When a person consecrates his ancestral field, it is a mitzvah for him to redeem it, for the owner receives priority.1 If, however, he does not desire to, we do not compel him.
When does the above apply? In the era that the Jubilee is observed.2 For if the Jubilee arrives and he does not redeem it, it will be expropriated for the sake of the priests, as we explained.3 In the era when the Jubilee has been nullified4 and it is not expropriated for the sake of the priests, but instead will ultimately be redeemed, we compel5 the owner to make an initial bid6 and it is redeemed for its worth7 like other consecrated articles. If someone who is willing to add to [the bid] to redeem it, he may redeem it. If not, we tell him: "It has come to you," and he must give what he bid. He may not make an opening bid for less than four p'rutot so that the fifth that he will add will not be less than a p'rutah.8
אהַמַּקְדִישׁ שְׂדֵה אֲחֻזָּתוֹ מִצְוָה עָלָיו לִפְדּוֹתָהּ הוּא שֶׁהָאָדוֹן קוֹדֵם. וְאִם לֹא רָצָה אֵין כּוֹפִין אוֹתוֹ. בַּמֶּה דְּבָרִים אֲמוּרִים בִּזְמַן שֶׁמִּצְוַת יוֹבֵל נוֹהֶגֶת שֶׁאִם יַגִּיעַ יוֹבֵל וְלֹא יִגְאָלֶנָּה תֵּצֵא לַכֹּהֲנִים כְּמוֹ שֶׁבֵּאַרְנוּ. אֲבָל בִּזְמַן שֶׁבָּטְלוּ הַיּוֹבְלוֹת שֶׁהֲרֵי אֵינָהּ יוֹצֵאת לַכֹּהֲנִים אֶלָּא סוֹפָהּ לְהִפָּדוֹת לְעוֹלָם כּוֹפִין אֶת הָאָדוֹן לִפְתֹּחַ בָּהּ תְּחִלָּה וְהִיא נִפְדֵית בְּשָׁוְיָהּ כִּשְׁאָר הַהֶקְדֵּשׁוֹת. אִם נִמְצָא מִי שֶׁמּוֹסִיף עָלָיו וְגוֹאֵל אוֹתָהּ יִגְאַל וְאִם לָאו אוֹמְרִין לוֹ הִגִּיעָתְךָ וְיִתֵּן מַה שֶּׁאָמַר וְאֵינוֹ פּוֹתֵחַ בְּפָחוֹת מֵאַרְבַּע פְּרוּטוֹת כְּדֵי שֶׁיְּהֵא הַחֹמֶשׁ שֶׁמּוֹסִיף פְּרוּטָה:
If the owner desired to sell other fields that he owned or to borrow to redeem this field that he consecrated, he has permission to do so.9 This applies whether [he consecrated the field] during the time the Jubilee is observed or when it is not observed. He is given precedence over others. Similarly, if he desired to redeem half of it, he may. This contrasts with the laws that apply when one sells a field to an ordinary person.10 This is the greater stringency that applies with regard to ordinary property [and not] to the Temple treasury.
ברָצָה הָאָדוֹן לִמְכֹּר שָׂדוֹת אֲחֵרוֹת מִשְּׂדוֹתָיו אוֹ לִלְווֹת כְּדֵי לִפְדּוֹת שָׂדֶה זוֹ שֶׁהִקְדִּישׁ הָרְשׁוּת בְּיָדוֹ. בֵּין בִּזְמַן שֶׁהַיּוֹבֵל נוֹהֵג בֵּין בִּזְמַן שֶׁאֵין הַיּוֹבֵל נוֹהֵג. וְהוּא קוֹדֵם לְכָל אָדָם. וְכֵן אִם רָצָה לִגְאל חֶצְיָהּ גּוֹאֵל. מַה שֶּׁאֵין כֵּן בְּמוֹכֵר לְהֶדְיוֹט. זֶה חֹמֶר בְּהֶדְיוֹט מִבְּהֶקְדֵּשׁ:
When a person consecrates his home,11 a non-kosher12 animal,13 or other property, they are evaluated for their worth, whether it be high or low.14 If the person who consecrated them, his wife, or his heirs15 redeem them, they must add a fifth. We compel the owner to make the first bid. The money is set aside for improvements to the Temple.
[The above] applies whether the house was from a walled city or from an unwalled habitation, [the owner] may redeem it at all times.16
גהַמַּקְדִּישׁ אֶת בֵּיתוֹ אוֹ אֶת בְּהֵמָה טְמֵאָה שֶׁלּוֹ אוֹ שְׁאָר מִטַּלְטְלָיו הֲרֵי אֵלּוּ נֶעֱרָכִין בְּשָׁוְיֵיהֶן בֵּין טוֹב וּבֵין רַע. וְאִם פָּדָה אוֹתָן הַמַּקְדִּישׁ אוֹ אִשְׁתּוֹ אוֹ יוֹרְשׁוֹ מוֹסִיף חֹמֶשׁ. וְכוֹפִין אֶת הַבְּעָלִים לִפְתֹּחַ רִאשׁוֹן וְהַדָּמִים לְבֶדֶק הַבַּיִת. בֵּין שֶׁהָיָה הַבַּיִת מִבָּתֵּי עָרֵי חוֹמָה בֵּין שֶׁהָיָה מִבָּתֵּי הַחֲצֵרִים הֲרֵי זֶה נִגְאָל לְעוֹלָם:
[The following rules apply if] another person redeemed it from the Temple treasury. If the home was within a walled city and it remained in the possession of the redeemer for twelve months, it becomes his property forever.17 If the home was located in an unwalled habitation and the Jubilee arrived while it was in the possession of the redeemer, it returns to its owner in the Jubilee.18
דגְּאָלוֹ אַחֵר מִיַּד הַהֶקְדֵּשׁ אִם הָיָה בֵּית עָרֵי חוֹמָה וְקָם בְּיַד הַגּוֹאֵל שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר חֹדֶשׁ נֶחְלָט. וְאִם הָיָה בֵּית הַחֲצֵרִים וְהִגִּיעַ הַיּוֹבֵל וְהוּא בְּיַד הַגּוֹאֵל חוֹזֵר לִבְעָלָיו בַּיּוֹבֵל:
When a person consecrates an unblemished19 kosher animal for the sake of improvements to the Temple,20 he has transgressed a positive commandment.21 [Nevertheless,] the deed he performed is of consequence and sanctity is conveyed upon [the animal]. It is redeemed even though it is unblemished.22 The priest establishes its worth,23 and the money is given for improvements to the Temple. The person who redeems it, redeems it only for the sake of offering it on the altar for the type of sacrifice for which it is fitting.24 [This is required, because] any [consecrated entity] that is fit for the altar is never released from [the obligation to be sacrificed on] the altar.
ההַמַּקְדִּישׁ בְּהֵמָה טְהוֹרָה תְּמִימָה לְבֶדֶק הַבַּיִת אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁעָבַר עַל עֲשֵׂה מַה שֶּׁעָשָׂה עָשׂוּי וְחָלָה קְדֻשָּׁה עָלֶיהָ וְנִפְדֵית כְּשֶׁהִיא תְּמִימָה. וּמַעֲרִיךְ אוֹתָהּ הַכֹּהֵן בְּדָמֶיהָ. וְהַדָּמִים יִפְּלוּ לְבֶדֶק הַבַּיִת. וְאֵין הַפּוֹדֶה אוֹתָהּ פּוֹדֶה אֶלָּא עַל מְנָת לְהַקְרִיבָהּ לַמִּזְבֵּחַ לְמַה שֶּׁהִיא רְאוּיָה. שֶׁכָּל דָּבָר הָרָאוּי לַמִּזְבֵּחַ אֵינוֹ יוֹצֵא מִידֵי מִזְבֵּחַ לְעוֹלָם:
Mishneh Torah (Moznaim)
Featuring a modern English translation and a commentary that presents a digest of the centuries of Torah scholarship which have been devoted to the study of the Mishneh Torah by Maimonides.
What is the source that teaches that it is forbidden to consecrate unblemished animals for the improvement of the Temple? [Leviticus 22:23] states: "An ox or a sheep that has irregularly sized limbs or unsplit hoofs, it shall be [consecrated] as a donation." According to the Oral Tradition,25 we have learned that [the term] "donation" implies that it is consecrated for improvements to the Temple. Similarly, the situation indicates that it was consecrated only for its worth, for a blemished animal is not offered on the altar. [This is denoted by the term] "it," i.e., it26 is consecrated for improvements to the Temple, but an unblemished animal should not be consecrated as a donation for improvements to the Temple. A prohibition derived from a positive commandment has the status of a positive commandment.27
ווּמִנַּיִן שֶׁאָסוּר לְהַקְדִּישׁ תְּמִימִין לְבֶדֶק הַבַּיִת שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ויקרא כב כג) "וְשׁוֹר וָשֶׂה שָׂרוּעַ וְקָלוּט נְדָבָה תַּעֲשֶׂה אֹתוֹ". מִפִּי הַשְּׁמוּעָה לָמְדוּ נְדָבָה לְבֶדֶק הַבַּיִת. וְכֵן הַדְּבָרִים מַרְאִין שֶׁאֵינָהּ אֶלָּא קְדֻשַּׁת דָּמִים. שֶׁאֵין מַקְרִיבִין בַּעַל מוּם לַמִּזְבֵּחַ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר אֹתוֹ (ויקרא כב כג) "אוֹתוֹ" אַתָּה עוֹשֶׂה נְדָבָה לְבֶדֶק הַבַּיִת וְאֵין אַתָּה עוֹשֶׂה תְּמִימִים נְדָבָה לְבֶדֶק הַבַּיִת. וְלָאו הַבָּא מִכְּלַל עֲשֵׂה כַּעֲשֵׂה הוּא:
[The following rules apply when a person] consecrates an animal without making any specifications or consecrates his property without making any specifications: We survey all the unblemished animals that are fit to be offered on the altar. The males should be sold for the purpose of burnt offerings28 and offered as burnt offerings. The females29 are sold for the purpose of peace offerings and offered as peace offerings.
The proceeds [of the sales] should be given for improvements to the Temple. For unless explicit specification is made, all consecrated articles are for the sake of the improvement of the Temple. Concerning this [Leviticus 27:9] states: "If it is an animal which can be offered as a sacrifice to God, all parts of it that you can give to God shall be holy." Implied is that every entity that is fit to be offered as a sacrifice on the altar should be offered [on the altar].
זהַמַּקְדִּישׁ אֶת בְּהֶמְתּוֹ סְתָם אוֹ שֶׁהִקְדִּישׁ אֶת נְכָסָיו סְתָם רוֹאִין כָּל בְּהֵמָה תְּמִימָה הָרְאוּיָה לְהַקְרִיב עַל גַּבֵּי הַמִּזְבֵּחַ זְכָרִים יִמָּכְרוּ לְצָרְכֵי עוֹלוֹת וְיַקְרִיבוּ אוֹתָן עוֹלוֹת. וְהַנְּקֵבוֹת יִמָּכְרוּ לְצָרְכֵי שְׁלָמִים וְיַקְרִיבוּ אוֹתָן שְׁלָמִים. וְהַדָּמִים יִפְּלוּ לְבֶדֶק הַבַּיִת שֶׁסְּתָם הֶקְדֵּשׁוֹת לְבֶדֶק הַבַּיִת. וְעַל זֶה נֶאֱמַר (ויקרא כז ט) "וְאִם בְּהֵמָה אֲשֶׁר יַקְרִיבוּ מִמֶּנָּה קָרְבָּן לַה' כּל אֲשֶׁר יִתֵּן מִמֶּנּוּ לַה' יִהְיֶה קֹּדֶשׁ" כְּלוֹמַר כָּל הָרָאוּי לְקָרְבָּן עַל גַּבֵּי הַמִּזְבֵּחַ יִקָּרֵב:
When a person consecrates his possessions without making any specifications and among them were wine, oil, fine flour, and doves that are fit to be offered on the altar, they should be sold for the purpose of [offerings that employ them] and they should be offered. The money should be used to purchase male animals that should be brought as burnt offerings.30
חהִקְדִּישׁ נְכָסָיו סְתָם וְהָיוּ בָּהֶן יֵינוֹת וּשְׁמָנִים וּסְלָתוֹת וְעוֹפוֹת הָרְאוּיִין לִקָּרֵב עַל גַּבֵּי הַמִּזְבֵּחַ יִמָּכְרוּ לְצָרְכֵי אוֹתוֹ הַמִּין וְיַקְרִיבוּ אוֹתָן וְהַדָּמִים יִלָּקַח בָּהֶן זְכָרִים וְיַקְרִיבוּ עוֹלוֹת:
Why should the proceeds from these sales be used to bring burnt offerings and the proceeds from the sale of an unblemished animal be used for improvements to the Temple?31 [The rationale is that] when an animal is consecrated to the altar suffers a [disqualifying] blemish, there is a concept of it being redeemed, as will be explained.32 When, by contrast, fine flour, wine, oil, and doves become unfit [for the altar], there is no concept of redeeming them.33 [This is derived from Leviticus 27:11-12 which] states: "You shall have the animal stand [before the priest and the priest shall evaluate it]." [Implied is that] any entity that is stood [before a priest] and evaluated may be redeemed. If any entity is not to be stood [before a priest] and evaluated, it may not be redeemed.
טוּמִפְּנֵי מָה יַקְרִיבוּ דְּמֵי אֵלּוּ עוֹלוֹת וּדְמֵי הַבְּהֵמָה הַתְּמִימָה יִפְּלוּ לְבֶדֶק הַבַּיִת. לְפִי שֶׁהַבְּהֵמָה הַקְּדוֹשָׁה לַמִּזְבֵּחַ אִם נָפַל בָּהּ מוּם יֵשׁ לָהּ פִּדְיוֹן כְּמוֹ שֶׁיִּתְבָּאֵר וְהַסּלֶת וְהַיַּיִן וְהַשֶּׁמֶן וְהָעוֹפוֹת שֶׁנִּפְסְלוּ אֵין לָהֶן פִּדְיוֹן שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ויקרא כז יא) "וְהֶעֱמִיד אֶת הַבְּהֵמָה" וְגוֹ' כָּל שֶׁיֶּשְׁנוֹ בִּכְלַל הַעֲמָדָה וְהַעֲרָכָה יֵשׁ לָהּ פִּדְיוֹן וְכָל שֶׁאֵינוֹ בִּכְלַל הַעֲמָדָה וְהַעֲרָכָה אֵין לָהּ פִּדְיוֹן:
When a person consecrates his possessions without making any specifications and among them was incense which is given to the craftsmen for their wages until they return and purchase it, as we explained in [Hilchot] Shekalim,34 it should be given to the craftsmen for their wages as is done with the remainder of the incense. These guidelines are also followed when one of the spices used in the incense offering is found among his possessions.35
יהִקְדִּישׁ נְכָסָיו סְתָם וְהָיְתָה בָּהֶן הַקְּטֹרֶת שֶׁנּוֹתְנִין לְאָמָּנִין בִּשְׂכָרָן עַד שֶׁיַּחְזְרוּ וְיִקְחוּ אוֹתָהּ כְּמוֹ שֶׁבֵּאַרְנוּ בִּשְׁקָלִים. הֲרֵי זוֹ תִּנָּתֵן לְאָמָּנִין בִּשְׂכָרָן כְּמוֹ שֶׁעוֹשִׂין בְּמוֹתַר הַקְּטֹרֶת. וְכֵן עוֹשִׂין אִם יֵשׁ בִּנְכָסָיו אֶחָד מִסַּמָּנֵי הַקְּטֹרֶת:
When a person consecrates an unblemished animal [as a sacrifice to be offered on] the altar and it became blemished36 and was disqualified, it should be evaluated and redeemed. Concerning this, [Leviticus 27:11] states: "When any impure animal37 of which a sacrifice should not be brought as an offering to God, you shall have the animal stand [before the priest....]" He should bring another sacrifice equivalent to it with its money.
יאהַמַּקְדִּישׁ בְּהֵמָה תְּמִימָה לַמִּזְבֵּחַ וְנָפַל בָּהּ מוּם וְנִפְסְלָה הֲרֵי זוֹ נֶעֱרֶכֶת וְנִפְדֵית. וְעַל זֶה נֶאֱמַר (ויקרא כז יא) "וְאִם כָּל בְּהֵמָה טְמֵאָה אֲשֶׁר לֹא יַקְרִיבוּ מִמֶּנָּה קָרְבָּן לַה' וְהֶעֱמִיד אֶת הַבְּהֵמָה" וְגוֹ'. וְיָבִיא בְּדָמֶיהָ קָרְבָּן אַחֵר כְּמוֹתָהּ:
Whenever a person consecrates an animal in its lifetime - whether a kosher animal or a non-kosher one, whether it was consecrated for the sake of the Temple treasury,38 it was consecrated to be offered on the altar and it became blemished,39 or it is an unblemished animal which is fit to be offered as a sacrifice as will be explained,40 it must be stood [before the court] for evaluation, as implied by the phrase: "You shall have the animal stand [before the priest....]" Therefore, if the animal died before it is evaluated and redeemed, it should not be redeemed. Instead, it should be buried.41 If, however, a person consecrated a slaughtered animal or an animal carcass for the sake of improvements to the Temple, it should be redeemed like other movable property.
יבכָּל הַמַּקְדִּישׁ בְּהֵמָה בְּחַיֶּיהָ בֵּין טְהוֹרָה בֵּין טְמֵאָה בֵּין קָדְשֵׁי הַבַּיִת בֵּין קָדְשֵׁי מִזְבֵּחַ שֶׁנָּפַל בָּהֶן מוּם אוֹ תְּמִימָה הָרְאוּיָה לִקָּרֵב כְּמוֹ שֶׁיִּתְבָּאֵר הֲרֵי זוֹ צְרִיכָה הַעֲמָדָה בְּבֵית דִּין שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ויקרא כז יא) "וְהֶעֱמִיד אֶת הַבְּהֵמָה". לְפִיכָךְ אִם מֵתָה הַבְּהֵמָה קֹדֶם שֶׁתֵּעָרֵךְ וְתִפָּדֶה אֵין פּוֹדִין אוֹתָהּ אַחַר שֶׁמֵּתָה אֶלָּא תִּקָּבֵר. אֲבָל אִם הִקְדִּישׁ שְׁחוּטָה אוֹ נְבֵלָה לְבֶדֶק הַבַּיִת הֲרֵי זוֹ תִּפָּדֶה כִּשְׁאָר מִטַּלְטְלִין:
[In the above situation,] if one slaughtered [the animal, slitting] the two organs42 [necessary for the slaughter to be acceptable] or slit the majority of these organs43 but the animal is still making convulsive movements, it is considered as alive with regard to all matters.44 It may be evaluated and [the provisions implied by the phrases:] "You shall have.... stand and... shall evaluate" apply until it dies.45
יגשָׁחַט בָּהּ שְׁנַיִם אוֹ רֹב שְׁנַיִם וַעֲדַיִן הִיא מְפַרְכֶּסֶת הֲרֵי הִיא כְּחַיָּה לְכָל דְּבָרֶיהָ וְנֶעֱרֶכֶת וַהֲרֵי הִיא בִּכְלַל וְהֶעֱמִיד וְהֶעֱרִיךְ עַד שֶׁתָּמוּת:
When a person consecrates the worth of an unblemished animal,46 the body of the animal becomes consecrated.47 What is implied? When a person says: 'The worth of this animal is consecrated to the altar,' the animal itself should be sacrificed.
When one consecrates the worth of one of its limbs or organs, saying: 'The worth of the feet of this cow are consecrated to the altar,' there is an unresolved question: Does the sanctity spread throughout the animal or not?48 Therefore it should be sacrificed and not redeemed.
ידהַמַּקְדִּישׁ בְּהֵמָה תְּמִימָה לְדָמֶיהָ הֲרֵי זוֹ נִתְקַדֵּשׁ גּוּפָהּ. כֵּיצַד. הָאוֹמֵר דְּמֵי בְּהֵמָה זוֹ הֶקְדֵּשׁ לַמִּזְבֵּחַ הִיא עַצְמָהּ תִּקָּרֵב. הִקְדִּישׁ אֶחָד מֵאֵיבָרֶיהָ לְדָמָיו וְאָמַר דְּמֵי רַגְלָהּ שֶׁל פָּרָה זוֹ הֶקְדֵּשׁ לַמִּזְבֵּחַ הֲרֵי זוֹ סָפֵק אִם פָּשְׁטָה קְדֻשָּׁה בְּכֻלָּהּ אוֹ לֹא פָּשְׁטָה. וּלְפִיכָךְ תִּקָּרֵב וְלֹא תִּפָּדֶה:
What should be done?49 We sell it in its entirety to a person who will offer it as a sacrifice.50 The proceeds of the sale are not consecrated with the exception of those of that particular limb.51 If the limb or organ [consecrated] was of vital importance [to the animal], the sanctity [is considered to] spread throughout the entire animal.52
טווכֵּיצַד עוֹשִׂין. מוֹכְרִין אוֹתָהּ כֻּלָּהּ לְמִי שֶׁיַּקְרִיב אוֹתָהּ. וְדָמֶיהָ חֻלִּין חוּץ מִדְּמֵי אוֹתוֹ אֵיבָר. וְאִם הָיָה אֵיבָר שֶׁהַנְּשָׁמָה תְּלוּיָה בּוֹ פָּשְׁטָה קְדֻשָּׁה בְּכֻלָּהּ:
[Different rules apply if] the animal [consecrated] was blemished and unfit to be offered as a sacrifice. When one consecrates one of its limbs or organs - whether it is one of vital importance or not - only that limb becomes consecrated.53
What is implied? A person said: 'The worth of the foot of this cow...' or 'The worth of its heart is consecrated to the altar,' he and the Temple treasury own it in partnership.54
טזהָיְתָה בְּהֵמָה בַּעֲלַת מוּם שֶׁאֵינָהּ רְאוּיָה לִקָּרֵב וְהִקְדִּישׁ אֵיבָר מֵאֵיבָרֶיהָ לְדָמָיו בֵּין שֶׁהַנְּשָׁמָה תְּלוּיָה בּוֹ בֵּין שֶׁהַנְּשָׁמָה אֵין תְּלוּיָה בּוֹ לֹא נִתְקַדֵּשׁ אֶלָּא דְּמֵי אוֹתוֹ אֵיבָר בִּלְבַד. כֵּיצַד. כְּגוֹן שֶׁאָמַר דְּמֵי רֶגֶל פָּרָה זוֹ אוֹ דְּמֵי לִבָּהּ הֶקְדֵּשׁ לַמִּזְבֵּחַ. הוּא וְהֶקְדֵּשׁ שֻׁתָּפִין בָּהּ:
Similarly, if a person says: 'The head of this servant...' or 'The heart of this donkey is consecrated to the altar,' [he is liable only for the worth of the limb or organ mentioned].55 Similarly, if he says: 'My head is consecrated to the altar,' he is liable only for the worth of his head.56 We see how much that limb or organ is worth and he must bring a sacrifice for that amount.
יזוְכֵן הָאוֹמֵר רֹאשׁ עֶבֶד זֶה אוֹ לֵב חֲמוֹר זֶה הֶקְדֵּשׁ לַמִּזְבֵּחַ אוֹ שֶׁאָמַר רֹאשִׁי הֶקְדֵּשׁ לַמִּזְבֵּחַ אֵינוֹ חַיָּב אֶלָּא בִּדְמֵי רֹאשׁוֹ וְרוֹאִין כַּמָּה יִשְׁוֶה אוֹתוֹ אֵיבָר אִלּוּ הָיָה נִמְכָּר וְיָבִיא בְּדָמָיו קָרְבָּן:
When does the above apply? With regard to animals consecrated to the altar. If, however, a person says: 'The head of this donkey...' or 'Its liver is consecrated,' or 'The head of this servant' or 'His liver is consecrated,'57 since his life is dependent on that organ, he is liable for its entire worth. For whenever an entity is consecrated for improvements to the Temple, the consecration involves the entity's worth.58
יחבַּמֶּה דְּבָרִים אֲמוּרִים בְּקָדְשֵׁי מִזְבֵּחַ. אֲבָל בְּקָדְשֵׁי בֶּדֶק הַבַּיִת הָאוֹמֵר דְּמֵי רֹאשׁ חֲמוֹר זֶה אוֹ כְּבֵדוֹ הֶקְדֵּשׁ אוֹ דְּמֵי רֹאשׁ עֶבֶד זֶה אוֹ כְּבֵדוֹ הֶקְדֵּשׁ הוֹאִיל וְהוּא דָּבָר שֶׁהַנְּשָׁמָה תְּלוּיָה בּוֹ הֲרֵי זֶה חַיָּב בִּדְמֵי כֻּלּוֹ. שֶׁכָּל הֶקְדֵּשׁ בֶּדֶק הַבַּיִת קְדֻשַּׁת דָּמִים הוּא:
When a person says: 'I pledge my airech to the altar,' he must bring sacrifices of the value of his airech.59 If he is not financially capable of giving his entire airech,60 there is an unresolved question: Is his evaluation appraised according to his financial capacity for he made his pledge using the term airech or do we not appraise his financial capacity since he made his vow to the altar?61
Similarly, when a person consecrates his ancestral field to the altar, it should be redeemed and the proceeds should be used to purchase burnt offerings for the altar. There is an unresolved question: Should it be redeemed according to the fixed airech established for it62 or should it be redeemed according to its value, since he made his vow to the altar?63 In all these and similar instances, we rule stringently.64
יטהָאוֹמֵר עֶרְכִּי עָלַי לַמִּזְבֵּחַ מֵבִיא בְּעֶרְכּוֹ קָרְבָּן. וְאִם אֵין יָדוֹ מַשֶּׂגֶת לְעֵרֶךְ שָׁלֵם הֲרֵי זֶה דְּבַר סָפֵק אִם נִדּוֹן בְּהֶשֵּׂג יָד הוֹאִיל וְהוֹצִיאוֹ בִּלְשׁוֹן עֵרֶךְ. אוֹ אֵינוֹ נִדּוֹן בְּהֶשֵּׂג יָד הוֹאִיל וְלַמִּזְבֵּחַ נָדַר. וְכֵן הַמַּקְדִּישׁ שְׂדֵה אֲחֻזָּתוֹ לַמִּזְבֵּחַ הֲרֵי זוֹ נִפְדֵית וְהַדָּמִים יָבִיאוּ בָּהֶן עוֹלוֹת לַמִּזְבֵּחַ. וְיֵשׁ בַּדָּבָר סָפֵק אִם פּוֹדִין אוֹתָהּ בָּעֵרֶךְ הַקָּצוּב בָּהּ אוֹ פּוֹדִין אוֹתָהּ בְּשָׁוְיָן הוֹאִיל וְלַמִּזְבֵּחַ הִקְדִּישׁ וְדָנִין בְּכָל אֵלּוּ וְכַיּוֹצֵא בָּהֶן לְהַחְמִיר: