Sifra Tzav Chapter 11

¹1) (Vayikra 7:11) ("And this is the law of the sacrifice of peace-offerings which one shall offer to the L–rd. (Vayikra 7:12) If for thanksgiving he shall offer it, then he shall offer with the sacrifice of thanksgiving, unleavened cakes mixed with oil, and unleavened cakes spread with oil, and cakes of soaked fine flour mixed with oil.") What is the intent of (Vayikra 7:11) "which one shall offer" (and (Vayikra 7:12) "he shall offer it")? (It could simply have been written "If for thanksgiving, then he shall offer, etc.") (They are written for the following purpose:) Whence do we derive that if one set aside his thank-offering and it was lost, and he set aside a different one in its place, after which the first was found, so that now both are standing before him — whence do we derive that he may offer up whichever he wishes, and its loaves along with it? From (a thank-offering) "which one shall offer." I might think that both required loaves. It is, therefore, written "he shall offer it" — one requires loaves and not both. ²2) And whence is it derived that the offspring and substitutes for (a thank-offering are to be sacrificed (even if atonement has been effected by the first)? From "If for (im al) thanksgiving," ("im al" being a term of inclusion). I might think that all of them require loaves; it is, therefore, written "the thank-offering" (hatodah). The thank-offering (itself) requires loaves, and not its offspring, or exchange, or substitute. ³3) "then he shall offer with the sacrifice": Loaves are hereby prescribed for each offering (when he brings several thank-offerings). (And the inclusion clause is needed. For otherwise I would reason thus:) Does it not follow (that loaves are not needed for each offering, for) if an instance (the atzereth offering), where loaves are few (only two), sheep are (relatively) many (two) — here, where loaves are many, should it not follow that they suffice for the number of sheep? It is, therefore, (to negate this) written: "then he shall offer (loaves) with the sacrifice" — for each sacrifice individually. ⁴4) "then he shall offer with the sacrifice of thanksgiving, unleavened cakes mixed with oil, and unleavened cakes spread with oil": Why is "with oil" written twice? R. Akiva said: If "with oil" were written only once, I would say that it (i.e., the amount) was as that for all the meal-offerings — a log. The additional "with oil" increases (the amount), and (the hermeneutical rule is) "increase after increase denotes decrease"). ⁵5) They, therefore, decreased it to half a log. I would think that the half log were divided among the three kinds: cakes, wafers, and soaked flour; it is, therefore, written: "cakes of soaked fine flour mixed with oil" (a third mention) — and increase after decrease denotes increase! ⁶6) How, then, does he apportion (the half log)? He gives a quarter of it to the soaked fine flour (this, being the "increase") and a quarter to the two (other) kinds, half to the cakes and half to the wafers. R. Shimon b. Yehudah says in the name of R. Shimon: He anoints the wafers in the form of (the Greek letter) chi, and returns what is left to the cakes. R. Elazar b. Azaryah said to R. Akiva: Even if you say the whole day: "with oil" — to decrease; "with oil" — to increase, I shall not heed you. But: a half log of oil for the thank-offering (half for the soaked fine flour and half for the cakes and the wafers), a quarter log of oil for the Nazirite (for his cakes and wafers), and the eleven-day interval between one niddah period and another — (these are) "a halachah to Moses on Sinai. ⁷7) "soaked (revuchah) fine flour (soleth)": This teaches us that the revuchah is soleth. Whence is it derived that they are all (cakes [challoth], wafers, and leavened bread) of soleth? From "challoth - challoth." Just as "challoth" in respect to revuchah are soleth, so are "challoth" (written) in respect to all are soleth. ⁸8) But "challoth" are not written in respect to wafers. Whence is it derived, then, that they must be of soleth? From "matzoth - matzoth." Just as "matzoth" in respect to challoth are soleth, so "matzoth" in respect to wafers are soleth. ⁹9) Or, if you will, "and soleth murvecheth" adds (all that precede, including "wafers") to revuchah. Just as revuchah is soleth, so all are soleth. ¹⁰10) (Vayikra 7:13) ("With cakes of leavened bread shall he offer his offering, with the sacrifice of his thanksgiving peace-offerings.") "With cakes of leavened bread": With the same measure (of soleth) as that for leavened bread (chametz) he brings matzah (unleavened cakes). Just as that for chametz is ten esronoth, so, that for matzah. "with cakes of leavened bread": We are hereby taught that the bread is not consecrated until its surface becomes crusted in the oven. "with the sacrifice (zevach) of his thanksgiving": We are hereby taught that the bread becomes consecrated only with slaughtering, (zevach connoting slaughtering). "with the sacrifice of his thanksgiving": We are hereby taught that the bread is not consecrated unless the animal is slaughtered as a thank-offering. From here they said: If he slaughtered them as thank-offerings, but did not sprinkle their blood as such, the bread is (still) consecrated. If he did not slaughter them as such and did not sprinkle their blood as such, the bread is not consecrated. If he slaughtered them as such and did not sprinkle their blood as such, it is "consecrated and not consecrated." These are the words of Rebbi. R. Eliezer b. R. Shimon says: It is not consecrated until he slaughters it and sprinkles its blood as such. ¹¹11) ("his thanksgiving) peace-offerings": to include the peace-offerings of a Nazirite. I might think, for all that is stated herein, (including the revuchah requirement); it is, therefore, written (in connection with the Nazirite ram, Bamidbar 6:15): "matzoth" — It comes (with matzoth and not (with) revuchah, (where "matzoth" is not mentioned). How, then, do I satisfy (the redundant) "his peace-offerings"? To include the Nazirite peace-offerings for ten Jerusalem kavim (of flour) and a quarter (log) of oil.