Bikkurim - Chapter 1

Introduction to Hilchos Bikkurim

They contain nine mitzvot: eight positive commandments and one negative commandment. They are:

1) To set aside the first fruits and bring them to Jerusalem;
2) For a priest not to eat the first fruits outside of Jerusalem;
3) To read [the declaration when bringing] them;
4) To separate challah and [give it] to a priest;
5) To give a priest the foreleg, the jaw, and the maw [of an animal slaughtered];
6) To give him the first shearings [of one's flocks];
7) To redeem one's firstborn son and [give that money] to a priest;
8) To redeem one's firstling donkey and [give a lamb or kid] to a priest;
9) To behead a firstling donkey if one does not desire to redeem it.

These mitzvot are explained in the ensuing chapters.

There are 24 presents that are given to the priests.1 All of them are explicitly mentioned in the Torah. A covenant was established with Aaron over all of them.2 Any priest who does not acknowledge them3 does not have a portion in the priesthood and he is not given any of these presents.

Every [priest] who partakes of one of the presents [given to the priests] that is sanctified4 should recite a blessing: '[Blessed are You].. who sanctified us with the sanctity of Aaron and commanded us to partake of...' [mentioning the particular type of present he is eating].5

Eight of the presents may be eaten by the priests only in the Sanctuary, within the walls of the Temple Courtyard.6 Five of them may be eaten only in Jerusalem within the walls of the city.7 According to Scriptural Law, there are five presents that are acquired [by the priests] only in Eretz Yisrael.8 There are five presents that they acquire both in Eretz Yisrael and in the Diaspora.9 And there is one present that that they acquire from the Temple's [property].10

What are the eight that may be eaten only in Temple? The meat of the sin offering - this includes both sin-offerings of fowl and sin-offerings of animals,11 the meat of a guilt-offering,12 whether a definite guilt-offering or a guilt-offering brought because of doubt,13 communal peace offerings,14 [the portion of] the omer offering that remains,15 [the portion of] an Israelite's meal offering that remains,16 the two loaves [offered on Shavuot],17 the show bread,18 and the log of oil brought by a metzora.19 [All of] these may be eaten only in the Temple.

What are the five that are eaten only in Jerusalem? The breast and the leg of the peace offering,20 the portion granted [the priests] from the thanksgiving offering,21 the portion granted [the priests] from the ram brought by a nazirite,22 the firstborn of a kosher animal,23 and the first fruits.24 [all of] these may be eaten only in Jerusalem.

What are the five [that are given] in Eretz Yisrael? Terumah, terumat ma'aser, and challah - these three are sanctified,25 the first shearings,26 and an ancestral field [that was consecrated]27 - these are ordinary property. [The priests are granted] these according to Scriptural Law only in Eretz Yisrael.28 Terumot and challot from Eretz Yisrael may be eaten only in Eretz Yisrael.29

What are the five that the priests acquire in all places? The presents [given when slaughtering animals],30 [the money given for] the redemption of a firstborn [son],31 [the lamb given for] the redemption of a firstborn [donkey],32 [property] stolen from a convert [who died heirless],33 and dedication offerings.34 These five are ordinary property.

The present that they acquire from the Temple's property35 is the hides from the burnt-offerings.36 This also applies to the hides from other sacrifices of the most holy order. They are all given to the priests.

The eight presents that may be eaten only in the Sanctuary are all sacrifices of the most holy order. They may be eaten only by male priests, as will be explained in the appropriate place.37 Concerning them, [Leviticus 6:22] states: 'All males among the priesthood shall partake of it.

The five [presents that may be eaten only] in Jerusalem are all sacrifices of lesser sanctity.38 [Both] males and females [of the priestly family] may partake of them.39 Concerning them, [Numbers 18:11] states: 'To you, and your sons and your daughters with you have I given them as an eternal decree.' [Although a woman may partake of them,] they are granted only to the males of the priestly family. For they are given to the men of the watch [serving in the Temple].40

The fat and the blood of the firstborn [of kosher animals] was offered and only a male was allowed to offer it.41 Similarly, the hides of the sacrifices of the most sacred order, an ancestral field, dedication offerings, and the stolen property of a convert, are acquired only by the men of the priestly watch [of that week], as will be explained.

Similarly, the redemption of firstborn [sons is given] only to males of the priestly family, for concerning it, [Numbers 3:48] states: 'And you shall give the money to Aaron and his sons.' [Similarly, the redemption of] a firstborn donkey [is given] to males of the priestly family, for all the laws of the firstborn are parallel. [The redemption is given] to males and not females.

Thus you have learned that the presents given [directly] to females like males are five: terumah,42 terumat ma'aser, challah,43 the presents given when slaughtering an animal,44 and the first shearings.

What is the source that teaches that the first shearings may be given to a woman of the priestly family? 'The first of your grain, your wine, and your oil, and the first shearings of your flock shall you give to him' [Deuteronomy 18:4]. [The verse establishes an equivalence:] Just as [terumah,] the first of the grain, may be given to females as well as males, so too, the first shearings.

Our Sages45 reckoned these presents in another manner, stating: 24 presents for the priests were given to Aaron. They are 10 in the Temple, 4 in Jerusalem, and 10 in the outlying areas.

The ten in the Temple are: a) an animal brought as a sin-offering, b) a fowl brought as a sin-offering, c) a guilt-offering, d) a guilt-offering brought because of doubt, e) the communal peace-offerings, f) the log of oil brought by a nazirite, g) the two breads, h) the show bread, i) the remnants of the meal offering, and j) the remnants of the omer offering.

The four in Jerusalem are: a) the firstborn [kosher animal], b) the first fruits, c) the portion granted [the priests] from the thanksgiving offering and the portion granted [the priests] from the ram brought by a nazirite, and d) the hides of the sacrifices.46

The ten in the outlying areas are: a) terumah, b) terumat ma'aser, c) challah, d) the first shearings, e) the presents given when slaughtering an animal, f) the redemption of a firstborn [son], g) the redemption of a firstborn donkey, h) a field that was designated as a dedication offering, i) an ancestral field, and j) the stolen property of a convert.

According to this reckoning, all of the portions given the priests from sacrifices of lesser sanctity are considered as one present. This includes: the breast and the leg that is given [the priest] from every peace offering, together with the bread that is given with them if [the peace offering] was a thanksgiving offering47 and the foreleg given the priest from the nazirite's ram, with the bread given with it, and the breast and the leg.48 Since they are all peace offerings, all of the portions given the priests are considered as one present.

AIl of the presents that are dependent on the sacrifices will be explained in their appropriate places in the laws of sacrifices.49 Similarly, [the laws pertaining to] the stolen property of a convert will be explained in Hilchot Gezeilah.50 We have already explained the laws governing an ancestral field and dedication offerings in Hilchot Arachin51 and the laws of terumah and terumat ma'aser in Hilchot Terumah. In the present halachot, I will explain the laws of the [priestly] presents that are not dependent on the sacrifices: the first fruits,52 challah,53 the presents given when slaughtering an animal,54 the first shearings,55 the redemption of a firstborn son,56 the redemption of a firstborn donkey.57