Mishpatim

Lots of mitzvos, lots of parshiyos

1) Interpersonal damages
a) Jewish slave
b) Jewish maid
c) Unintentional murder
d) Intentional murder
e) Patricide
f) Kidnapping
g) Cursing parents
h) Bodily damage
i) Bodily damage to a slave
j) Damage to unborn children
k) Freeing slave upon loss of limb

2) Property damages and damages to property
a) Ox goring person
b) Pit
c) Ox goring ox
d) Theft
e) Animal damaging field
f) Fire
g) Unpaid watchman
h) Paid watchman

3)
a) Borrower/renter
b) Seduction
c) Sorcery and bestiality
d) Idolatrous sacrifice, affliction of stranger/widow/orphan

What's the common thread between these mitzvos? (a) is most similar to the concluding subsection of (2), so perhaps the parsha change is more to emphasize a distinction between the two, specifically between the two shomrim and the renter, which is very similar to the two shomrim in that it carries the same chiyuvim as one of them (see the machlokes on B"M 93a), yet is still a category of its own (e.g., sh'lichus yad is mutar). None of the other episodes of this parsha fall under the category of damages to property, though (with the exception of bestiality, perhaps), so lo n'hira. The seducer is a type of mazik (according to R' Chiyya on B"M 4a), but it's difficult to see how the sorceress, idolatrous slaughterer, or afflicter can be viewed in this light.



4)
a) Lending money
b) Blasphemy, firstborns, torn meat
c) Judicial issues
d) Lost objects
e) Unloading an animal
f) Court favortism, killing of vindicated, oppression of stranger, Shmita, Shabbos, mention of other deities, holidays, sacrifices, bikkurim, meat and milk.

A catch-all p'suchah concluded by a catch-all s'tumah. What do blasphemy, redeeding a firstborn, and not eating t'reifos have in common?


5) Journey to the land
a) God's messenger
b) Blessing of Jews, expulsion of Canaanites

6) Reflection on the giving of the Torah
a) Prologue to giving of Torah
b) Moses' ascent to the mount