Sacrifice Brought by a Court that Erred

Positive Commandment 68

By Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon ("Maimonides"); translated by Berel Bell

The 68th mitzvah is that the High Court is commanded to bring an offering if they inadvertently erred in a legal ruling.1

The source of this commandment is G‑d's statement2 (exalted be He), "If the entire community of Israel commits an inadvertent violation as a result of [the truth] being hidden from the eyes of the congregation3 [....the congregation must bring a young bull as a sin-offering]."

The details and all the conditions governing this mitzvah are fully explained in tractate Horayos and in a number of passages in tractate Zevachim.4

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Positive Commandment 67

Positive Commandment 69

Footnotes

This applies only when their judgment dealt with a transgression for which an individual would have to bring a sin-offering, and they declared it permissible and people did the forbidden act based on their ruling.

Lev. 4:13-14.

I.e., the High Court.

90b. See Kapach, 5731, footnote 75.