Tzav, Aliyah 1 צו, ראשון

צו את אהרן. אֵין צַו אֶלָּא לְשׁוֹן זֵרוּז מִיָּד וּלְדוֹרוֹת; אָמַר רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן, בְּיוֹתֵר צָרִיךְ הַכָּתוּב לְזָרֵז בְּמָקוֹם שֶׁיֵּשׁ בּוֹ חֶסְרוֹן כִּיס (ספרא):

צו את אהרן COMMAND AARON — The expression “Command …!” always implies urging on to carry out a command, implying too, that it comes into force at once, and is binding upon future generations (cf. Rashi on this passage in Kiddushin 29a). R. Simeon said: Especially must Scripture urge on the fulfilment of the commands in a case where monetary loss is involved (Sifra, Tzav, Chapter 1 1; Kiddushin 29a).

זאת תורת העלה וגו'. הֲרֵי הָעִנְיָן הַזֶּה בָּא לְלַמֵּד עַל הֶקְטֵר חֲלָבִים וְאֵבָרִים שֶׁיְּהֵא כָּשֵׁר כָּל הַלַּיְלָה, וּלְלַמֵּד עַל הַפְּסוּלִין אֵי זֶה אִם עָלָה יֵרֵד, וְאֵי זֶה אִם עָלָה לֹא יֵרֵד, שֶׁכָּל תּוֹרָה לְרַבּוֹת הוּא בָּא, לוֹמַר — תּוֹרָה אַחַת לְכָל הָעוֹלִים, וַאֲפִלוּ פְּסוּלִין, שֶׁאִם עָלוּ לֹא יֵרְדוּ (שם):

‎ 'וגו‎‎ ‎זאת תורת העולה THIS IS THE LAW OF THE BURNT OFFERING: [SUCH BURNT OFFERING SHALL REMAIN ON THE FIRE-PLACE UPON THE ALTAR ALL NIGHT] — This paragraph (vv.1—2) is intended to teach, with reference to the burning of the fat-portions and limbs of sacrifices that it is permissible during the whole night (Megillah 21a); and to teach regarding disqualified sacrifices, which of them, if already brought up on the altar, must be taken down, and which, if brought up, need not be taken down. The latter case may happen, because the term, תורה wherever it occurs in Scripture as an introduction to a group of laws (cf. Leviticus 6:7, 18; 7:1,11 etc.) is intended as an all-inclusive term (to include all of the class mentioned); here it is intended to tell us: One law applies to all animals that may be brought up on the altar, even certain disqualified ones — that if these have once been brought up on the altar they shall not be taken down again (Sifra, Tzav, Chapter 1 7; Zevachim 27b).

הוא העלה. לְמַעֵט אֶת הָרוֹבֵעַ וְאֶת הַנִּרְבָּע וְכַיּוֹצֵא בָּהֶן, שֶׁלֹּא הָיָה פְּסוּלָן בַּקֹּדֶשׁ, שֶׁנִּפְסְלוּ קֹדֶם שֶׁבָּאוּ לָעֲזָרָה (שם ח):

הוא העולה — is intended to exclude from the general law of עולה male and female cattle with which sexual sin had been committed and the like (i. e. that even if they were put on the altar they must be taken down again), because their disqualification did not occur in the Holy Place, since they were dis-qualified before they came into the forecourt (Sifra, Tzav, Chapter 1 8).

מדו בד. הִיא הַכֻּתֹּנֶת, וּמָה תַּ"ל מִדּוֹ? שֶׁתְּהֵא כְּמִדָּתוֹ (שם):

מדו בד HIS LINEN ROBE — this is what is elsewhere termed the כתונת, the undercoat; and why then is it here called מדו? To intimate that it (the כתונת) must be made to his measure (מדו from מדד to “measure”) (Sifra, Tzav, Chapter 2 1; Yoma 23b).

על בשרו. שֶׁלֹּא יְהֵא דָּבָר חוֹצֵץ בֵּינְתַיִם (זבחים י"ט):

על בשרו [AND LINEN DRAWERS HE SHALL PUT] UPON HIS FLESH — This implies that nothing should interpose between them (cf. Sifra, Tzav, Chapter 2 3; Zevachim 19a).

והרים את הדשן. הָיָה חוֹתֶה מְלֹא מַחְתָּה מִן הַמְאֻכָּלוֹת הַפְּנִימִיּוֹת וְנוֹתְנָן בְּמִזְרָחוֹ שֶׁל כֶּבֶשׁ (תמיד כ"ח):

והרים את הדשן AND HE SHALL TAKE UP THE ASHES — He raked a full pan of ashes from the innermost consumed mass of ashes and deposited them at the east side of the כבש (the inclined plane leading up to the altar) (Sifra, Tzav, Chapter 1 4 Yoma 20a; cf. Jerusalem Talmud Yoma 2:1).

הדשן אשר תאכל האש את העלה. וַעֲשָׂאַתָּה דֶּשֶׁן, מֵאוֹתוֹ דֶּשֶׁן יָרִים תְּרוּמָה ושמו אצל המזבח:

העולה‎ את ‎‏ אשר תאכל האש‎הדשן ‎ [HE SHALL TAKE OUT] THOSE ASHES INTO WHICH THE FIRE HATH CONSUMED THE BURNT OFFERING — and thus has made it into ashes; from those ashes he shall take out a תרומה, a portion, ושמו אצל המזבח AND PUT IT BESIDE THE ALTAR.

[על המזבח. מָצָא אֵבָרִים שֶׁעֲדַיִן לֹא נִתְאַכְּלוּ, מַחֲזִירָן עַל מִזְבֵּחַ לְאַחַר שֶׁחָתָה גֶּחָלִים אֵילָךְ וָאֵילָךְ וְנָטַל מִן הַפְּנִימִיּוֹת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר אֶת הָעֹלָה עַל הַמִּזְבֵּחַ]:

[על המזבח [THE BURNT OFFERING] ON THE ALTAR — This implies that if he (the priest) finds any limbs of the burnt offering that were not yet consumed he shall put them back on the altar after having raked the coals hither and thither and having taken from the innermost ashes, because it states, העולה על המזבח ‎את ‎which implies: the burnt offering (i.e.so long as it can be called an עולה and not דשן) must be ‎on the altar] (Sifra, Tzav, Chapter 1 5; Yoma 45b; cf. Rashi there s. v. ‎אשר תאכל ‎ את העולה‎).

ופשט את בגדיו. אֵין זוֹ חוֹבָה אֶלָּא דֶּרֶךְ אֶרֶץ, שֶׁלֹּא יְלַכְלֵךְ בְּהוֹצָאַת הַדֶּשֶׁן בְּגָדִים שֶׁהוּא מְשַׁמֵּשׁ בָּהֶן תָּמִיד — בְּגָדִים שֶׁבִּשֵּׁל בָּהֶן קְדֵרָה לְרַבּוֹ, אַל יִמְזֹג בָּהֶן כּוֹס לְרַבּוֹ, לְכָךְ וְלָבַשׁ בְּגָדִים אֲחֵרִים פְּחוּתִין מֵהֶם (ספרא):

‎ ופשט את בגדיו ‎ AND HE SHALL PUT OFF HIS GARMENTS — This is not compulsory (cf., however, Nachmanides) but it is a matter of decency so that he should not, through removing the ashes, soil the garments in which he has regularly to minister at the altar; in the clothes he wore when he boiled the pot for his master (a menial task) he should not pour out a glass of wine for him (an honourable office). On this account it states: And he shall put on other garments — inferior to those in which he ministers at the altar (Yoma 23b; Shabbat 114a).

והוציא את הדשן. הַצָּבוּר בַּתַּפּוּחַ, כְּשֶׁהוּא הַרְבֵּה וְאֵין מָקוֹם לַמַּעֲרָכָה, מוֹצִיאוֹ מִשָּׁם; וְאֵין זֶה חוֹבָה לְכָל יוֹם, אֲבָל הַתְּרוּמָה חוֹבָה בְּכָל יוֹם (תמיד כ"ח):

והוציא את הדשן AND HE SHALL BRING OUT THE ASHES that were heaped upon the ash-heap (not the ashes mentioned in v. 3). When it accumulated and there was no more room on the wood-pile (מערכה) he carried it out; this was not compulsory every day, whilst the תרומת הדשן (the taking out of the pan of ashes commanded in v. 3) was a daily duty (Yoma 20a).

והאש על המזבח תוקד בו. רִבָּה כָּאן יְקִידוֹת הַרְבֵּה — על מוקדה, ואש המזבח תוקד בו, והאש על המזבח תוקד בו, אש תמיד תוקד על המזבח, כֻּלָּן נִדְרְשׁוּ בְּמַסֶּכֶת יוֹמָא (דף מ"ה), שֶׁנֶּחְלְקוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ בְּמִנְיַן הַמַּעֲרָכוֹת שֶׁהָיוּ שָׁם:

והאש על המזבח תוקד בו AND THE FIRE ON THE ALTAR SHALL BE BLAZING IN IT — Scripture uses here (in this section) many expressions from the root יקד “to ignite”: (Leviticus 6:2) “on the fire-place (מוקדה); (Leviticus 6:2) “and the fire upon the altar shall be blazing (תוקד) on it”; (Leviticus 6:5) “and the fire upon the altar shall be blazing (תוקד) on it”; (Leviticus 6:6) “a continual fire shall be blazing (תוקד) upon the altar” — all these passages have been expounded in Treatise Yoma 45b where our Rabbis state their different opinions as to the number of מערכות (wood-piles — fire-places) that were there (on the altar).

וערך עליה העלה. עוֹלַת תָּמִיד הִיא תִּקְדֹּם (מנחות מ"ט):

וערך עליה העלה AND HE SHALL SET THE BURNT OFFERING IN ORDER UPON IT — The morning continual burnt offering had to come first (Menachot 49a; cf. also Sifra, Tzav, Chapter 2 10 and Rashi on Leviticus 3:5).

חלבי השלמים. אִם יָבִיאוּ שָׁם שְׁלָמִים, וְרַבּוֹתֵינוּ לָמְדוּ מִכָּאן "עָלֶיהָ" — עַל עוֹלַת הַבֹּקֶר הַשְׁלֵם כָּל הַקָּרְבָּנוֹת כֻּלָּם, מִכָּאן שֶׁלֹּא יְהֵא דָּבָר מְאֻחָר לְתָמִיד שֶׁל בֵּין הָעַרְבָּיִם (ספרא):

‎‎‏ השלמים‎חלבי [AND HE SHALL CAUSE TO ASCEND IN FUMES THERÈON] THE FAT OF THE PEACE OFFERINGS — if people are bringing peace offerings there that day (this is no command that peace offerings must be placed on the altar after the daily burnt offering; if, however, any are being sacrificed on a particular day, it must be done at this point of the day’s work). — Our Rabbis, however, derived from here the following Halacha, taking the word השלמים in the sense of השלם “to complete”, “to finish”: עליה upon it — upon the continual burnt offering of the morning — complete the offering of all sacrifices; it follows therefore that no thing should be offered later than the continual burnt offering brought in the afternoon (Yoma 33a; Pesachim 58).

אש תמיד. אֵשׁ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בּוֹ תָּמִיד, הִיא שֶׁמַּדְלִיקִין בָּהּ אֶת הַנֵּרוֹת שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בָּה לְהַעֲלֹת נֵר תָּמִיד (שמות כ"ז), אַף הִיא מֵעַל מִזְבֵּחַ הַחִיצוֹן תּוּקַד (יומא מ"ה):

אש תמיד — The redundant word תמיד (because it could have written לא תכבה המזבח ‎אש תוקד על‎ ; for this, too, would imply that it must be continually burning since it states that it must never go out) intimates: The fire about the use of which the expression תמיד is used, viz., that by which the lamps of the Candelabrum were kindled, with reference to which it is said, (Exodus 27:20) “to light the lamps continually (תמיד), this, too) should be ignited from the fire on the outer altar Yoma 45b).

לא תכבה. הַמְכַבֶּה אֵשׁ עַל הַמִּזְבֵּחַ עוֹבֵר בִּשְׁנֵי לָאוִין:

‎‎תכבה‏ ‎לא‎ IT SHALL NEVER GO OUT — One who extinguishes the fire on the altar transgresses two negative commands (this and that contained in v. 5).

וזאת תורת המנחה. תּוֹרָה אַחַת לְכֻלָּן — לְהַטְעִינָן שֶׁמֶן וּלְבוֹנָה הָאֲמוּרִין בָּעִנְיָן, שֶׁיָּכוֹל אֵין לִי טְעוּנוֹת שֶׁמֶן וּלְבוֹנָה אֶלָּא מִנְחַת יִשְֹרָאֵל שֶׁהִיא נִקְמֶצֶת, מִנְחַת כֹּהֲנִים שֶׁהִיא כָּלִיל מִנַּיִן? תַּ"ל תּוֹרַת (ספרא):

וזאת תורת המנחה AND THIS IS THE LAW OF THE MEAL OFFERING — one law for all meal-offerings (cf. Rashi on v. 2) — making requisite for them “oil” and “frankincense” which are prescribed in the previous section (Leviticus 2:1). This had to be intimated in some way here because I might think that there I have the law that meal offerings require oil and frankincense only if they belong to an ordinary Israelite since it is that alone of which a fistful (קומץ) had to be taken, (for the command to take the קומץ is preceded by the words ויצק עליה שמן ונתן עליה לבונה cf. Leviticus 2:1 and 2)! Whence can I know that the same applies to the meal-offering of priests which was entirely burnt (and of which therefore no קומץ was taken; cf. Rashi on v. 15)? Because Scripture states, תורת — “this is the general law of the meal-offering” (Sifra, Tzav, Section 2 3).

הקרב אתה. הִיא הַגָּשָׁה בְּקֶרֶן דְּרוֹמִית מַעֲרָבִית (שם):

הקרב אתה [AARON AND HIS SONS SHALL] BRING IT — This means bringing near (not offering, i. e. burning, for this is mentioned later in v. 8) to the south-west corner of the altar.

לפני ה'. הוּא מַעֲרָב שֶׁהוּא לְצַד אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד:

לפני ה׳ BEFORE THE LORD — This is the west side of the altar which faced the direction of the “tent of meeting” in which the Lord revealed himself.

אל פני המזבח. הוּא הַדָּרוֹם, שֶׁהוּא פָּנָיו שֶׁל מִזְבֵּחַ, שֶׁהַכֶּבֶשׁ נָתוּן לְאוֹתוֹ הָרוּחַ (סוטה י"ד):

אל פני המזבח — This again implies the south side of the altar, because that was the ‎‎‎ אל פני המזבח, the front of the altar, since the ascent leading up to it was situated on that side (the combination therefore of both locations:'לפני ה and אל פני המזבח describes the south-west corner of the altar, as stated above) (Sotah 14b; Sifra, Tzav, Section 2 4).

והרים ממנו. מִן הַמְחֻבָּר — שֶׁיְּהֵא עִשָּׂרוֹן שָׁלֵם בְּבַת אַחַת בִּשְׁעַת קְמִיצָה (ספרא):

והרים ממנו‎ AND HE SHALL TAKE UP FROM IT [IN HIS GRASP] — From it — from it as a united mass) — that there should be a full tenth part of an ephah at the same time in the vessel when he takes the fistful (Sifra, Tzav, Section 2 5; Menachot 24a).

בקמצו. שֶׁלֹּא יַעֲשֶֹה מִדָּה לַקֹּמֶץ (שם):

בקמצו WITH HIS GRASP — This implies that he shall not make a measure for the קומץ (he must not use a measure that holds as much as his fist and in that remove the flour) (Sifra, Tzav, Section 2 5; Yoma 47a).

מסלת המנחה ומשמנה. מִכָּאן שֶׁקּוֹמֵץ מִמָּקוֹם שֶׁנִּתְרַבָּה שַׁמְנָהּ (סוטה י"ד):

ומשמנה‎ מסלת המנחה‎ OF THE FLOUR OF THE MEAL OFFERING AND OF THE OIL THEREOF — From here we may derive that he takes the “fistful” (קומץ) from that spot where there is plenty of oil in it (Sotah 14b).

המנחה. שֶׁלֹּא תְּהֵא מְעֹרֶבֶת בְּאַחֶרֶת (ספרא):

המנחה THE MEAL-OFFERING — This implies that it shall not be mixed up with another meal-offering (Sifra, Tzav, Section 2 5).

ואת כל הלבנה אשר על המנחה והקטיר. מְלַקֵּט אֶת לְבוֹנָתָהּ לְאַחַר קְמִיצָה וּמַקְטִירוֹ; וּלְפִי שֶׁלֹּא פֵּרֵשׁ כֵּן אֶלָּא בְּאַחַת מִן הַמְּנָחוֹת בְּוַיִּקְרָא, הֻצְרַךְ לִשְׁנוֹת פָּרָשָׁה זוֹ, לִכְלֹל כָּל הַמְּנָחוֹת כְּמִשְׁפָּטָן:

‎‏‎‎‏ הלבנה אשר על המנחה והקטיר‎ואת כל AND ALL THE FRANKINCENSE WHICH IS UPON THE MEAL OFFERING HE SHALL CAUSE TO ASCEND IN FUMES — This means that the picks the frankincense off the meal-offering after the fistful has been taken from the latter and burns it (cf. Rashi on Leviticus 2:1). And because Scripture has stated this specifically only in the case of one of the meal offerings mentioned in ויקרא (Leviticus 2:2; viz., in the case of מנחת סולת, and it might therefore be applied to that special case only), it was compelled to state this paragraph here in order to include in a general rule all kinds of meal offerings as to all the regulations applicable to them.

במקום קדש. וְאֵיזֶהוּ? בַּחֲצַר אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד:

‏ ‏‏ קדוש‎במקום‏ [AS UNLEAVENED BREAD SHALL IT BE EATEN) IN A HOLY PLACE. — And which is this? בחצר אהל מועד IN THE ENCLOSURE OF THE TENT OF MEETING (Sifra, Tzav, Section 2 12).

לא תאפה חמץ חלקם. אַף הַשְּׁיָרִים אֲסוּרִים בְּחָמֵץ (מנחות נ"ה):

לא תאפה חמץ חלקם IT SHALL NOT BE BAKEN AS ANYTHING LEAVENED FOR THEIR PORTION — The remains of the meal-offering which become the portion of the priests, are also forbidden to be baked in the form of leavened (Menachot 55a).

כחטאת וכאשם. מִנְחַת חוֹטֵא הֲרֵי הִיא כְּחַטָּאת, לְפִיכָךְ קְמָצָהּ שֶׁלֹא לִשְׁמָהּ פְּסוּלָה, מִנְחַת נְדָבָה הֲרֵי הִיא כְּאָשָׁם, לְפִיכָךְ קְמָצָהּ שֶׁלֹּא לִשְׁמָהּ כְּשֵׁרָה (ספרא):

כחטאת וכאשם [IT IS MOST HOLY] AS THE SIN OFFERING OR THE GUILT OFFERING — the meal-offering of the sinner (v. 11) is as the sin-offering, therefore if he (the priest) takes the fistful out of it not as such (not having in mind that offering) it is invalid as is the sin-offering under such circumstances (cf. Rashi on 5:12); a free-will meal-offering (i.e. any of the other meal-offerings mentioned in ויקרא), however, is as the guilt-offering, therefore if he takes the fistful out of it not doing it as such, it is still valid (Sifra, Tzav, Chapter 3 3; Zevachim 11a).

כל זכר. אֲפִלּוּ בַּעַל מוּם; לָמָּה נֶאֱמַר? אִם לַאֲכִילָה הֲרֵי כְּבָר אָמוּר, לֶחֶם אֱלֹהָיו מִקָּדְשֵׁי הַקֳּדָשִׁים וְגוֹ' (ויקרא כ"א), אֶלָּא לְרַבּוֹת בַּעֲלֵי מוּמִין לְמַחֲלֹקֶת (ספרא):

כל זכר ALL THE MALES [AMONG THE CHILDREN OF AARON SHALL EAT OF IT] — all the males: even one with a bodily blemish. But why is this stated at all? If you say: for the purpose of permitting the eating of the meal-offering to such a priest, then it is redundant, for you see, this has already been stated, (Leviticus 21:22) “He (the priest with a blemish) may eat of the bread of his God, both of the most holy [and of the holy]”! But it is intended to include the priests with bodily blemishes in the right of apportionment alluded to in the preceding verse: I have given it to them as their portion (i.e. that they may not only eat holy food if such is given to them by their fellow priests, but they are entitled to participate in the apportionment) (Sifra, Tzav, Chapter 3 5; Zevachim 102a).

כל אשר יגע וגו'. קָדָשִׁים קַלִּים אוֹ חֻלִּין שֶׁיִּגְּעוּ בָּהּ וְיִבְלְעוּ מִמֶּנָּה:

כל אשר ‎'יגע וגו‎‎‏ WHATEVER TOUCHETH THEM — i. e. sacrifices holy in a minor degree or non-consecrated flesh (חולין) which touch it (the meal-offering) and absorb anything of it (Sifra, Tzav, Chapter 3 6; Zevachim 97b),

יקדש. לִהְיוֹת כָּמוֹהָ, שֶׁאִם פְּסוּלָה יִפָּסְלוּ, וְאִם כְּשֵׁרָה יֵאָכְלוּ כְּחֹמֶר הַמִּנְחָה (שם):

יקדש SHALL BECOME HOLY so as to be exactly like it (the מנחה) — that if it (the meal-offering) has become disqualified (as when e. g. it was not offered as such, לשמה), they (the holy things touching it) shall also become similarly disqualified, and if it is fit for eating they must be eaten only under the same stringency as the meal-offering (i.e., they must be eaten in a holy place (v. 9) and by males only; v. 11, etc.) (Sifra, Tzav, Chapter 3 6; Zevachim 97b).