Sifra Tzav Section 3

¹1) (Vayikra 6:13) ("This is the offering of Aaron and his sons, which they shall offer up to the L–rd on the day that he is anointed; the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour, a perpetual meal-offering — half of it in the morning and half of it in the evening."): "This is the offering of Aaron and his sons": I might think that Aaron and his sons offer up this offering as one. It is, therefore, written "his sons, which they offer up." How so? Aaron brings for himself and his sons bring for themselves. ²2) "his sons": These are ordinary Cohanim. But perhaps they are the high-priests, (who are like him in the high-priesthood). "The priest that is anointed in his place from among his sons shall offer it" (Vayikra 6:15) already refers to the high-priest. How, then, am I to understand "his sons" (here)? As referring to ordinary priests. ³3) When the Cohein draws near to the service in the beginning (i.e., at his investiture), he brings his tenth part of an ephah and sacrifices it by himself. Both the high-priest and an ordinary priest who served before bringing his tenth of an ephah — their service is invalid. ⁴4) "on the day that he is anointed": The high-priest is anointed only in the daytime. "he": Two high-priests are not anointed together. "on the day that he is anointed": From the day that he is anointed he brings the tenth of an ephah, perpetually. But perhaps it means: On that day he brings a tenth of an ephah and stops! It is, therefore, (to negate the latter) written "a meal-offering perpetually." How, then, am I to satisfy "On the day that he is anointed?" On that day he brings a tenth of an ephah (and he does so) perpetually. "the tenth part of an ephah": one-tenth of three sa'im, which is seven quarters and a fraction (equivalent to seven login, one egg, and a fifth of an egg). ⁵5) "meal" (soleth): Just as the soleth mentioned elsewhere (Shemoth 29:2) is wheat, so the soleth mentioned here is wheat. "a meal-offering": like all meal-offerings, requiring a fistful. "perpetual": even in a state of tumah, even on the Sabbath. ⁶6) If it had been written "half in the morning and half in the evening," I might think that he could bring a half issaron in the morning and a half issaron in the evening. It is, therefore, written "its half." He brings half of a whole one. ⁷7) How is this affected? He brings a whole issaron and divides it, and he offers up half in the morning and half in the evening. If the half of dusk became tamei, I might think he could bring a half issaron from his house in the evening. It is, therefore, written "and its half in the evening." He must bring it from a whole (meal-offering). ⁸8) How is this affected? He brings a whole issaron and divides it. Half is sacrificed and half goes lost. A Cohein who sacrificed half in the morning (and then died or became blemished), and another Cohein was appointed in his stead — I might think he could bring a half issaron from his house. It is, therefore, written "its half in the morning and its half in the evening." He brings half of a whole one in the evening. ⁹9) How is this affected? He brings a whole issaron and divides it, and he offers up half, and half goes lost — (so that) it is found that two halves are sacrificed and two halves go lost.