Sifra Chovah Chapter 5

¹1) (Vayikra 4:11): "And the skin of the bullock and all its flesh, with its head and with its legs and its innards and its dung. (Vayikra 4:12): And he shall take the entire bullock (outside the camp)": We are hereby taught that he takes it out entirely intact. ²2) I might think that he takes it out whole and burns it whole; it is, therefore, written: "its head and its legs." Just as head and legs mentioned elsewhere (in respect to a burnt-offering) have been severed (see Vayikra 1:6), so, here, they must be severed (before they are burned). — But (why not say): Just as head and legs there have been flayed, so, here, too, they must be flayed! It is, therefore, written (to negate this): "and its innards and its dung" (Just as the dung is in its innards, so, the flesh must be "in its innards, i.e., attached to the skin, unflayed.) ³3) "And he shall take the entire bullock outside the camp": Outside the three camps, or outside one camp? When it is written in respect to the congregation (Vayikra 1:21): "And he shall take the bullock outside the camp" — let this ("outside the camp") not be stated, for it is already written (Vayikra 1:21): "and he shall burn it as he burned the first bullock." Why, then, is "outside the camp" stated? To add a second camp. ⁴4) And when it is written in respect to the ashes (Vayikra 6:4): "outside the camp," let this not be stated, for it is already written (here): "to a clean place, where the ashes are poured out." If so, why is "outside the camp" written? To add a third camp. ⁵5) (Vayikra 4:12): "to a … place" — that there be a place designated for it; "clean" — that the place be (ritually) clean. And if it is not clean, he must cleanse it so that the place be readied for them for this purpose (i.e., to be burned). "to the place where the ashes (from the altar) are spilled out.": that ashes be there, that ashes be brought there (if they are not there already), that it be the place for the ashes (of the burnt-offering). R. Eliezer b. Yaakov said: The place should lend itself to "pouring" (i.e., it should be on a slant). ⁶6) "and he shall burn it": one (i.e., an offering) that is kasher, and not one that is pasul. "on wood with fire": Why state this? I might think that since "burning" is mentioned within, (in respect to invalidated offerings [see Vayikra 7:23]), and "burning" is mentioned outside, (here) — Just as the first ("burning") is with wood kasher for the woodpile (on the altar), so, the second; it is, therefore, written (here): "wood" (lit., "woods"), to permit all wood. "wood" — even stubble, straw, and rakings. "with fire" — not lime or embers. ("Where the ashes are poured out) shall it be burnt" — even if there are no ashes there; "shall it be burnt" — until the fire takes hold of (all of) it (i.e., it must be entirely consumed).