23:34: They do not know what they do.
See the opposite עָשָׂה בִּשְׁגָגָה = “to do something in weakness, haste, ignorance” (LXX: ποιεῖν ἀκουσίως) and עָשָׂה בְּיָד רָמָה = “to do something with a high hand” (LXX: ποιεῖν ἐν χειρὶ ὑπερηφανίας) in Num 15:29, 30. For the latter
expression, see Deut 17:12: עשה בְּזָ־דוֹן
= “to do something with presumption” (LXX: ποιεῖν ἐν ὑπερηφανίᾳ).—Jerusalem Talmud Šebuʿot 1.33A.29: “Put
Aaron’s two hands on the head of the living goat and confess over him ‘the
transgressions עונות,’ these are the sins of rebellion הזדונות: ‘their iniquities פשעיהם,’ these are the sins of ignorance (weakness) חטאתם” (Lev 16:21).—Similar in a baraita in b.
Yoma 36B. ‖ Furthermore, see the axiom of R. Ishmael († ca. 135), “It is better
that the Israelites unknowingly sin than sin presumptuously מוטב שיהיו שוגגין ולא
יהו מזידין”
(see b. B. Batra 60B at § Matt 5:4, n. a.
This axiom also appears in b. Šabb. 148B and b. Beṣah 30A. ‖ Mishnah Makkot
2.5: The murderer is given two students of scholars so that the avenger of
blood does not kill him on the way (to the asylum city) and they speak to him
(in an appeasing manner). On this is also b. Mak. 10B: They should say suitable
words to the blood avenger. They say to him, “Do not deal with him with
bloodshed. He did the deed unknowingly (accidentally) בשגגה בא מעשה לידו.” (Hermann L. Strack and Paul
Billerbeck, A Commentary on the New Testament from the Talmud and Midrash,
ed. Jacob N. Cerone, 4 vols. [trans. Andrew Bowden and Joseph Longarino;
Bellingham, Wash.: Lexham Press, 2022], 2:308)
