1

Whether a person says: 'This1 is consecrated for the sake of improvements to the Temple,' 'This is a dedication offering2 for the sake of improvements to the Temple,' or 'This is a dedication offering for the sake of Heaven,' or he [makes] similar [statements] with regard to his property as a whole,3 saying that it is all consecrated for the sake of improvements to the Temple, as a dedication offering for the sake of improvements to the Temple, or as a dedication offering for the sake of Heaven, [the property] should be given for improvements to the Temple. If, however, he said [that the property should be given] as a dedication offering without making any specifications, it should be given to the priests,4 for unspecified dedication offerings are given to the priests,5 as [Numbers 18:14] states: 'All of the dedication offerings from the Jewish people will be yours.

א

אֶחָד הָאוֹמֵר הֲרֵי זֶה הֶקְדֵּשׁ לְבֶדֶק הַבַּיִת אוֹ חֵרֶם לְבֶדֶק הַבַּיִת אוֹ חֵרֶם לַשָּׁמַיִם. וְכֵן בְּכָל נְכָסָיו אִם אָמַר כָּל נְכָסָיו הֶקְדֵּשׁ אוֹ חֵרֶם לְבֶדֶק הַבַּיִת אוֹ חֵרֶם לַשָּׁמָיִם הֲרֵי אֵלּוּ יִפְּלוּ לְבֶדֶק הַבַּיִת. אֲבָל אִם אָמַר חֵרֶם סְתָם הֲרֵי אֵלּוּ לַכֹּהֲנִים. שֶׁסְּתָם חֲרָמִים לַכֹּהֲנִים. שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (במדבר יח יד) "כָּל חֵרֶם בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל לְךָ יִהְיֶה":

2

A person may make a dedication offering from his cattle, his sheep, his Canaanite servants6 and maid-servants, and his ancestral fields.7 He should not, however, designate all of his cattle, all of his servants, all of his fields, nor all of any type of movable property that he owns as a dedication offering, as [implied by Leviticus 27:28]: 'From everything that he owns.'8 If he gives all he owns from a particular type of property as a dedication offering, even if he gives everything he owns as a dedication offering, his gift is binding. [This applies] whether he designates the dedication offering for the priests or for the improvement of the Temple.

ב

מַחְרִים אָדָם מִן בְּקָרוֹ וּמִצֹּאנוֹ וּמֵעֲבָדָיו וּמִשִּׁפְחוֹתָיו הַכְּנַעֲנִים וּמִשְּׂדֵה אֲחֻזָּתוֹ. אֲבָל לֹא יַחֲרִים כָּל בְּהֶמְתּוֹ וְלֹא כָּל עֲבָדָיו וְלֹא כָּל שְׂדוֹתָיו וְלֹא כָּל מִין שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ מִשְּׁאָר הַמִּטַּלְטְלִין שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ויקרא כז כח) "מִכָּל אֲשֶׁר לוֹ". וְאִם הֶחֱרִים אֶת הַכּל אֲפִלּוּ הֶחֱרִים כָּל נְכָסָיו הֲרֵי אֵלּוּ מֻחְרָמִין בֵּין שֶׁהֶחְרִים לַכֹּהֲנִים בֵּין שֶׁהֶחֱרִים לְבֶדֶק הַבַּיִת:

3

When a person gives all of his property as a dedication offering or consecrates it, we take everything that he owns, even the tefillin on his head. Needless to say, [this includes] his tools and his clothes,9 for he consecrated or gave as a dedication offering all of his possessions.

ג

וְכָל מִי שֶׁהֶחֱרִים אוֹ הִקְדִּישׁ כָּל נְכָסָיו לוֹקְחִין כָּל מַה שֶּׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ וַאֲפִילוּ תְּפִלִּין שֶׁבְּרֹאשׁוֹ. וְאֵין צָרִיךְ לוֹמַר כְּלֵי אֻמְּנוּתוֹ וּבְגָדָיו שֶׁהַכּל הֶקְדֵּשׁ אוֹ חֵרֶם:

4

What is the difference between dedication offerings designated for priests and those dedicated to Heaven? Dedication offerings to Heaven become consecrated property and must be redeemed for their worth.10 The payment is given for the sake of improvements to the Temple and then the possessions become ordinary property. Dedication offerings designated for the priests, by contrast, can never be redeemed.11 Instead, they are given to the priests like terumah. Concerning dedication offerings designated for the priests, [Leviticus 27:28] states: 'It shall neither be sold,12 nor redeemed,'13 i.e., it shall neither be sold to another person,14 nor redeemed by the owner.

ד

מַה בֵּין חֶרְמֵי כֹּהֲנִים לְחֶרְמֵי שָׁמַיִם. שֶׁחֶרְמֵי שָׁמַיִם הֶקְדֵּשׁ וְנִפְדִּין בְּשָׁוְיֵיהֶן וְיִפְּלוּ הַדָּמִים לְבֶדֶק הַבַּיִת וְיֵצְאוּ הַנְּכָסִים לְחֻלִּין. וְחֶרְמֵי כֹּהֲנִים אֵין לָהֶן פִּדְיוֹן לְעוֹלָם אֶלָּא נִתָּנִין לַכֹּהֲנִים כִּתְרוּמָה. וְעַל חֵרֶם כֹּהֲנִים הוּא אוֹמֵר (ויקרא כז כח) "לֹא יִמָּכֵר וְלֹא יִגָּאֵל". לֹא יִמָּכֵר לְאַחֵר וְלֹא יִגָּאֵל לַבְּעָלִים:

5

Whether a person designates land or movable property as a dedication offering, it is given to a priest15 in the watch16 serving at the time that the dedication offering was designated.

As long as a dedication offering for the priests is in the homes of the owner, it is like consecrated property in all regards,17 as [Leviticus 27:28] states: 'All dedication offerings are consecrated as holy unto God.' Once it is given to the priests, it is considered as ordinary property, as [Numbers 18:14] states: 'All of the dedication offerings from the Jewish people will be yours.'

ה

וְאֶחָד הַמַּחֲרִים קַרְקַע אוֹ מִטַּלְטְלִין הֲרֵי אֵלּוּ נִתָּנִין לַכֹּהֵן שֶׁבְּאוֹתוֹ מִשְׁמָר בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁהֶחֱרִים. חֶרְמֵי כֹּהֲנִים כָּל זְמַן שֶׁהֵן בְּבֵית הַבְּעָלִים הֲרֵי הֵן הֶקְדֵּשׁ לְכָל דִּבְרֵיהֶם. שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ויקרא כז כח) "כָּל חֵרֶם קֹדֶשׁ קָדָשִׁים הוּא לַה'". נְתָנוֹ לַכֹּהֵן הֲרֵי הֵן כְּחֻלִּין לְכָל דִּבְרֵיהֶם. שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (במדבר יח יד) "כָּל חֵרֶם בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל לְךָ יִהְיֶה":

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.

6

If a priest has a field that was a dedication offering [or an ancestral field]18 that he acquired after the Jubilee19 and he designates it as a dedication offering, it is considered as a dedication offering and should be given to his brethren, the priests, as [implied by Leviticus 27:21], 'It will become the priest's, [like his] ancestral property.' This teaches that a field [designated] as a dedication offering that [a priest acquires] is like an ancestral field owned by an Israelite.20 If he designates it as a dedication offering, it becomes sanctified immediately.

ו

כֹּהֵן שֶׁהָיְתָה לוֹ שְׂדֵה חֵרֶם שֶׁזָּכָה בָּהּ אַחַר הַיּוֹבֵל וְהֶחֱרִימָהּ הֲרֵי זוֹ מֻחְרֶמֶת וְיוֹצְאָה לְאֶחָיו הַכֹּהֲנִים. שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ויקרא כז כא) "לַכֹּהֵן תִּהְיֶה אֲחֻזָּתוֹ" מְלַמֵּד שֶׁשְּׂדֵה חֶרְמוֹ לוֹ כִּשְׂדֵה אֲחֻזָּה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁאִם הֶחֱרִימָהּ הִיא מֻחְרֶמֶת מִיָּד:

7

When a priest sells a field that he [had acquired after it was designated as] a dedication offering and then the purchaser consecrates it - even if the purchaser was the original owner who designated it as a dedication offering21 - it is like [the consecration of] acquired property22 and it returns to the priest who sold it in the Jubilee year.23

Land or movable property that belongs to the priests or the Levites,24 by contrast, may not be designated as a dedication offering.25 [The rationale is that] with regard to the fields [granted to them, Leviticus 25:34] states: 'For it is an eternal inheritance for them,'26 and an association is established between movable property and land with regard to dedication offerings, as [Leviticus 27:28] states: 'from anything he owns... and from his ancestral field."

ז

מָכַר הַכֹּהֵן שְׂדֵה חֶרְמוֹ וְהִקְדִּישָׁהּ לוֹקֵחַ אֲפִלּוּ הָיָה הַלּוֹקֵחַ הַבְּעָלִים הָרִאשׁוֹנִים שֶׁהֶחֱרִימוּהָ הֲרֵי זוֹ כִּשְׂדֵה מִקְנָה וְחוֹזֶרֶת לַכֹּהֵן שֶׁמְּכָרָהּ בַּיּוֹבֵל. אֲבָל קַרְקַע אוֹ מִטַּלְטְלִין שֶׁל כֹּהֲנִים וּלְוִיִּם אֵינָם מַחְרִימִין אוֹתָן שֶׁהֲרֵי אוֹמֵר בְּשָׂדֶה (ויקרא כה לד) "כִּי אֲחֻזַּת עוֹלָם הוּא לָכֶם". וּמִטַּלְטְלִין הֻקְּשׁוּ לְקַרְקָעוֹת בַּחֲרָמִין שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (גמרא ערכין כח א) "מִכָּל אֲשֶׁר לוֹ וּמִשְּׂדֵה אֲחֻזָּתוֹ":

8

When a person consecrates [animals that] had been consecrated [to be offered] on the altar for the sake of improvements to the Temple, the [second] consecration is of consequence.27 The animal should be evaluated and redeemed and its worth given for the sake of improvements to the Temple. [Afterwards,] it should be offered for the purpose for which it was originally consecrated.28

When, however, a person consecrates [animals that] had been consecrated for the sake of improvements to the Temple [with the intent that they be offered] on the altar, saying: 'This is a burnt offering,' or '...a peace offering,' or he designates them as a dedication offering to the priests, his act is of no consequence.29 For [animals that] had been consecrated for the sake of improvements to the Temple cannot be consecrated [to be offered] on the altar or designated as dedication offerings, because a person cannot consecrate an entity that does not belong to him.30

ח

הַמַּקְדִּישׁ קָדְשֵׁי מִזְבֵּחַ לְבֶדֶק הַבַּיִת הֲרֵי הַהֶקְדֵּשׁ חָל עֲלֵיהֶן וְתֵעָרֵךְ הַבְּהֵמָה וְתִפָּדֶה וְיִפְּלוּ דָּמֶיהָ לְבֶדֶק הַבַּיִת וְהַבְּהֵמָה תִּקָּרֵב לְמַה שֶּׁהָיְתָה בַּתְּחִלָּה. אֲבָל הַמַּקְדִּישׁ קָדְשֵׁי בֶּדֶק הַבַּיִת לַמִּזְבֵּחַ וְאָמַר הֲרֵי זֶה עוֹלָה אוֹ שְׁלָמִים אוֹ הֶחֱרִימָם לַכֹּהֲנִים לֹא עָשָׂה כְּלוּם וְאֵין הֶקְדֵּשׁ מִזְבֵּחַ וְלֹא הַחֵרֶם חָל עַל קָדְשֵׁי בֶּדֶק הַבַּיִת שֶׁאֵין אָדָם מַקְדִּישׁ דָּבָר שֶׁאֵינוֹ שֶׁלּוֹ:

9

When a person says: 'This ox will be consecrated31 after 30 days' and slaughters it within the 30 days, it is permitted to benefit from it.32 If he consecrated it to the altar, it is consecrated to the altar.33

If, by contrast, he says: "This animal is consecrated immediately after 30 days,"34 and he slaughters it within those 30 days, it is forbidden to benefit from it.35 If he consecrated it to the altar within the 30 days, the consecration does not take effect.36

ט

הָאוֹמֵר שׁוֹר זֶה הֶקְדֵּשׁ לְאַחַר שְׁלֹשִׁים יוֹם וּשְׁחָטוֹ בְּתוֹךְ שְׁלֹשִׁים יוֹם הֲרֵי זֶה מֻתָּר בַּהֲנָאָה. הִקְדִּישׁוֹ לַמִּזְבֵּחַ הֲרֵי זֶה הֶקְדֵּשׁ לַמִּזְבֵּחַ. אֲבָל אִם אָמַר הֲרֵי זֶה הֶקְדֵּשׁ מֵעַכְשָׁו לְאַחַר שְׁלֹשִׁים יוֹם וּשְׁחָטוֹ בְּתוֹךְ שְׁלֹשִׁים יוֹם הֲרֵי זֶה אָסוּר בַּהֲנָאָה. וְאִם הִקְדִּישׁוֹ בְּתוֹךְ הַשְּׁלֹשִׁים לַמִּזְבֵּחַ אֵינוֹ מֻקְדָּשׁ:

10

When a person consecrates [an animal designated as] a burnt offering for the sake of improvements to the Temple, only [its evaluation by] the Temple treasurers holds back [its slaughter].37 According to Rabbinic decree, however, it should not be slaughtered until it is redeemed.38 Therefore,39 if he transgressed and slaughtered it [before it was redeemed], it is acceptable.40

י

הַמַּקְדִּישׁ עוֹלָה לְבֶדֶק הַבַּיִת אֵין בָּהּ אֶלָּא עִכּוּב גִּזְבָּרִין בִּלְבַד. וּמִדִּבְרֵי סוֹפְרִים שֶׁלֹּא תִּשָּׁחֵט עַד שֶׁתִּפָּדֶה. לְפִיכָךְ אִם עָבַר וּשְׁחָטָהּ הֲרֵי זוֹ כְּשֵׁרָה:

11

A person may designate [animals consecrated as] sacrifices of the highest degree of sanctity41 or as sacrifices of a lesser degree of sanctity42 as dedication offerings - both as those set aside for the priests or for improvements to the Temple. If he was liable to replace these sacrifices,43 he must pay their value44 whether to the priests or for the sake of improvements to the Temple. After they are redeemed, he should then offer the sacrifices for their original purposes.

יא

מַחֲרִים אָדָם בֵּין קָדְשֵׁי קָדָשִׁים בֵּין קָדָשִׁים קַלִּים בֵּין חֶרְמֵי כֹּהֲנִים בֵּין חֶרְמֵי בֶּדֶק הַבַּיִת. וְאִם הָיוּ קָדָשִׁים שֶׁהוּא חַיָּב בְּאַחֲרָיוּתָן נוֹתֵן אֶת דְּמֵיהֶן בֵּין לַכֹּהֲנִים בֵּין לְבֶדֶק הַבַּיִת וְיִקָּרְבוּ אוֹתָן הַקָּדָשִׁים אַחַר שֶׁיִּפָּדוּ לְמַה שֶּׁהֵן:

12

What is the redemption process [when a person] vowed [to bring a particular animal as a sacrifice]45 and then designated it as a dedication offering?46 We evaluate how much a person would be willing to give for the right of sacrificing this animal as a burnt offering even though he is not liable to do so.47 Whoever gives this amount48 may offer this animal [for the sacrifice] for which it was originally pledged.

יב

הָיוּ נְדָבָה וְהֶחֱרִימָן כֵּיצַד פּוֹדִין אוֹתָן. אוֹמְדִים כַּמָּה אָדָם רוֹצֶה לִתֵּן בִּבְהֵמָה זוֹ לְהַעֲלוֹתָהּ עוֹלָה שֶׁאֵינוֹ חַיָּב בָּהּ. וְכָל הַנּוֹתֵן אוֹתוֹ שִׁעוּר יַקְרִיב בְּהֵמָה זוֹ נְדָבָה כְּמוֹ שֶׁהָיְתָה:

13

When an Israelite designates a firstborn animal - whether unblemished or blemished49 - as a dedication offering for the sake of heaven, the designation takes effect.50 Needless to say, if the priest designates it as a dedication offering for the sake of heaven after it enters his domain, [the designation takes effect].51

יג

יִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁהֶחְרִים אֶת בְּכוֹר בְּהֵמָה לַשָּׁמַיִם בֵּין שֶׁהָיָה תָמִים בֵּין שֶׁהָיָה בַּעַל מוּם הֲרֵי זֶה מֻחְרָם. וְאֵין צָרִיךְ לוֹמַר שֶׁהֶחְרִימוֹ הַכֹּהֵן לַשָּׁמַיִם אַחַר שֶׁבָּא לְיָדוֹ:

14

How is it to be redeemed? We evaluate how much a person would be willing to give for the right for this firstborn to be his so that he will have the right to give it to whichever priest he desires, to his relative or his friend. Whoever gives this amount52 may take the firstborn and give it to whichever priest he desires. The money is given for the sake of improvements to the Temple.

יד

וְכֵיצַד פּוֹדִין אוֹתָן. אוֹמְדִין כַּמָּה אָדָם רוֹצֶה לִתֵּן בִּבְכוֹר זֶה כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּהְיֶה לוֹ וְתִהְיֶה הָרְשׁוּת בְּיָדוֹ לִתְּנוֹ לְכָל כֹּהֵן שֶׁיִּרְצֶה לִקְרוֹבוֹ אוֹ לְרֵעוֹ. וְכָל הַנּוֹתֵן אוֹתוֹ שִׁעוּר יִקַּח הַבְּכוֹר וְיִתְּנֶנּוּ לְכָל כֹּהֵן שֶׁיִּרְצֶה וְיִפְּלוּ הַדָּמִים לְבֶדֶק הַבַּיִת:

15

When a person designates an animal selected as a tithe offering53 as a dedication offering, it is as if he designated an animal pledged to be sacrificed as a peace offering.54 [The rationale is that] he is not liable to replace it.55

טו

הַמַּחֲרִים אֶת הַמַּעֲשֵׂר הֲרֵי זֶה כְּמַחֲרִים שַׁלְמֵי נְדָבָה לְפִי שֶׁאֵינוֹ חַיָּב בְּאַחֲרָיוּתוֹ:

16

When a person consecrates his [half-]shekel56 for the sake of improvements to the Temple, the consecration is binding.57 If one consecrates bikkurim58 for the sake of improvements to the Temple, the consecration does not take effect.59 If, however, the priest [to whom the bikkurim are given] consecrates them after they enter his domain, the consecration is binding.60

טז

הַמַּקְדִּישׁ שִׁקְלוֹ לְבֶדֶק הַבַּיִת הֲרֵי זֶה קֹדֶשׁ. הִקְדִּישׁ בִּכּוּרִים לְבֶדֶק הַבַּיִת אֵינָן קֹדֶשׁ. אֲבָל אִם הִקְדִּישָׁן הַכֹּהֵן אַחַר שֶׁבָּאוּ לְיָדוֹ הֲרֵי אֵלּוּ קֹדֶשׁ:

17

When a person designates half of his servant or half of his maid-servant as a dedication offering, he and the priests are joint owners.61 If, however, he consecrates half his servant and designates half his servant as a dedication offering to Heaven, he is consecrated entirely, as we explained.62 Whenever one consecrates his Canaanite servant or maid-servant or consecrates all of his property and he owns servants, their physical person becomes consecrated Therefore it is forbidden to benefit from them63 until they are redeemed.64

יז

הַמַּחֲרִים חֲצִי עַבְדּוֹ וְשִׁפְחָתוֹ הוּא וְהַכֹּהֲנִים שֻׁתָּפִין בּוֹ. אֲבָל אִם הִקְדִּישׁ אוֹ הֶחֱרִים לַשָּׁמַיִם חֲצִי עַבְדּוֹ כֻּלּוֹ קֹדֶשׁ כְּמוֹ שֶׁבֵּאַרְנוּ. וְכָל הַמַּקְדִּישׁ עַבְדּוֹ וְשִׁפְחָתוֹ הַכְּנַעֲנִים אוֹ הַמַּקְדִּישׁ כָּל נְכָסָיו וְהָיוּ בָּהֶן עֲבָדִים הֲרֵי גּוּפָן קֹדֶשׁ לְפִיכָךְ אֲסוּרִים לֵהָנוֹת בָּהֶן עַד שֶׁיִּפָּדוּ:

18

The Temple treasurers may not take the worth [of the servants] from other people and free them.65 Instead, they sell them to others66 and those others free them if they desire.

יח

וְאֵין הַגִּזְבָּרִין רַשָּׁאִין לִקַּח דְּמֵיהֶן מֵאֲחֵרִים וּלְהוֹצִיא אוֹתָן לְחֵרוּת אֶלָּא מוֹכְרִין אוֹתָן לַאֲחֵרִים וַאֲחֵרִים מוֹצִיאִין אוֹתָן לְחֵרוּת אִם רָצוּ:

19

When one consecrates his servant's hands,67 anything he earns beyond what is required for his sustenance is consecrated.68

How should this servant sustain himself? He should borrow the money [required for his sustenance], work, and repay the debt. [This is allowed] provided he always works for less than a p'rutah and pays it. For if he earned an entire p'rutah, it would be acquired by the Temple treasury as soon as he earned it.69

יט

הַמַּקְדִּישׁ יְדֵי עַבְדּוֹ כָּל הַיֶּתֶר עַל פַּרְנָסָתוֹ קֹדֶשׁ. וְכֵיצַד הוּא מִתְפַּרְנֵס עֶבֶד זֶה. לוֹוֶה וְאוֹכֵל וְעוֹשֶׂה וּפוֹרֵעַ. וְהוּא שֶׁיַּעֲשֶׂה פָּחוֹת פָּחוֹת מִשְּׁוֵה פְּרוּטָה וְיִפְרַע. שֶׁאִם עָשָׂה בִּפְרוּטָה רִאשׁוֹן רִאשׁוֹן קָנָה הֶקְדֵּשׁ:

20

When a person consecrates himself, he consecrated only his worth.70 He is obligated to give [that amount to the Temple treasury]. He may earn money and [use it for] his sustenance, for his physical person did not become consecrated as that of a servant does.71

כ

הַמַּקְדִּישׁ אֶת עַצְמוֹ לֹא הִקְדִּישׁ אֶלָּא דָּמָיו וַהֲרֵי הוּא חַיָּב בִּדְמֵי עַצְמוֹ. וּמֻתָּר לוֹ לַעֲשׂוֹת וְלֶאֱכל שֶׁהֲרֵי לֹא נִתְקַדֵּשׁ גּוּפוֹ כְּעֶבֶד:

21

A person cannot consecrate an entity that does not belong to him.72

What is implied? If he designates his son, his daughter, his Hebrew servant, or Hebrew maid-servant, or a field he acquired as a dedication offering, they do not become dedication offerings. For a person cannot consecrate an entity when its physical person or substance is not his.73

כא

אֵין אָדָם מַקְדִּישׁ דָּבָר שֶׁאֵינוֹ שֶׁלּוֹ. כֵּיצַד. כְּגוֹן שֶׁהֶחְרִים בְּנוֹ וּבִתּוֹ וְעַבְדּוֹ וְשִׁפְחָתוֹ הָעִבְרִים אוֹ שְׂדֵה מִקְנָתוֹ הֲרֵי אֵלּוּ אֵינָן מֻחְרָמִין. שֶׁאֵין אָדָם מַקְדִּישׁ דָּבָר שֶׁאֵין גּוּפוֹ שֶׁלּוֹ:

22

A person may not consecrate an entity that is not in his domain.

What is implied? A person entrusted an article to a colleague and the latter denied possession of it, the owners cannot consecrate it.74 If, however, [the watchman] did not deny possession of it, it is considered in its owner's domain, no matter where it is located.75

כב

אֵין אָדָם מַקְדִּישׁ דָּבָר שֶׁאֵינוֹ בִּרְשׁוּתוֹ. כֵּיצַד. הָיָה לוֹ פִּקָּדוֹן בְּיַד אַחֵר וְכָפַר בּוֹ זֶה שֶׁהוּא אֶצְלוֹ אֵין הַבְּעָלִים יְכוֹלִין לְהַקְדִּישׁוֹ. אֲבָל אִם לֹא כָּפַר בּוֹ הֲרֵי הוּא בִּרְשׁוּת בְּעָלָיו בְּכָל מָקוֹם שֶׁהוּא:

23

When does the above apply? With regard to movable property. [Different rules apply] to landed property that was stolen and [the thief] denied [having taken it].76 If [the original owner] could have the land expropriated through legal process,77 he has the right to consecrate it even though he has not yet expropriated it. For the land itself is always considered in the domain of its [legitimate] owners.78

כג

בַּמֶּה דְּבָרִים אֲמוּרִים בְּמִטַּלְטְלִין. אֲבָל קַרְקַע שֶׁגְּזָלָהּ אַחֵר וְכָפַר בָּהּ אִם יָכוֹל לְהוֹצִיאָהּ בְּדַיָּנִין הֲרֵי זֶה יָכוֹל לְהַקְדִּישָׁהּ וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁעֲדַיִן לֹא הוֹצִיאָהּ שֶׁהַקַּרְקַע עַצְמָהּ הֲרֵי הִיא בִּרְשׁוּת בְּעָלֶיהָ:

24

When a person steals from his colleague and the [original] owner does not despair [of recovery],79 neither of them can consecrate it. [The robber cannot,] because the article does not belong to him and [the owner cannot,] because it is not in his possession. Similar laws apply in all analogous situations.

כד

הַגּוֹזֵל אֶת חֲבֵרוֹ וְלֹא נִתְיָאֲשׁוּ הַבְּעָלִים שְׁנֵיהֶם אֵינָן יְכוֹלִין לְהַקְדִּישׁ. זֶה לְפִי שֶׁאֵינוֹ שֶׁלּוֹ וְזֶה לְפִי שֶׁאֵינוֹ בִּרְשׁוּתוֹ. וְכֵן כָּל כַּיּוֹצֵא בָּזֶה:

25

[The following laws apply when] a person was selling squash, eggs, or the like and a [prospective] purchaser comes, takes one, and then departs. If the price of each particular article is fixed, it is as if a price was established,80 and the seller cannot consecrate this squash, for it is not in his domain.81 If the price is not fixed and he consecrated it, it is consecrated, because it is still in his domain,82 for [the prospective purchaser] did not take it with the intent to steal it.

כה

מִי שֶׁהָיָה מוֹכֵר דְּלוּעִין אוֹ בֵּיצִים וְכַיּוֹצֵא בָּהֶן וּבָא לוֹקֵחַ וְנָטַל אַחַת וְהָלַךְ לוֹ. אִם הָיוּ דְּמֵי כָּל אַחַת וְאַחַת קְצוּבִין הֲרֵי זֶה כְּמִי שֶׁפָּסַק. וְאֵין הַמּוֹכֵר יָכוֹל לְהַקְדִּישׁ דְּלַעַת זוֹ שֶׁהֲרֵי אֵינָהּ בִּרְשׁוּתוֹ. וְאִם אֵין הַדָּמִים קְצוּבִין וְהִקְדִּישָׁהּ מְקֻדֶּשֶׁת שֶׁעֲדַיִן בִּרְשׁוּתוֹ הִיא שֶׁזֶּה שֶׁלְּקָחָהּ לֹא לְקָחָהּ דֶּרֶךְ גְּזֵלָה. וְכֵן כָּל כַּיּוֹצֵא בָּזֶה:

26

A person cannot consecrate an article that has not yet come into existence.83

What is implied? [If a person says:] "What my net will bring up from the sea is consecrated" or "The fruit my field will produce is designated as a dedication offering," his words are of no consequence.

כו

אֵין אָדָם מַקְדִּישׁ דָּבָר שֶׁלֹּא בָּא לָעוֹלָם. כֵּיצַד. מַה שֶּׁתַּעֲלֶה מְצוּדָתִי מִן הַיָּם קֹדֶשׁ. מַה שֶּׁתּוֹצִיא שָׂדֶה זוֹ מִן הַפֵּרוֹת חֵרֶם. לֹא אָמַר כְּלוּם:

27

When a person tells a colleague: "When I repurchase this field which I sold you,84 it is consecrated," [although] he repurchases it, it is not consecrated. [The rationale is] that it was not in his possession when he consecrated it. 85

כז

הָאוֹמֵר לַחֲבֵרוֹ שָׂדֶה זוֹ שֶׁמָּכַרְתִּי לְךָ לִכְשֶׁאֶקָּחֶנָּה מִמְּךָ מְקֻדֶּשֶׁת וּלְקָחָהּ אֵינָהּ מְקֻדֶּשֶׁת. לְפִי שֶׁכְּשֶׁהִקְדִּישָׁהּ לֹא בָּאָה בִּרְשׁוּתוֹ:

28

Similarly, when a person consecrates the work to be produced by his wife's hands, she may work and partake [of her earnings]. The remainder is not consecrated.86 If he tells her: "May your hands be consecrated to their Maker," since they are under lien to him,87 [the profits of] all of the work that she produces are consecrated. To what can this be compared? To one who says: "This tree is consecrated," in which instance all the fruit it produces is consecrated.88 Similar laws apply in all analogous situations.

כח

וְכֵן הַמַּקְדִּישׁ מַעֲשֵׂה יְדֵי אִשְׁתּוֹ הֲרֵי זוֹ עוֹשָׂה וְאוֹכֶלֶת וְהַמּוֹתָר חֻלִּין. אָמַר לָהּ יִקְדְּשׁוּ יָדַיִךְ לְעוֹשֵׂיהֶן הוֹאִיל וְהֵן מְשֻׁעְבָּדִין לוֹ הֲרֵי כָּל מַעֲשֵׂה יָדֶיהָ קֹדֶשׁ. הָא לְמָה זֶה דּוֹמֶה לְאוֹמֵר אִילָן זֶה קֹדֶשׁ שֶׁכָּל פֵּרוֹת שֶׁיַּעֲשֶׂה לְהַבָּא קֹדֶשׁ. וְכֵן כָּל כַּיּוֹצֵא בָּזֶה:

29

When a person tells a colleague: "The field that I will sell you89 will be consecrated when I buy it back from you," the consecration takes effect when he buys it back.90 [The rationale is that] it is in his possession [originally] and he has the possibility of consecrating it.91

[If one tells a colleague:] "The field that I entrusted to you as security92 will be consecrated when I redeem it from you," the field becomes consecrated when he redeems it. [The rationale is that] he has the potential to redeem it.93 [The consecration is effective] even if it was given as a security for a fixed time,94 because he has the potential to redeem it after that time.

כט

הָאוֹמֵר לַחֲבֵרוֹ שָׂדֶה זוֹ שֶׁאֲנִי מוֹכֵר לְךָ לִכְשֶׁאֶקָּחֶנָּה מִמְּךָ תִּתְקַדֵּשׁ הֲרֵי זוֹ מְקֻדֶּשֶׁת כְּשֶׁיִּקָּחֶנָּה שֶׁהֲרֵי עַתָּה (בָּא) בְּיָדוֹ לְהַקְדִּישָׁהּ. שָׂדֶה זוֹ שֶׁמִּשְׁכַּנְתִּי לְךָ לִכְשֶׁאֶפְדֶּנָּה מִמְּךָ תְּהִי קֹדֶשׁ. מִשֶּׁיִּפְדֶּה אוֹתָהּ תִּתְקַדֵּשׁ שֶׁהֲרֵי בְּיָדוֹ לִפְדּוֹתָהּ. וַאֲפִלּוּ הָיְתָה מְמֻשְׁכֶּנֶת לִזְמַן קָצוּב שֶׁהֲרֵי בְּיָדוֹ לִפְדּוֹתָהּ אַחַר הַזְּמַן:

30

[Although a person] rents out a house to a colleague, if he retracts and consecrates it, the consecration is effective and the rental arrangement is terminated.95 If the tenant dwells there, he violates the prohibition against misappropriating sacred property.96

ל

הַמַּשְׂכִּיר בַּיִת לַחֲבֵרוֹ וְחָזַר וְהִקְדִּישׁוֹ הֲרֵי זֶה קֹדֶשׁ וּפָקְעָה הַשְּׂכִירוּת. וְאִם דָּר בּוֹ הַשּׂוֹכֵר מָעַל:

31

It appears to me97 that even though a person cannot consecrate an entity that has not come into being, if he says: "I pledge to consecrate it," he is obligated to consecrate it when it will come into being to [fulfill] his vow. If he does not consecrate it, he transgresses [the prohibitions]: "Do not delay in paying it" and "He shall not desecrate his word" and [fails to fulfill the positive commandment:] "He shall act in accordance with all that he uttered with his mouth" as is true with regard to all other vows.98

לא

יֵרָאֶה לִי שֶׁאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאֵין אָדָם מַקְדִּישׁ דָּבָר שֶׁלֹּא בָּא לָעוֹלָם אִם אָמַר הֲרֵי עָלַי לְהַקְדִּישׁוֹ הֲרֵי זֶה חַיָּב לְהַקְדִּישׁוֹ כְּשֶׁיָּבוֹא לָעוֹלָם מִשּׁוּם נִדְרוֹ. וְאִם לֹא הִקְדִּישׁ הֲרֵי זֶה עוֹבֵר מִשּׁוּם (דברים כג כב) "בַּל תְּאַחֵר" וְ(במדבר ל ג) "לֹא יַחֵל דְּבָרוֹ" וּמִשּׁוּם (במדבר ל ג) "כְּכָל הַיֹּצֵא מִפִּיו יַעֲשֶׂה" כִּשְׁאָר הַנְּדָרִים:

32

What is implied? [When a person] says: "I pledge to consecrate everything that my net will bring up from the sea," "I pledge to give the fruit produced by this field to the poor," "I pledge to designate as a dedication offering - or give for the sake of captives - all of my earnings of this year," or makes any statement of this like, he is obligated to give and/or perform what he pledged when the article comes into his possession. For these and all similar statements are vows, not acts of consecration.99

לב

כֵּיצַד. הָאוֹמֵר הֲרֵי עָלַי לְהַקְדִּישׁ כָּל שֶׁתַּעֲלֶה מְצוּדָתִי מִן הַיָּם. הֲרֵי עָלַי לִתֵּן לַעֲנִיִּים פֵּרוֹת שֶׁתּוֹצִיא שָׂדֶה זוֹ. הֲרֵי עָלַי לְהַחֲרִים אוֹ לִתֵּן לִשְׁבוּיִם כָּל שֶׁאֶשְׂתַּכֵּר בְּשָׁנָה זוֹ. וְכָל כַּיּוֹצֵא בְּמַאֲמָרִים אֵלּוּ הֲרֵי זֶה חַיָּב לִתֵּן וְלַעֲשׂוֹת בָּהֶן מַה שֶּׁאָמַר כְּשֶׁיָּבוֹאוּ לְיָדוֹ. וְזֶה וְכַיּוֹצֵא בּוֹ בִּכְלַל נְדָרִים הוּא לֹא בִּכְלַל הֶקְדֵּשׁוֹת:

33

Support for this can be drawn from the statements of Jacob our Patriarch [Genesis 28:22]:100 "And everything that You will give me, I will tithe." And [later, ibid. 31:13]101 states: "Where you took a vow."102 And103 when a person says: "I will not depart from this world until I become a nazirite," he is obligated to observe a nazirite vow104 although he did not actually take such a vow. Since he said that he would take a nazirite vow, he is obligated to observe those restrictions. This law parallels that. It is appropriate to rule in this manner.

לג

רְאָיָה לְדָבָר זֶה מַה שֶּׁאָמַר יַעֲקֹב אָבִינוּ (בראשית כח כב) "וְכל אֲשֶׁר תִּתֶּן לִי עַשֵּׂר אֲעַשְּׂרֶנּוּ לָךְ" וְנֶאֱמַר (בראשית לא יג) "אֲשֶׁר נָדַרְתָּ לִּי שָׁם נֶדֶר". וַהֲרֵי הָאוֹמֵר לֹא אֶפָּטֵר מִן הָעוֹלָם עַד שֶׁאֶהֱיֶה נָזִיר חַיָּב לִנְהֹג בִּנְזִירוּת וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁעֲדַיִן לֹא נָדַר בְּנָזִיר. הוֹאִיל וְאָמַר שֶׁיִּדֹּר בְּנָזִיר חַיָּב לְהִנָּזֵר. וְזֶה כַּיּוֹצֵא בּוֹ וְכָזֶה רָאוּי לָדוּן:

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A consecration that is made in error is not binding.105

What is implied? If one says: "When a black ox will go out of the building first, it will be consecrated," should a white ox go out [first], it is not consecrated.106 [If he says:] "When a gold dinar comes into my hand first, it is consecrated," should a silver [dinar] come up, it is not consecrated. [If he says:] "When a barrel of wine comes into my hand first, it is consecrated," should a barrel of oil come up, it is not consecrated. [This applies] whether wine is more expensive than oil107 in that place or oil is more expensive than wine.108

If he attempts to extend the consecration to a second entity, saying: "[The status of] this is the same as [that of] the other," the second is consecrated.109 Similar laws apply in all analogous situations.

לד

הֶקְדֵּשׁ טָעוּת אֵינוֹ הֶקְדֵּשׁ. כֵּיצַד. הָאוֹמֵר שׁוֹר שָׁחוֹר שֶׁיֵּצֵא מִבַּיִת רִאשׁוֹן הֲרֵי הוּא הֶקְדֵּשׁ וְיָצָא לָבָן אֵינוֹ הֶקְדֵּשׁ. דִּינָר זָהָב שֶׁיַּעֲלֶה בְּיָדִי רִאשׁוֹן הֲרֵי הוּא הֶקְדֵּשׁ וְעָלָה שֶׁל כֶּסֶף אֵינוֹ הֶקְדֵּשׁ. חָבִית שֶׁל יַיִן שֶׁתַּעֲלֶה בְּיָדִי רִאשׁוֹנָה הֶקְדֵּשׁ וְעָלָה שֶׁל שֶׁמֶן בֵּין שֶׁהַיַּיִן יָקָר מִן הַשֶּׁמֶן בְּאוֹתוֹ מָקוֹם אוֹ הַשֶּׁמֶן יָקָר מִן הַיַּיִן אֵינוֹ הֶקְדֵּשׁ. הִתְפִּיס בָּהּ אַחֶרֶת וְאָמַר זוֹ כָּזוֹ הֲרֵי הַשְּׁנִיָּה הֶקְדֵּשׁ. וְכֵן כָּל כַּיּוֹצֵא בָּזֶה: