Study Zevachim folio 26B with parallel Hebrew-English text, traditional commentary, and modern study tools. Free access to Babylonian Talmud online.
Text Excerpt
גמ׳ אמר שמואל: פסול בשר, אבל בעלים נתכפרו. מאי טעמא? דאמר קרא: ״ואני נתתיו לכם על המזבח לכפר״ – כיון שהגיע דם למזבח, נתכפרו בעלים.
Talmud: Shmuel says: When the Mishnah states that the offering is disqualified, it means that the meat is unfit for consumption. But the owner of the offering has achieved atonement through it. What is the reason for this? It is as the verse states with regard to the blood: “And I have given it to you upon the altar to atone for your souls” (Leviticus 17:11), from which it is derived that once the blood reaches any location on the altar, the owner of the offering has achieved atonement.
אי הכי, בשר נמי! אמר קרא: ״לכפר״ – לכפרה נתתיו, ולא לדבר אחר.
The Talmud challenges: If so, the meat should be fit for consumption as well. The Talmud responds: The verse states “to atone,” emphasizing that I have given it to you for atonement and for nothing else, e.g., consumption of the meat.
אלמא קסבר: שלא במקומו – כמקומו דמי. תנן באידך פירקין: נתנו על הכבש שלא כנגד היסוד; נתן את הניתנין למטה למעלה; ואת הניתנין למעלה למטה; ואת הניתנין בפנים בחוץ; ואת הניתנין בחוץ בפנים – אם יש דם הנפש, יחזור הכשר ויקבל.
The Talmud notes: Apparently, Shmuel holds that blood sprinkled not in its proper place is considered as though it were sprinkled in its proper place. But we learned in a Mishnah in another chapter (32a): If an unfit person placed the blood upon the ramp, or on the wall of the altar that is not opposite the base of the altar; or if he placed the blood that is to be placed below the red line above the red line, or if he placed the blood that is to be placed above the red line below the red line; or if he placed the blood that is to be placed inside the Sanctuary outside the Sanctuary or the blood that is to be placed outside the Sanctuary inside the Sanctuary, then if there is blood of the soul that remains in the animal, the priest fit for Temple service should collect the blood again and sprinkle it on the altar.