Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ramban · Torah
Ramban on Leviticus 6:18/רמב"ן על ויקרא ו׳:י״ח
אזֹאת תּוֹרַת הַחַטָּאת הָיָה הַצִּוּוּי בְּסֵדֶר וַיִּקְרָא עוֹלָה וּמִנְחָה וְזֶבַח הַשְּׁלָמִים וְהַחַטָּאת וְהָאָשָׁם, כִּי בַּתְּחִלָּה דִּבֵּר בְּקָרְבְּנוֹת הַנְּדָבָה וְאַחֲרֵי כֵן בְּקָרְבְּנוֹת הַחוֹבָה עַל חֵטְא. אֲבָל בְּכָאן הָיָה הַבֵּאוּר לָעוֹלָה וְלַמִּנְחָה וְאח"כ בַּחַטָּאת וּבָאָשָׁם, כִּי רָצָה לְבָאֵר דִּינֵי קָדְשֵׁי קָדָשִׁים כִּי הַמִּשְׁפָּט אֶחָד לָהֶם, כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמַר בַּמִּנְחָה (ויקרא ו':י') "קֹדֶשׁ קָדָשִׁים הִיא כַּחַטָּאת וְכָאָשָׁם", וְאַחֲרֵי כֵּן יְבָאֵר דִּין קָדָשִׁים קַלִּים. וְהִנֵּה יְחַדֵּשׁ בְּפָרָשָׁה זוֹ דְּבָרִים רַבִּים, "זֹאת תּוֹרַת הַחַטָּאת" - תּוֹרָה אַחַת לְכָל הַחַטָּאוֹת, שֶׁאַף חַטָּאוֹת הַפְּנִימִיּוֹת דָּמָן טָעוּן כִּבּוּס, יָכוֹל אַף חַטַּאת הָעוֹף, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר "זֹאת". וְאָמַר "בִּמְקוֹם אֲשֶׁר תִּשָּׁחֵט הָעֹלָה תִּשָּׁחֵט הַחַטָּאת לִפְנֵי ה'" - שֶׁכָּל הַחַטָּאוֹת לֹא תְּהֵא שְׁחִיטָתָן אֶלָּא בַּצָּפוֹן (שם מח), לְפִי שֶׁלֹּא נֶאֱמַר כֵּן בְּפָרָשַׁת וַיִּקְרָא אֶלָּא בְּחַטַּאת נָשִׂיא (ד כד) וְיָחִיד (ד כט), וְכָאן נִתְרַבּוּ כֻּלָּן, חַטֹּאות הַצִּבּוּר וְחַטָּאוֹת הַפְּנִימִיּוֹת. עוֹד דָּרְשׁוּ (תורת כהנים פרשה ג ב) "קֹדֶשׁ קָדָשִׁים" - לְרַבּוֹת שַׁלְמֵי הַצִּבּוּר שֶׁלֹּא תְּהֵא שְׁחִיטָתָן אֶלָּא בַּצָּפוֹן, לְפִי שֶׁבְּכָל קָדְשֵׁי הַקֳּדָשִׁים הִטְעִין צָפוֹן. "הִיא" - פְּרָט לְתוֹדָה וְאֵיל נָזִיר. וְעוֹד נָתַן עַתָּה בְּשַׂר הַחַטָּאוֹת לִבְנֵי אַהֲרֹן (ויקרא ו':כ"ב), וְצִוָּה שֶׁיֹּאכְלוּהָ בַּחֲצַר אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד (ויקרא ו':י"ט) הַזְּכָרִים מֵהֶן וְלֹא בְּנוֹת אַהֲרֹן, וְחִדֵּשׁ דִּינִין הַרְבֵּה בַּנִּבְלָעִים מִן הַחַטָּאת (ויקרא ו':כ'-כ"א):
1THIS IS THE LAW OF THE SIN-OFFERING. In Seder Vayikra He commanded concerning [the offerings in the following order]: the burnt-offering, the meal-offering, the peace-offerings, the sin-offering and the guilt-offering, [the reason for this order being] that at first He spoke about the freewill offerings [namely the burnt-offering, the meal-offering and the peace-offerings], and afterwards He mentioned those offerings which are obligatory upon the sinner. Here, however, [in Seder Tzav] the explanation is given first in connection with the burnt-offering and meal-offering, and only then about the sin-offering and guilt-offering, because He wished to explain the laws of the most holy offerings [in one group], since there is one law for them all, as He said [above in Verse 10] with reference to the meal-offering, it is most holy, as the sin-offering and the guilt-offering, and only afterwards He explains the law of those offerings which are less holy [namely, the peace-offerings].Now in this section [dealing with the sin-offering] He added many new laws. [The verse] This is the law of the sin-offering teaches that there is one law for all sin-offerings,51 or torath (“law” or “law of”) at the beginning of a section, denotes inclusion, while hi denotes exclusion. So also the word zoth (this), as it says here in this case, zoth torath … (this is the law of …), means exclusion. meaning that even the blood of “the inner sin-offerings”52 sin-offerings,” that if any of their blood was sprinkled upon a garment, the garment must be washed in a holy place [i.e., in the Court of the Sanctuary], But it does not say this law with regard to “the inner sin-offerings.” Since the section, however, begins with the expression [zoth] ‘torath’ hachatath (this is ‘the law’ of the sin-offering), and the word torath denotes inclusion, we know that the same law applies to both kinds of sin-offering. [if sprinkled upon a garment] must be washed off [in a holy place]. I might think that this applies also to a sin-offering brought from a bird, Scripture therefore says zoth [‘zoth’ torath hachatath (‘this’ is the law of the sin-offering) — and the word zoth denotes exclusion]. He also states here [in the verse before us], in the place where the burnt-offering is slaughtered shall the sin-offering be slaughtered before the Eternal, thus indicating that all sin-offerings must be slaughtered only on the northern side of the altar, since in the section of Vayikra this was stated only with reference to the sin-offering of the prince53 and of the individual;54, Verses 29, 33. therefore here [in this section] they are all included — the sin-offerings of the public and “the inner sin-offerings.”52 sin-offerings,” that if any of their blood was sprinkled upon a garment, the garment must be washed in a holy place [i.e., in the Court of the Sanctuary], But it does not say this law with regard to “the inner sin-offerings.” Since the section, however, begins with the expression [zoth] ‘torath’ hachatath (this is ‘the law’ of the sin-offering), and the word torath denotes inclusion, we know that the same law applies to both kinds of sin-offering.The Rabbis have further interpreted: Most holy, this comes to include the peace-offerings of the public,55, and they were considered of a lesser degree of holiness. Only once a year, namely, on the Festival of Shevuoth, were peace-offerings brought by the public (see further, 23:19). These were considered among “the most holy offerings.” Offerings which were most holy were slaughtered on the north side of the altar, and could be eaten only by male priests, within the Court of the Sanctuary, during the same day and night; those that were holy to a lesser degree were slaughtered in any part of the Court, and could be eaten by any person, within the enclosed city of Jerusalem, for two days and the intervening night. The thanks-offering and the Nazirite’s ram, though holy to a lesser degree, could be eaten only the same day and the ensuing night. teaching that they may only be slaughtered on the northern side of the altar, as all offerings of the most holy degree are required to be slaughtered on the northern side. Hi (it is) — ‘it is’ the most holy, comes to exclude the thanks-offering56 and the ram of the Nazirite57). [thus teaching that they may be slaughtered anywhere in the Temple Court, as their holiness is of a lesser degree]. He further commanded here to give the meat of the sin-offerings to the sons of Aaron58 — that is, to the males and not the daughters of Aaron — and commanded them to eat it within the Court of the Tent of Meeting.59 In addition He mentioned [in this section] many new laws concerning absorption [of the taste of] the sin-offerings [by the vessels in which they are boiled].60