August 1, 2014

  • Levels of Holiness of the Sacrificial Offerings

    Mishnah,Zevachim Chapter 5
    1)What is the location of the offerings?[Regarding] the most holy offerings,their slaughter is in the north(a).The slaughter of the bull and the he-goat of Yom Kippur is in the north and the reception of their blood in a service vessel(b) is in the north.Their blood requires sprinkling between the pole[of the holy Ark](c),and towards the Curtain{of the Holy of Holies} and upon the Golden Altar(d).Every one of these applications is essential.(e)The leftover blood he would pour onto the western base of the Outer Altar;but if he failed to apply it[leftover blood to the base],he has not prevented atonement.

    Notes on 1:A:The most holy offerings are sin,guilt,elevation,and communal peace because they have stricter laws than individual peace and thanksgiving offerings.B:Special vessels set aside strictly for this purpose C:On Yom Kippur the High Priest sprinkled the blood between the poles of the Ark that extended from either side towards the sanctuary.D:The Golden Altar that the incense was burned on every day E:All of the essential applications must be done or atonement is not achieved.

    2)Regarding the bulls and goats that are completely burned(a),their slaughter is in the north and reception of the blood in the north.Their blood requires being sprinkled toward the Curtain and upon the Golden Altar,Every application is essential.Leftover blood was poured on the western base,but failure to do so did not prevent atonement.Both these and the Yom Kippur offerings were burned in the place where the [Altar}ashes are deposited(b)In no case are any parts of the burnt offerings eaten.

    Notes on 2:A:Certain parts were burned on the Altar(see Lev4:8-12) and the remainder burned outside of Jerusalem.B:The ashes from the Altar were removed when necessary to a ritually clean place outside the city.

    3)Regarding sin offerings of the community and of individual(a)---the communal offerings are as follows:the he-goats of Rosh Chodesh and festivals--their slaughter[of all sin offerings] is in the north and the blood received in the north in the service vessel.Their blood requires four applications,one on each the four corners of the Altar,First the southeast,then the northeast,then the northwest then the southwest.Leftover blood would be poured out on the southern base.These offerings are eaten within the[Courtyard]curtains(b) by males of the priesthood,prepared in any manner,on the same day and that night until midnight(c)

    Note on 3:A;Before giving the laws of sin offerings,the mishnah lists the kinds of communal sin offerings that fall in this category.The listing being necessary because earlier mishnayos,too,have have discussed communal sin offerings that fall under the burnt offering category.B:It must be prepared in the Courtyard.The term "curtains" is

    borrowed from the time in the wilderness when the courtyard was enclosed by curtains instead of walls.C:A sin offering could be eaten on the day it was sacrificed and the following evening until dawn by scriptural law but the sages imposed a deadline of midnight to prevent mishaps.

    4)The elevation offering is among the most holy offerings.It is slaughtered in the north and the blood recieved in the service vessal in the north.It's blood applications are two that are equal to four(A).It requires flaying and dismemberment(b) and is entirely consumed by fire

    Notes on 4:A:The blood was thrown at two corners of the Altar walls,northeast and southwest.The blood would then spred out to the adjacent walls,Thus,two applications put blood on all four walls of the Altar.B:The hide of all offerings of greater holiness was given to the priests and the body cut up in a prescribed way,only then was it burned.

    5)Regarding communal peace offerings(a) and [personal]guilt offerings(b)--the guilt offering is as follows:guilt offering for theft(c),guilt offering for misuse of sacred objects(d),guilt offering for violating a betrothed maidservant(e),the guilt offering of a Nazirite(f),the guilt offering of a metzora(leper) (g)and a guilt offering in the case of doubt(h).Their slaughter and reception of blood is in the north and they are eaten by the priests in the Courtyard the same day and nite until midnight.

    Notes on 5:A:The only such offering are the two sheep that are brought in addition to the Shavuos mussaf offering(Lev23:19)The other communal offerings are either sin or elevation offerings.B:There are six kinds C.If one owned money--loan or theft,had an article in safekeeping or whatever and swore he did not owe it intentionally,he is required to bring an offering(Lev5:20-26)D:If someone unintentionally used an belonging to the Sanctuary,he must bring an offering(ibid 5:14-16)E:A female non-Jewish slave is owned by two Jewish partners,One sets her free but the other does not,making her half free and half slave.Since a freed non-Jewish slave has the same status as a convert,she is half Jewish and half non-Jewish.She is therefore forbidden to marry a Jew nor a non-Jew.She is however allowed to marry a Jewish indentured servant,who is permitted to both a Jewish and non-Jewish maidservant.If she becomes betrothed to a Jewish indentured servant and has relations with another man,the adulterer must bring an offering.F:A Nazirite who became ritually contaminated by contact with a corpse(Num 6:9-12)G:A leper that has been declared cured must bring an offering 8 days after he is pronounced cured.H:If one is unsure whether he needs to bring a sin offering .The possible transgresor protects himself from punishment through a guilt offering,If it becomes evident that the offence was committed,he must bring a sin offering at that time.

    6)The thanksgiving offering(a) and the ram of the Nazirite(b) are offerings of less holiness(c)Their slaughter is anywhere in the Courtyard and their blood application is two equal to four.They are eaten by anyone,anywhere in the city,prepared in any manner on the same day and nite until midnight.The priestly portion is separated from them(d) and treated like them in preparation and where it can be eaten except that only the priests and their family can eat these portions.

    Notes on 6:A:Brought by someone that survives serious danger B:Offered after the Nazirite has completed his period of abstinence he imposed on himself C:The greater leniency of these offerings is obvious from comparison to the above offerings laws.D:Priestly portion is the breast and right thigh before they are cooked,In the case of the Nazirite ram,the priests receive the right foreleg after cooking.

    7)The peace offerings(a)are of lesser holiness.Their slaughter is anywhere in the Courtyard and the blood is applied two equivalent to four.They are eaten anywhere in the city and prepared in any manner.The priestly portion is separated and treated the same way except only the priests and their family may eat it.

    Notes on 7:A:The peace offering can be eaten for two days and the nite between while the thanksgiving offering is just the one day and nite

    8)The firstborn and tithe of animals,and the Pesach offering are the least holy of the offerings.Their slaughter is anywhere in the Courtyard and their blood requires only a single application(a)provided it is applied above the base.They differ in consumption:the priests only eat the firstborn offering and the tithe by anyone.They are eaten throughout the city,prepared in any manner,for two days and one nite.The Pesach offering is eaten only at night and only by those registered for it(b) and it may only be roasted.

    Notes on 8:A:Unlike all the rest of the offerings,only a single application to the base is required.The base is part of the Altar,one cubit high and one cubit wide that juts out along the entire lengths of the west and north walls,but only one cubit along the south and east walls.The blood may only be applied to that part of the Altar directly above the base.B:Those who wish to eat the pascal lamb must reserve their share before the slaughter(Ex12:4).In the case of all other offerings,any qualified person may partake of the flesh.