ב"ה
Rambam - 1 Chapter a Day
Maaseh Hakorbanot - Chapter 7
Maaseh Hakorbanot - Chapter 7
1It is a positive commandment to offer the sin-offerings1 according to its statutes as they are written in the Torah.אמִצְוַת עֲשֵׂה לַעֲשׂוֹת הַחַטָּאוֹת כְּמִצְוָתָן הָאֲמוּרָה בַּתּוֹרָה.
How are the sin-offerings which are eaten2 brought? One slaughters the animal and sprinkles its blood in the manner described,3 skins it, and separates the eimorim.4 He salts them and casts them on the pyre. If he desires to place the eimorim in a container while they are being carried to the altar, he may. The remainder of the meat is eaten by male priests in the Temple Courtyard.5וְכֵיצַד מַעֲשֵׂה חַטָּאת הַנֶּאֱכֶלֶת? שׁוֹחֵט וְנוֹתֵן הַדָּם, כְּמוֹ שֶׁבֵּאַרְנוּ. וּמַפְשִׁיטָהּ, וּמַפְרִישׁ הָאֵמוּרִין, וּמוֹלְחָן, וְזוֹרְקָן עַל גַּבֵּי הָאִשִּׁים. וְאִם רָצָה לִתֵּן אֶת הָאֵמוּרִין בִּכְלִי כְּשֶׁמּוֹלִיכָן לַמִּזְבֵּחַ, נוֹתֵן. וּשְׁאָר בְּשָׂרָהּ נֶאֱכָל לְזִכְרֵי כְּהֻנָּה בְּעֲזָרָה.
2How are the sin-offering which are burnt brought? One slaughters the animal and sprinkles its blood in the manner described. Afterwards, one rips open its belly and removes the eimorim. He places them into a container, salts them, and casts them on the pyre. The remainder of the animal should be taken outside the city6 and cut up there as the burnt offering is cut up7 with its hide.8 The pieces are burnt there in the ash pile.9בוְכֵיצַד מַעֲשֵׂה חַטָּאוֹת הַנִּשְׂרָפוֹת? שׁוֹחֵט וְזוֹרֵק הַדָּם שֶׁלָּהֶם, כְּמוֹ שֶׁבֵּאַרְנוּ; וְאַחַר כָּךְ קוֹרְעָן, וּמוֹצִיא הָאֵמוּרִין, וְנוֹתְנָן בִּכְלִי, וּמוֹלְחָן, וְזוֹרְקָן עַל גַּבֵּי הָאִשִּׁים. וּמוֹצִיא שְׁאֵרִיתָן חוּץ לָעִיר, וּמְנַתְּחִין אוֹתָן שָׁם כְּנִתְחֵי הָעוֹלָה בְּעוֹרָן, וְשׂוֹרְפִין אוֹתָן שָׁם בְּבֵית הַדֶּשֶׁן.
3There are three places where sacrifices are burnt: The first is in the midst of the Temple Courtyard.10 The following are burnt there: sacrifices of the highest order of sanctity that have been disqualified,11 the eimorim of sacrifices of lesser sanctity which were disqualified,12 the bulls and goats that are burnt if they are disqualified, whether before their blood was sprinkled or after their blood was sprinkled,13 e.g., they became impure, they were taken outside the Temple Courtyard before the time they were supposed to be taken out arrived, or their meat or their eimorim remained overnight without being burnt.14גשְׁלוֹשָׁה מְקוֹמוֹת לַשְּׂרֵפָה: אֶחָד, בְּתוֹךְ הָעֲזָרָה; וּבוֹ שׂוֹרְפִין פְּסוּלֵי הַמֻּקְדָּשִׁין וְאֵמוּרֵי קֳדָשִׁים קַלִּים שֶׁנִּפְסְלוּ וּפָרִים וּשְׂעִירִים שֶׁל חַטָּאוֹת הַנִּשְׂרָפוֹת אִם אֵרַע בָּהֶם פְּסוּל, בֵּין לִפְנֵי זְרִיקָה בֵּין לְאַחַר זְרִיקָה, כְּגוֹן שֶׁנִּטְמְאוּ אוֹ שֶׁיָּצְאוּ חוּץ לָעֲזָרָה עַד שֶׁלֹּא הִגִּיעַ זְמַנָּן לָצֵאת, אוֹ שֶׁלָּן הַבָּשָׂר, אוֹ לָנוּ הָאֵמוּרִין שֶׁלָּהֶן.
4The second place is on the Temple Mount. It is called the birah.15 There we burn sin-offerings that are to be burnt if they were disqualified16 after they departed from the Temple Courtyard.דוְהַמָּקוֹם הַשֵּׁנִי - בְּהַר הַבַּיִת, וּשְׁמוֹ 'בִּירָה'; וּבוֹ שׂוֹרְפִין חַטָּאוֹת הַנִּשְׂרָפוֹת אִם אֵרַע בָּהֶן פְּסוּל אַחַר שֶׁיָּצְאוּ מִן הָעֲזָרָה.
The third place is outside Jerusalem. It is called the ash-pile. There we burn the sin-offerings that are burnt when they are burnt according to their commandment.17וְהַמָּקוֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁי - חוּץ לִירוּשָׁלַיִם, וְהוּא הַנִּקְרָא 'בֵּית הַדֶּשֶׁן'; וְשָׁם שׂוֹרְפִין חַטָּאוֹת הַנִּשְׂרָפוֹת בִּזְמַן שֶׁהֵן נִשְׂרָפוֹת כְּמִצְוָתָן.
5It is acceptable for the burning of all of the sacrifices that must be burnt18 to be performed by a non-priest19 and at night.20 Any type of wood, even straw and stubble, is acceptable21 for the burning of all of the sacrifices that must be burnt outside the Temple Courtyard, as Leviticus 4:12 states: “On wood with fire,” any type of fire. Why is wood mentioned? To exclude lime or hot ash.הוּשְׂרֵפַת כָּל הַנִּשְׂרָפִין כְּשֵׁרָה בְּזָר, וּבַלַּיְלָה. וְכָל הַנִּשְׂרָפִין חוּץ לָעֲזָרָה - כָּל הָעֵצִים כְּשֵׁרִין לִשְׂרֵיפָתָן, אַפִלּוּ בְּקַשׁ וּבִגְבָבָא, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "עַל עֵצִים בָּאֵשׁ" (ויקרא ד, יב) - אֵשׁ מִכָּל מָקוֹם. וְלָמָּה נֶאֱמַר "עֵצִים"? לְהוֹצִיא אֶת הַסִּיד וְאֶת הָרֶמֶץ.
6How is a sin-offering from fowl brought? Melikah should be performed on the southwest corner of the altar,22 as we explained.23 He should descend with his nail until he cuts the organs required for ritual slaughter24 or at least the majority of one of them. He should not separate the head from the body.25וחַטַּאת הָעוֹף כֵּיצַד הָיְתָה נַעֲשֵׂית? מוֹלֵק אוֹתָהּ בְּקֶרֶן דְּרוֹמִית מַעַרָבִית, כְּמוֹ שֶׁבֵּאַרְנוּ, וְיוֹרֵד בְּצִפָּרְנוֹ עַד שֶׁיַּחְתֹּךְ הַסִּימָנִין אוֹ רֻבּוֹ שֶׁל אֶחָד מֵהֶן, וְאֵינוֹ מַבְדִיל הָרֹאשׁ מִן הַגּוּף.
If he does, he disqualifies the sacrifice and is liable for lashes,26 as Leviticus 5:8 states: “He shall nip off its head at the nape of the neck, but should not separate it.”וְאִם הִבְדִיל - פָּסַל וְלוֹקֶה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "וּמָלַק אֶת רֹאשׁוֹ מִמּוּל עָרְפּוֹ וְלֹא יַבְדִּיל" (ויקרא ה, ח).
He then sprinkles its blood on the wall of the altar, below its midpoint. The remainder of the blood should be squeezed out on the altar’s base,27 as stated ibid.:9: “And the remainder of the blood, he shall squeeze out on the altar’s base.” One can conclude from this that when one presents the blood on the wall of the altar, the fact that the remainder of the blood is squeezed out toward the base indicates that “the wall” refers to the lower portion of the wall.28וּמַזֶּה מִדָּמָהּ עַל קִיר הַמִּזְבֵּחַ, לְמַטָּה מֵאֶמְצָעוֹ; וּשְׁיָרֵי הַדָּם מִתְמַצִּים עַל הַיְּסוֹד, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "וְהַנִּשְׁאָר בַּדָּם יִמָּצֵה אֶל יְסוֹד הַמִּזְבֵּחַ" (ויקרא ה, ט) - מִכְּלָל שֶׁהַנְּתִינָה עַל קִיר שֶׁהַשְּׁיָרִין שֶׁלּוֹ מִתְמַצִּין אֶל הַיְּסוֹד, וְזֶהוּ קִיר הַתַּחְתּוֹן.
7Squeezing out the blood of a fowl brought as a sin-offering is an absolute requirement.29 All the altar receives from this offering is its blood. The remainder is eaten by males of the priestly family like the meat of an animal brought as a sin-offering.30זוּמִצּוּי דַּם חַטַּאת הָעוֹף מְעַכֵּב. וְאֵין לַמִּזְבֵּחַ בָּהּ אֶלָא דָּמָהּ, וְהַשְּׁאָר נֶאֱכָל לְזִכְרֵי כְּהֻנָּה, כִּבְשַׂר חַטַּאת הַבְּהֵמָה.
8How should the fowl brought as a sin-offering be held at the time of melikah? He should hold its two feet between two of his fingers31 and its two wings between his other two fingers,32 extending its neck over the thumb33 for a width of two fingers and then snip off its head.34 This was one of the difficult tasks performed in the Temple. If one deviated and held the fowl in any other manner, it is acceptable.חכֵּיצַד אוֹחֵז חַטַּאת הָעוֹף בִּשְׁעַת מְלִיקָה? אוֹחֵז שְׁתֵּי רַגְלֶיהָ בֵּין שְׁתֵּי אֶצְבְּעוֹתָיו, וּשְׁנֵי גַּפֶּיהָ בֵּין שְׁתֵּי אֶצְבְּעוֹתָיו, וּמוֹתֵחַ צַוָּארָהּ אֶל רֹחַב שְׁתֵּי אֶצְבְּעוֹתָיו, וּמוֹלֵק. וְזוֹ מֵעֲבוֹדוֹת קָשׁוֹת שֶׁבַּמִּקְדָּשׁ. וְאִם שִׁנָּה, וְאָחַז מִכָּל מָקוֹם - כְּשֵׁרָה.
9Every part of the altar is acceptable for melikah, provided he sprinkles its blood below the midpoint of the altar. If he sprinkles it anywhere on the altar, it is acceptable provided he presents at least a small amount of the blood of the soul35 below the midpoint of the altar.טוְכָל מָקוֹם מִן הַמִּזְבֵּחַ כָּשֵׁר לִמְלִיקָתָהּ, וּבִלְבָד שֶׁיַּזֶּה דָּמָהּ לְמַטָּה מֵאֶמְצַע הַמִּזְבֵּחַ. וְאִם הִזָּה בְּכָל מָקוֹם, כְּשֵׁרָה. וְהוּא שֶׁיִּתֵּן לְמַטָּה מְעַט מִדַּם הַנֶּפֶשׁ.
10The upper half of southwest corner of the altar would serve three purposes and the lower half would serve three purposes.ישְׁלוֹשָׁה דְּבָרִים הָיְתָה קֶרֶן דְּרוֹמִית מַעַרָבִית מְשַׁמֶּשֶׁת לְמַעְלָה, וּשְׁלוֹשָׁה לְמַטָּה.
The lower half was used for the melikah of a fowl brought as a sin-offering, approaching the altar with the meal-offering,36 and pouring the remainder of the blood of the burnt-offerings, the sin-offerings that are eaten, the guilt-offerings, and the peace-offerings upon its base.37מִלְּמַטָּה: חַטַּאת הָעוֹף, וְהַגָּשַׁת הַמְּנָחוֹת, וּשְׁיָרֵי הַדָּם שֶׁל עוֹלוֹת וְחַטָּאוֹת הַנֶּאֱכָלוֹת וַאֲשָׁמוֹת וּשְׁלָמִים שֶׁשּׁוֹפְכִין עָלֶיהָ.
The three purposes for which the upper portion was used are: the water libation on Sukkos,38 the wine libation of the accompanying offering of Sukkot,39 and the burnt offerings of fowl if there are many of them. If the southeast corner40 does not have the capacity for all of them,41 the priests would turn to the southwest corner and perform melikah there.42וְהַשְּׁלוֹשָׁה שֶׁמִּלְמַעְלָה: נִסּוּךְ הַמַּיִם שֶׁמְּנַסְּכִין בֶּחָג, וְנִסּוּךְ הַיַּיִן שֶׁל נְּסָכִים, וְעוֹלַת הָעוֹף בִּזְמַן שֶׁהִיא רַבָּה, וְאִם אֵין קֶרֶן דְּרוֹמִית מִזְרָחִית מְכִילָה אוֹתָהּ - נִפְנִין לְקֶרֶן דְּרוֹמִית מַעַרָבִית וְעוֹשִׂין אוֹתָהּ שָׁם.
11All of those who ascend the altar on the right side of the ramp,43 circle it, and descend on the left side except for one who ascends for one of the latter three purposes mentioned above which are performed on the upper portion44 of this corner. Those involved in these services ascend on the left side, turn to the left, to that corner, perform their task, and retrace their steps.יאכָּל הָעוֹלִין לַמִּזְבֵּחַ - עוֹלִין דֶּרֶךְ יָמִין, וּמַקִּיפִין וְיוֹרְדִין דֶּרֶךְ שְׂמֹאל; חוּץ מִן הָעוֹלֶה לְאֶחָד מִשְּׁלוֹשָׁה דְּבָרִים אֵלּוּ שֶׁלְּמַעְלָה בְּקֶרֶן זוֹ, שֶׁהֵן עוֹלִין וְנִפְנִין עַל הַשְּׂמֹאל לַקֶּרֶן, וְעוֹשִׂין מְלַאכְתָּן, וְחוֹזְרִין לֶעָקֵב.
Why do they turn to the left? So that they will encounter the southwest corner first. For if they would turn to the right and circle the entire altar until they reached the southwest corner, the water or the wine might become smoky45 or perhaps the fowl would die because of the altar’s smoke.וּמִפְּנֵי מַה נִפְנִין לִשְׂמֹאל? כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּפְגְּעוּ בְּקֶרֶן מַעַרָבִית דְּרוֹמִית תְּחִלָּה; שֶׁאִם נִפְנִין עַל יָמִין וּמַקִּיפִין אֶת כָּל הַמִּזְבֵּחַ עַד שֶׁיַּגִּיעוּ לְקֶרֶן דְּרוֹמִית מַעַרָבִית, שֶׁמָּא יִתְעַשֵּׁן הַמַּיִם וְהַיַּיִן, אוֹ שֶׁמָּא יָמוּת הָעוֹף בַּעֲשַׁן הַמִּזְבֵּחַ.
12Therefore when someone who performs a water or wine libation circles the altar,46 he should not have anything in his hands. He begins circling from the southeast corner, proceeding to the northeast and then to the northwest and the southwest. He should not be holding anything. When he reaches the southwest corner, the water or the wine is placed in his hand and he performs the libation.יבלְפִיכָךְ הַמְּנַסֵּךְ מַיִם אוֹ יַיִן - כְּשֶׁהוּא מַקִּיף אֶת הַמִּזְבֵּחַ, לֹא יִהְיֶה בְּיָדוֹ כְּלוּם. וּמַתְחִיל וּמַקִּיף מִקֶּרֶן דְּרוֹמִית מִזְרָחִית לְמִזְרָחִית צְפוֹנִית, לִצְפוֹנִית מַעַרָבִית, לְמַעַרָבִית דְּרוֹמִית, וְלֹא יִהְיֶה בְּיָדוֹ כְּלוּם. וּכְשֶׁמַּגִּיעַ לְמַעַרָבִית דְּרוֹמִית, נוֹתְנִין לוֹ הַמַּיִם אוֹ הַיַּיִן בְּיָדוֹ, וּמְנַסֵּךְ.
If he does not desire to circle the altar, he may ascend the ramp, turn to the left, perform his service, and descend.וְאִם לֹא הִקִּיף - עוֹלֶה וּפוֹנֶה עַל שְׂמֹאלוֹ, וְעוֹשֶׂה מְלַאכְתּוֹ וְיוֹרֵד.
Footnotes
1.
Sefer HaMitzvot (positive commandment 64) and Sefer HaChinuch (mitzvah 138) include this as one of the 613 mitzvot of the Torah. Even though there are several different types of sin-offerings, since they are all offered in the same manner, they are considered only as one mitzvah (Radbaz).
2.
In Chapter 1, Halachot 15-16, the Rambam mentions which sin-offerings are eaten and which are burnt.
3.
See Chapter 5, Halachot 1-3, with regard to the slaughter of the animal and Halachot 7-10 of that chapter with regard to casting its blood on the altar.
4.
The fats and inner organs offered on the altar.
5.
Leviticus 6:19 speaks of the priests partaking of the sin-offerings in the Courtyard of the Tent of Meeting. See Chapter 10.
6.
Leviticus 2:12 speaks of these sacrifices being burnt outside the camp. See also Hilchot Avodat Yom HaKippurim 3:7.
7.
Chapter 6, Halachot 5-9.
8.
They are not skinned before being burnt, as related in Chapter 5, Halachah 18.
9.
See Halachah 4.
11.
Rashi (Zevachim 104b) explains that since these sacrifices are eaten in the Temple Courtyard, they should also be burnt there.
12.
Since these eimorim should have been burnt on the altar, they are burnt in the Temple Courtyard if they became impure (Radbaz). The sacrifices of lesser sanctity themselves should be burnt in Jerusalem (the place where they are eaten). We can assume that they were burnt on the Temple Mount, at the birah (ibid., gloss to Halachah 4).
13.
Although they had reached a stage where they were to be taken out of the Temple Courtyard, since in fact they had not been removed from the Temple Courtyard before they were disqualified, they should be burnt there (Radbaz).
14.
See more details in Hilchot Pesulei HaMukdashim 19:3.
15.
The term birah means “tower” or “large building.” At times, it is used to refer to the Temple complex as a whole.
16.
Because of impurity or because they remained overnight. These factors can still disqualify these sacrifices even though they have been taken out of the Temple Courtyard (Radbaz).
17.
I.e., when they have not been disqualified. The Biblical commandment is to bum them “outside the camp.” In later times, that meant “outside Jerusalem” as stated in Halachah 2. The term ash-pile has several meanings; see Chapter 6, Halachah 21.
18.
I.e., those sacrifices which must be burnt outside Jerusalem. Those that must be burnt in the Temple Courtyard must be burnt with wood fit to be used for the altar (Sifra).
19.
This indicates that burning them is not a fundamental element of the sacrificial service (Radbaz).
20.
There are some exceptions to this as stated in Hilchot Pesulei HaMukdashim 19:5.
21.
I.e., the wood need not meet the criteria for wood required for the altar.
22.
From Zevachim 63a, b, it is apparent that, after the fact, a sin-offering is acceptable if melikah is performed at any place in the Temple Courtyard. (See also Halachah 9.) This comer is mentioned as an initial preference, because the blood must be sprinkled there (Radbaz).
23.
Rav Yosef Corcus states that the reference is to the order of melikah described at the conclusion of ch. 6. Melikah at the southwestern comer of the altar is not mentioned elsewhere.
24.
The windpipe and the gullet.
25.
In contrast to the requirement for the burnt-offering mentioned in Chapter 6, Halachah 20.
26.
Sefer HaMitzvot (negative commandment 112) and Sefer HaChinuch (mitzvah 124) include this as one of the 613 mitzvot of the Torah.
The Lechem Mishneh quotes authorities who understand this as meaning that one may not separate both the gullet and the windpipe entirely. The Kessef Mishneh, however, maintains that the Rambam’s words should be explained simply: the head may not be severed from the body. If it is attached, even if these two organs are severed, the prohibition is not violated.
27.
Hence when performing melikah, the priest does not ascend on the ramp, but rather stands on the ground (Radbaz).
28.
The Rambam is explaining why the obligation is to present the blood of a sin-offering from fowl on the lower half of the altar in contrast to the blood of a sin-offering from an animal which is presented on the upper half.
29.
Although there is a difference of opinion concerning this matter in the Talmud and there are passages which appear to follow the other view, the Rambam’s approach represents the consensus, as indicated by Me’ilah 9b (Radbaz, Kessef Mishneh).
30.
See Chapter 10.
31.
The pinky and the finger next to it on his left hand.
32.
The index finger and the middle finger.
33.
The bracketed additions are made on the basis of the Rambam’s Commentary to the Mishnah (Zevachim 6:4).
34.
With his right hand.
35.
As indicated in Hilchot Ma‘achalot Assurot 6:3, this term refers to the blood that flows out when the fowl is slaughtered.
36.
See Chapter 12, Halachah 6; Chapter 13, Halachah 12.
37.
See Chapter 5, Halachot 6, 10.
38.
See Hilchot Temidim UMusafim 10:6.
39.
I.e., in contrast to the wine libations offered throughout the year which are offered on the lower portion of the altar. See Chapter 2, Halachah 1, and notes.
40.
Which was the preferential place for them to be offered, as stated in Chapter 6, Halachah 20.
41.
I.e., if many fowl were being offered and it was difficult to approach that corner of the altar.
42.
For this is close to the place where portions of the sacrifices are discarded
43.
I.e., they should tum to the southeastern comer. The rationale is that, at the outset, one should always tum to the right
44.
Those who perform the tasks on the lower portion of this comer do not ascend the ramp at all, but instead, approach the altar from the ground.
45.
Wine that became smoky is unacceptable for a libation (Hilchot Issurei Mizbeiach 6:9). We can assume that the same law applies with regard to water.
46.
There is no necessity - or even preference - that the priest circle the altar. The matter is solely dependent on his choice. The Mishnah (Tamid 6:6) that is the source for this teaching speaks about a High Priest, but as the Rambam states in his Commentary to the Mishnah, the concept applies to any priest. If he desires, he may circle the altar before performing this service.
Rabbi Eliyahu Touger is a noted author and translator, widely published for his works on Chassidut and Maimonides.
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Vowelized Hebrew text courtesy Torat Emet under CC 2.5 license.
The text on this page contains sacred literature. Please do not deface or discard.
