Pisqa’ 147¹

1

“Do not slaughter for HASHEM your God an ox or a sheep” (Dt.17:1).

R. Judah says:

Is it possible to say that

one who takes the life of

a Purification-offering in the southern quadrant

[of the Courtyard, instead of to the north of the Altar]

has transgressed a proscription?

The Teaching states:

“Do not slaughter . . . an ox or sheep upon which there is a blemish” (Dt.17:1)—

On account of the blemish

he transgresses a proscription.

But one who merely slaughters

a Purification-offering in the southern quadrant

does not transgress a proscription.

But sages say:

Even one who takes the life of

a Purification-offering in the southern quadrant

has transgressed a proscription.

2

Is it possible to say that

one who slaughters consecrated animals out of sequence—²

by presenting a Holocaust-offering

before a Purification-offering,

or a Paschal lamb

before a Perpetual-offering,³

or Supplementary festival-offerings ⁴

before Perpetual-offerings —

has transgressed a proscription?

The Teaching states:

“You may not eat within your gates

the Tithe of your grain, your must, or your oil, or of the

Firstlings of your herds and flocks, or any Vow-offerings you might avow” (Dt.12:17).

[And in another place it states]:

“You may not slaughter the Paschal lamb

in one of your gates that HASHEM your God is giving you” (Dt.16:5).

[And it states here as well]:

“Do not slaughter for HASHEM your God

an ox or a sheep upon which there is a blemish” (Dt.17:1)—

on account of these [consecrated offerings] he has transgressed a proscription,

but one who slaughters consecrated animals out of sequence

has not transgressed a proscription.

3

“Upon which there is a blemish” (Dt.17:1).

I might infer only that

[an animal is disqualified as an offering]

if it was born unblemished but later suffered a blemish.

How do I know to include under the rule

one born blemished from its mother’s womb?⁵

The Teaching states:

“Any serious matter”⁶ (Dt.15:21)—

[including birth defects].

How do I know to include an animal

suffering from scabs, warts, or tumors?

The Teaching states:

“A blemish, any serious matter” (Dt.15:21)—

[including diseased animals] .

How do I know to include

one suffering from old age, sickness, or a foul smell?

The Teaching states:

“An ox or a sheep” (Dt.17:1)—

[any of these conditions disqualifies oxen or sheep].

“Any serious matter” (Dt.15:21)—

[that renders the animal disgusting]. ⁷

4

Regarding consecrated animals that were slaughtered

outside their proper time or place—

how do I know that

[the slaughterer] transgresses a proscription? ⁸

The Teaching states:

“Any serious matter” (Dt.17:1)—

[its disqualification] depends upon the matter at hand.

Regarding an animal mated with a woman or a man,

or one set aside for use [in a foreign cult],

or [a consecrated animal] that was worked—

how do I know that

[they are disqualified]?

The Teaching states:

“It is abominable to HASHEM your God” (Dt.17:1).⁹

Regarding an animal given [in payment for sexual services],

or [one purchased for] the price of a dog,

or [the offspring of] incompatible-species,

or a mauled animal [that is sure to die],

or one born from its mother’s side—

how do I know that

[they are disqualified]?¹⁰

The Teaching states:

“For it is abominable” (Dt.17:1).Judah says:

R. Judah says:

the animal is abominable,

but its offspring is not abominable.¹¹

5

R. Shimon says:

Since we find that an animal

mated with a woman or a man

is disqualified [from satisfying one’s sacrificial obligation]—

is it possible to say that

this also applies to the human partner

[who may be disqualified

from meeting his or her obligation even with a suitable animal]?

The Teaching states:

“It is abominable” (Dt.17:1)—

I have spoken about the slaughtered one,

but I have not spoken about the slaughterer!

1. H:185-186; JN2:7.
2. The order of offerings assumed by the editors of Sifre appears at M. Zev.10:1-2.
3. The proper sequence of the pesakh and tamid on the eve of Passover is defned at M. Pes.5:1.
4. Statutory offerings for the Sabbath, New Moon, and the festivals (see Nu. 28:1-29:39).
5. A list of congenital defects that disqualify Firstlings is available at M. Bech.6:1-7.
6. The Masoretic text reads mum (“blemish”), while Sifre reads davar (“matter”).
7. Cf. Pisqa’ 126.1.
8. See M. Zev.2:3: “This is the general rule: the slaughterer, the recipient of blood, the conveyor of blood, and the sprinkler of blood . . . outside its proper place, it is disqualified, , , , outside its proper time, it is like filth (pigul).”
9. Cf. Sifra, nedava’, par. 2:7; SZ, shelakh, 15:3.
10. Cf, M. Tem. 6:1-3.
11. Therefore, the offspring of an abomination may be offered in satisfaction of a sacrificial obligation.