Chapter 6

אכְּשֵׁם שֶׁמִּצְוָה לִהְיוֹת כָּל קָרְבָּן תָּמִים וְנִבְחָר כָּךְ הַנְּסָכִין יִהְיוּ תְּמִימִים וְנִבְחָרִים שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (במדבר כ״ח:ל״א) "תְּמִימִם יִהְיוּ לָכֶם וְנִסְכֵּיהֶם" שֶׁיִּהְיוּ הַנְּסָכִים תְּמִימִים שֶׁלֹּא יָבִיא נְסָכִים לֹא מִיַּיִן מְעֵשָּׁן וְלֹא סלֶת שֶׁהִתְלִיעָה וְלֹא יִבְלל בְּשֶׁמֶן שֶׁרֵיחוֹ אוֹ טַעְמוֹ רַע:

1Just as it is a mitzvah for all the sacrifices to be unblemished and of the highest quality,¹ so too, the accompanying offerings² must be unblemished and of the highest quality, as [Numbers 28:31 states]: "They³ shall be perfect for you, as should be their accompanying offerings." Implied is that the accompanying offerings should also be unblemished. He should not bring wine libations that have been affected by smoke,⁴ nor flour that is worm-infested.⁵ Nor should he mix the flour with oil that is foul-smelling or foul-tasting.⁶

בוְכֵן עֲצֵי הַמַּעֲרָכָה לֹא יִהְיוּ אֶלָּא נִבְחָרִים וְלֹא יִהְיֶה בָּהֶם תּוֹלַעַת. וְכָל עֵץ שֶׁהִתְלִיעַ כְּשֶׁהוּא לַח פָּסוּל לַמִּזְבֵּחַ. הִתְלִיעַ יָבֵשׁ גּוֹרֵר אֶת הַמָּקוֹם שֶׁהִתְלִיעַ. וַעֲצֵי סְתִירָה פְּסוּלִין לְעוֹלָם לֹא יָבִיאוּ אֶלָּא חֲדָשִׁים:

2Similarly, the wood for the arrangement [of the altar] should only be of the highest quality. They should not be worm-infested.⁷ Any tree that is worm-infested when it is fresh is unacceptable for the altar.⁸ If it became worm-infested after it dried out, one should scrape away the place that became worm-infested. Wood that comes from [a building that was] torn down is invalid. One should use only new wood.⁹

גהַמַּקְדִּישׁ יַיִן פָּסוּל אוֹ סלֶת אוֹ שֶׁמֶן פָּסוּל אוֹ עֵצִים פְּסוּלִים לַמִּזְבֵּחַ הֲרֵי הַדָּבָר סָפֵק אִם דּוֹמִים לְבַעַל מוּם כִּבְהֵמָה וְלוֹקֶה אוֹ אֵינָן כְּבַעַל מוּם לְפִיכָךְ אֵינוֹ לוֹקֶה וּמַכִּין אוֹתוֹ מַכַּת מַרְדּוּת:

3There is an unresolved doubt when one consecrates invalid wine, flour, oil, or wood to the altar: Are they considered like a blemished animal in which instance, he would be liable for lashes¹⁰ or do they not resemble a blemished animal? Hence, he is not liable for lashes. He is, however, given stripes for rebellious conduct.¹¹

דהַסּלֶת וְהַיַּיִן וְהַשֶּׁמֶן וְהַלְּבוֹנָה וְהָעוֹפוֹת וְהָעֵצִים וּכְלֵי שָׁרֵת שֶׁנִּפְסְלוּ אוֹ שֶׁנִּטְמְאוּ אֵין פּוֹדִין אוֹתָן שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ויקרא כז-יא) "וְהֶעֱמִיד" (ויקרא כז-יב) "וְהֶעֱרִיךְ". כָּל שֶׁיֶּשְׁנוֹ בְּהַעֲמָדָה נֶעֱרָךְ וְאֵלּוּ אֵינָן בִּכְלַל הַעֲמָדָה. לְפִיכָךְ אֵין נִפְדִּין לְעוֹלָם:

4Fine flour, wine, oil, frankincense, fowl, wood, and sacred utensils that became invalid or impure should not be redeemed, as [can be inferred from Leviticus 27:11-12]: "He shall cause it to stand [before the priest]" and "have it evaluated." Whatever can be caused to stand [before a priest] can be evaluated. These cannot be caused to stand [before a priest]. Therefore they are never redeemed.¹²

הבַּמֶּה דְּבָרִים אֲמוּרִים בְּשֶׁנִּפְסְלוּ אוֹ שֶׁנִּטְמְאוּ אַחַר שֶׁנִּתְקַדְּשׁוּ בִּכְלִי שָׁרֵת. אֲבָל קֹדֶם שֶׁיִּתְקַדְּשׁוּ בִּכְלִי אִם נִטְמְאוּ אוֹ נִפְסְלוּ פּוֹדִין אוֹתָן. אֲבָל טְהוֹרִין אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁעֲדַיִן לֹא קָדְשׁוּ בִּכְלִי אֵין פּוֹדִין אוֹתָן חוּץ מִמִּנְחַת חוֹטֵא שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בָּהּ (ויקרא ה-י) "מֵחַטָּאתוֹ" (ויקרא ה-יג) "עַל חַטָּאתוֹ" לוֹמַר שֶׁמֵּבִיא חַטָּאתוֹ מִדְּמֵי חַטָּאתוֹ. לְפִיכָךְ קֹדֶם שֶׁתִּתְקַדֵּשׁ בִּכְלִי שָׁרֵת הֲרֵי הִיא כִּקְדֻשַּׁת דָּמִים וּפוֹדִין אוֹתָהּ אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהִיא טְהוֹרָה. וְכָל הַנְּסָכִים שֶׁנִּטְמְאוּ עוֹשֶׂה לָהֶם מַעֲרָכָה בִּפְנֵי עַצְמָן וְשׂוֹרְפָן בַּמִּזְבֵּחַ:

5When does the above apply? When they became¹³ invalidated or impure after they became sanctified in a sacred vessel, but before they have been sanctified in a sacred vessel, they may be redeemed if they become impure or invalid. Pure objects, by contrast, should not be redeemed even if they were not consecrated in a sacred utensil with the exception of the flour brought as a sin-offering. [Concerning which] it is said [Leviticus 5:6] "of his sin-offering" and [ibid.:13] "concerning his sin-offering," as will be explained.¹⁴ [From the juxtaposition of the verses, it is inferred that] one may bring a sin offering from the money of his sin-offering. Therefore before it was consecrated in a sacred utensil it is considered as consecrated for its monetary value and it can be redeemed even though it is ritually pure.
A separate arrangement of wood should be made for all of the accompanying offerings¹⁵ that became impure and they should be burnt on the altar.¹⁶

ומֵי הֶחָג שֶׁנִּטְמְאוּ וְהִשִּׁיקָן וְטִהֲרָן [כְּמוֹ שֶׁיִּתְבָּאֵר בְּטָהֳרוֹת]. אִם טִהֲרָן וְאַחַר כָּךְ הִקְדִּישָׁן הֲרֵי אֵלּוּ מִתְנַסְּכִין. וְאִם הִקְדִּישָׁן וְאַחַר כָּךְ נִטְמְאוּ הוֹאִיל וְנִדְחוּ יִדָּחוּ:

6[The following laws apply with regard to] the water for the libation of Sukkot¹⁷ that became impure and then it was joined [to an acceptable mikveh],¹⁸ as will be explained with regard to [the Laws of] Purity.¹⁹ If he purified it and then consecrated it, it may be used for a libation. If, however, it was consecrated and then became impure, since it was disqualified, it should remain disqualified.²⁰

זזֵיתִים וַעֲנָבִים שֶׁנִּטְמְאוּ דּוֹרְכָן פָּחוֹת מִכַּבֵּיצָה. וְהַמַּשְׁקִין הַיּוֹצְאִין מֵהֶן כְּשֵׁרִים לִנְסָכִים. שֶׁהַמַּשְׁקֶה מֻפְקָד הוּא בָּאֹכֶל וּכְאִלּוּ אֵינוֹ מִגּוּפוֹ:

7When olives and grapes became impure, they should be crushed less than an egg-sized portion²¹ at a time.²² The liquids that emerge from them are acceptable for the accompanying offerings. For these liquids are considered as [distinct and] set aside in the foods and it is as if they are not from their body.²³

חמַעֲלָה יְתֵרָה עָשׂוּ חֲכָמִים בְּקָדָשִׁים שֶׁזְּרָעִים שֶׁנִּטְמְאוּ אֲפִלּוּ זְרָעָן הַיּוֹצֵא מֵהֶן פְּסוּלִין לִנְסָכִים שֶׁאֵין זְרִיעָה מוֹעֶלֶת בְּקָדָשִׁים. וְכֵן הָעֵצִים וְהַלְּבוֹנָה אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאֵינָן אֳכָלִין הֲרֵי הֵן מִתְטַמְּאִין כְּאֹכֶל לְעִנְיַן הַקָּרְבָּנוֹת וְיִפָּסְלוּ הָעֵצִים וְהַלְּבוֹנָה בְּטֻמְאָה זוֹ לַמִּזְבֵּחַ וְאֵין מַקְרִיבִין אוֹתָן:

8Our Sages established an additional safeguard with regard to consecrated objects: When seeds became impure, even if they are sown, [the produce] that grows from them is not acceptable for the accompanying offerings, for sowing produce is not effective [in restoring ritual purity] for consecrated entities.²⁴
Similarly, with regard to wood and frankincense, even though they are inedible, they can become impure like foods with regard to the sacrifices.²⁵ [In such an instance,] the wood and the frankincense become disqualified for the altar because of this impurity and they should not be offered.

טוְאֵלּוּ הֵן הַיֵּינוֹת הַפְּסוּלִין לְגַבֵּי הַמִּזְבֵּחַ. הַמָּתוֹק וְהַמְעֵשָּׁן וְהַמְבֻשָּׁל בְּאֵשׁ אוֹ בַּשֶּׁמֶשׁ אוֹ שֶׁנִּשְׁתַּנָּה טַעְמוֹ בְּבִשּׁוּל. אֲבָל יַיִן שֶׁמְּחַמְּמִין אוֹתוֹ בַּשֶּׁמֶשׁ וְלֹא נָתְנָה בּוֹ טַעַם בִּשּׁוּל. וְכֵן יֵין צִמּוּקִין וְיַיִן מִגִּתּוֹ שֶׁלֹּא שָׁהָה אַרְבָּעִים יוֹם. וְיֵין הַדָּלִיּוֹת וְיֵין כֶּרֶם הַנָּטוּעַ בְּבֵית הַשְּׁלָחִין אוֹ בְּבֵית הַזְּבָלִים. אוֹ יֵין גְּפָנִים שֶׁנִּזְרַע זֶרַע בֵּינֵיהֶן. אוֹ יֵין כֶּרֶם שֶׁלֹּא נֶעֱבַד. כָּל אֵלּוּ הַיֵּינוֹת לֹא יָבִיא לְכַתְּחִלָּה וְאִם הֵבִיא כָּשֵׁר:

9These are the types of wine that are invalid as [libations] for the altar: sweetened wine,²⁶ smoked wine,²⁷ wine cooked over fire or in the sun until its flavor was changed by the cooking. The types of wine [to be listed] should not be brought [as libations] as an initial preference, but if they were brought, they are acceptable. They include: wine which was warmed in the sun,²⁸ but its flavor did not change due to the cooking and similarly, raisin wine, wine from the vat that is less than 40 days old,²⁹ wine from [grapes grown] on trellises, wine from a vineyard in an arid region or in a dungheap, wine from vines in which other produce was sown between them, or wine from a vineyard that was not tilled.³⁰

ייַיִן שֶׁנִּתְגַּלָּה פָּסוּל לְגַבֵּי הַמִּזְבֵּחַ. הִדְלָה גֶפֶן עַל גַּבֵּי תְּאֵנָה יֵינָהּ פָּסוּל לִנְסָכִים מִפְּנֵי שֶׁנִּשְׁתַּנָּה רֵיחוֹ. הֲרֵי הוּא אוֹמֵר (ויקרא כג-לז) "זֶבַח וּנְסָכִים" מָה זֶבַח שֶׁלֹּא נִשְׁתַּנָּה אַף נְסָכִים שֶׁלֹּא נִשְׁתַּנּוּ:

10Wine that was left uncovered³¹ is not acceptable [as libations] for the altar. If one draped a vine over a fig tree, its wine is unacceptable for a libation, for its fragrance has changed and [Leviticus 23:37] states: "Sacrifice and libations," [equating the two]. Just as [the appearance of an animal offered as] a sacrifice may not have changed,³² the wine for libations may not have changed.

יאסלֶת שֶׁהִתְלִיעָה רֻבָּהּ אוֹ הִתְלִיעוּ רֹב הַחִטִּים שֶׁנַּעֲשֵׂית מֵהֶן פְּסוּלָה. הִתְלִיעַ רֹב חִטָּה אַחַת הֲרֵי זֶה סָפֵק. וְכָל סלֶת שֶׁנִּשְׁאַר בָּהּ קֶמַח פְּסוּלָה:

11When the majority of fine flour has become worm-ridden or the majority of the kernels of wheat have become worm-ridden³³ and [flour] was made from them, it is unacceptable. If the majority of one kernel of wheat became worm-ridden, there is an unresolved doubt [with regard to its acceptability]. Whenever flour dust remains in the fine flour,³⁴ it is unacceptable.

יבכֵּיצַד בּוֹדְקִים. מַכְנִיס הַגִּזְבָּר יָדוֹ לְתוֹךְ הַסּלֶת אִם עָלָה בָּהּ אָבָק פְּסוּלָה עַד שֶׁיַּחֲזֹר וִינַפֶּה אוֹתָהּ. אֲבָל סלֶת חִטִּים שֶׁנִּזְרְעוּ בְּבֵית הַשְּׁלָחִין אוֹ בְּבֵית הַזְּבָלִים אוֹ בְּבֵית הָאִילָן אוֹ בְּאֶרֶץ שֶׁלֹּא נָרָהּ וְלֹא עֲבָדָהּ לֹא יָבִיא לְכַתְּחִלָּה וְאִם הֵבִיא כְּשֵׁרָה:

12How is the matter checked? The treasurer inserts his hand into the fine flour. If dust clings to it as he removes it,³⁵ it is unacceptable until he sifts it again.
Fine flour from wheat that grew in an arid land, a dungheap, in an orchard, on land that was not left fallow and tilled should not be brought as an initial preference,³⁶ if it was brought, it is acceptable.

יגחִטִּים שֶׁלְּקָטָן מִגְּלָלֵי הַבָּקָר וּזְרָעָם הֲרֵי אֵלּוּ סָפֵק אִם עָבְרָה מֵאוּסָן בַּזְּרִיעָה אוֹ עֲדַיִן הֵן מְאוּסִין. לְפִיכָךְ לֹא יָבִיא מֵהֶן מְנָחוֹת וְאִם הֵבִיא כָּשֵׁר:

13When wheat kernels were collected from cattle feces and then sown in the ground, there is an unresolved doubt if their disgusting characteristic has departed because they were sown³⁷ or they are still considered as disgusting. Therefore one should not bring meal offerings from [such flour] as an initial preference. If he brought, they are acceptable.

ידוְאֵלּוּ הֵן הַשְּׁמָנִים הַפְּסוּלִין. שֶׁמֶן שֶׁל גַּרְגְּרִים שֶׁנִּשְׁרוּ בְּמַיִם אוֹ שֶׁל זֵיתִים כְּבוּשִׁין אוֹ שְׁלוּקִים אוֹ שֶׁמֶן שֶׁל שְׁמָרִים אוֹ שֶׁמֶן שֶׁרֵיחוֹ רַע כָּל אֵלּוּ פְּסוּלִין. אֲבָל שֶׁמֶן זַיִת שֶׁנְּטָעוֹ בְּבֵית הַזְּבָלִים אוֹ בְּבֵית הַשְּׁלָחִין אוֹ שֶׁנִּזְרַע זֶרַע בֵּינֵיהֶן. אוֹ שֶׁמֶן שֶׁהוֹצִיאוֹ מִזֵּיתִים שֶׁלֹּא בָּשְׁלוּ אֶלָּא עֲדַיִן הֵם פַּגִּין כָּל אֵלּוּ לֹא יָבִיא. וְאִם הֵבִיא כָּשֵׁר:

14These are the oils which are unacceptable: oil from olives soaked in water or of pickled³⁸ or cooked olives, oil from olive dregs, or foul-smelling oil. All of these are unacceptable. In contrast, oil from olives that were planted in a dungheap, in an arid region, which had another crop sown between them, or oil that was produced from olives that have not ripened and are still immature³⁹ should not be brought as an initial preference, but if it was brought, it is acceptable.

טוכָּל הַמְּנָחוֹת וְהַנְּסָכִים כְּשֵׁרִים מֵהָאָרֶץ וּמִחוּצָה לָאָרֶץ מִן הֶחָדָשׁ וּמִן הַיָּשָׁן וּבִלְבַד שֶׁיָּבִיאוּ מִן הַמֻּבְחָר. חוּץ מִן הָעֹמֶר וּשְׁתֵּי הַלֶּחֶם שֶׁאֵינָן בָּאִין אֶלָּא מִן הֶחָדָשׁ וּמֵאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל:

15All of the meal offerings and libations⁴⁰ are acceptable whether from [produce grown in] Eretz [Yisrael] or from [produce grown in] the Diaspora. They are acceptable from fresh grain⁴¹ or grain from the previous years, provided it is of optimum quality. The only exceptions are the omer offering⁴² and the two loaves [brought on Shavuot]. They must be brought from fresh grain and from Eretz Yisrael.⁴³

Sefaria: Torat Emet 363 · Public domain · sefaria.org

Sefaria: Mishneh Torah, trans. by Eliyahu Touger. Jerusalem, Moznaim Pub. c1986-c2007 · CC BY-NC · sefaria.org