Midrash · Halachah
Sifrei Devarim 351/ספרי דברים שנ״א
א(דברים לג י) יוֹרוּ מִשְׁפָּטֶיךָ לְיַעֲקֹב, מְלַמֵּד שֶׁכָּל הוֹרָיוֹת אֵינָן יוֹצְאוֹת אֶלָּא מִפִּיהֶם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים כא ה): ״וְעַל פִּיהֶם יִהְיֶה כָּל רִיב וְכָל נָגַע״, ״רִיב״ אֵלּוּ רִיבֵי פָרָה וְרִיבֵי עֶגְלָה וְרִיבֵי סוֹטָה; ״נָגַע״ אֵלּוּ נִגְעֵי אָדָם וְנִגְעֵי בְגָדִים וְנִגְעֵי בָתִּים.
1Pisqa’ 351691. “They will teach70 (“instruct”). The root, y-r-h, stands behind the word for “instruction”—torah. In the construction, hora’ah, it defines official instruction having the force of law, as in the present exegesis of Dt. 33:10. Your judgments to Jacob” (Dt. 33:10)—this teaches thatbinding instructions (horayot) are issuedonly on [levitical] authority (mi-pihem),71 literally, “their mouths.” Prepositions provide nuance, thus, mi-pihem (“from the mouth of,” “on the authority of”) and `al pihem (“on the mouth of,” “at their order”).as it is stated:“And at their order (`al pihem)shall every dispute be adjudicated,and the status of every plague-sign” (Dt. 21:5).“Dispute”—such as [procedural] disputesover the burning of the [red] Heifer (Nu. 19:1ff.),over the Broken-necked Calf (Dt. 21:1ff.)and over the Suspected Wife (Nu. 5:11ff.).“Plague-sign”—such as plague-signsaffecting humans (Lv. 13:1ff.),affecting garments (Lv. 13:47ff.).and affecting houses (Lv. 14:22ff.)72 152.1
בוְתוֹרָתְךָ לְיִשְׂרָאֵל. מְלַמֵּד שֶׁשְּׁתֵּי תוֹרוֹת נִתְּנוּ לְיִשְׂרָאֵל, אַחַת בַּפֶּה וְאַחַת בִּכְתָב. שָׁאַל אַגְנִיטוֹס הֶגְמוֹן אֶת רַבָּן גַּמְלִיאֵל, אָמַר לוֹ: כַּמָּה תוֹרוֹת נִתְּנוּ לְיִשְׂרָאֵל? אָמַר לוֹ: שְׁתַּיִם, אַחַת בַַּפֶּה וְאַחַת בִּכְתָב.
22. “And your Instructions (torotekha)73 is the plural form of torah. Here, as we have seen in a number of cases, a plural noun is read as a dual. This permits the idea of two Torahs to flow easily from the biblical text itself. to Israel” (Dt. 33:10)—this teaches thattwo Torahs were given to Israel,one transmitted orally (bifeh) and one inscribed in a text (bikhtav).Agnitus,74 351, ns.6-7 suggests several possibilities. the Roman general, inquired of Rabban Gamliel:Just how many Torahs were given to Israel?He replied:Two—one transmitted orally and one inscribed in a text.
גיָשִׂימוּ קְטוֹרָה בְּאַפֶּךָ, זוֹ קְטֹרֶת שֶׁלִּפְנַי לִפְנִים, וְכָלִיל עַל מִזְבְּחֶךָ זוֹ מִנְחַת כֹּהֵן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ויקרא ו טז): ״וְכָל מִנְחַת כֹּהֵן כָּלִיל תִּהְיֶה״.
33. “They shall offer incense to appease Your anger” (Dt. 33:10)—this refers to the incenseoffered within the inner-most [Chamber].“Entirely consumed on Your altar” (Dt. 33:10)—this refers to the Priestly Flour-offering,as it is said:“And every Priestly Flour-offeringmust be entirely consumed [by fire]” (Lv. 6:16)
דדָּבָר אַחֵר: יָשִׂימוּ קְטוֹרָה בְּאַפֶּךָ, זוֹ קְטֹרֶת שֶׁלִּפְנַי לִפְנִים, וְכָלִיל עַל מִזְבְּחֶךָ, אֵלּוּ אֵיבְרֵי עוֹלָה.
4Another word:“They shall offer incense to appease Your anger” (Dt. 33:10)—this refers to the incenseoffered within the inner-most [Chamber].“Entirely consumed on Your altar” (Dt. 33:10)—this refers to the organsof the Holocaust-offering (Lv. 16:24-27).[which are completely consumed in fire.]