹⁵⁸Cf. Berakhot 1:1 Note 70, Nedarim 1 Notes 18,159, Nazir 4:1 Note 23, Logical problems (Note 150) pp. 185–186. Two identical expressions, written in two different connections, each of which is free, i. e., not used for an inference not otherwise possible, can be used to transfer rules from one connection to the other. This hermeneutical principle is accepted by all rabbinic schools.. It is said here two and it is said there two men were left¹⁵⁹Num. 11:27. Since Eldad and Medad are mentioned by name in the verse, it is obvious that two men are meant.. Since there one speaks of men but not women, also here men but not women nor underaged.¹⁶⁰Only people potentially acceptable for Moses’s council of 70 Elders. From this we learn that a woman may not be a judge¹⁶¹Babli Ševuˋot 30a, Sifry Deut. 190. and may not be a witness.