תוספתא מסכת תרומות ח:כ
סיעה של בני אדם שאמרו להם גוים תנו לנו אחד מכם ונהרגהו ואם לאו הרי אנו הורגין את כולכם יהרגו כולן ואל ימסרו להן נפש אחת מישראל אבל אם ייחדוהו להם כגון שייחדו לשבע בן בכרי יתנו להן ואל יהרגו כולן.
If a group of people were told by non-Jews, “Give us one of your group and we will kill him, and if not, we will kill you all,” they should all be killed rather than surrendering even one soul of Israel. However, if they designated a specific person in the manner that Sheva ben Bichri was designated, they should surrender him to them rather than that all of them be killed. [Translated by Rabbis for Human Rights]
Suggested Discussion Questions:
1.In what manner does the Tosefta set out the prohibition against the killing of innocents?
2. What is the reasoning behind the case of handing over Sheva ben Bichri?
[Questions from Rabbis for Human Rights, www.rhr-na.org]
Time Period: Medieval (Geonim through the 16th Century)