Study Zevachim folio 46B with parallel Hebrew-English text, traditional commentary, and modern study tools. Free access to Babylonian Talmud online.
Text Excerpt
אחת לכלל, ואחת לפרט, ואחת לדברים שאינן נאכלין.
One mention of karet in the verse: “That approaches the sacred items,” is for a generalization, and one mention in the verse: “Of the flesh of the sacrifice of peace offerings,” is for a detail. This detail serves to include all items consecrated to the altar, in accordance with the hermeneutical principle that any matter that was included in a generalization but was explicitly specified to teach a certain halakha was intended to teach not just about itself but about the entire generalization. And one mention of karet in the verse: “And when anyone should touch any impure item,” serves to include items whose typical manner is such that they are not to be eaten, e.g., wood and frankincense, and teaches that one who eats even these items is liable to receive karet.
ולרבי שמעון דאמר: דברים שאין נאכלין – אין חייבין עליהם משום טומאה, לאיתויי מאי? לאיתויי חטאות הפנימיות.
The Talmud asks: And according to the opinion of R' Shimon, who says in the Mishnah with regard to items whose typical manner is such that they are not to be eaten, that one is not liable for eating them due to violation of the prohibition against eating consecrated items in a state of ritual impurity, what does this last mention of karet serve to include? The Talmud answers that it serves to include the sin offerings whose blood is presented inside the Sanctuary.
סלקא דעתך אמינא, הואיל ואמר רבי שמעון: כל שאינו על מזבח החיצון כשלמים – אין חייבין עליו משום פיגול, משום טומאה נמי לא ליחייב; קא משמע לן.
The Talmud explains why this inclusion is necessary. It might enter your mind to say: Since R' Shimon says that concerning any offering whose blood is not presented on the external altar like that of a peace offering, one is not liable for eating it due to violation of the prohibition of piggul, one should likewise not be liable for eating it due to violation of the prohibition of ritual impurity. Therefore, the additional mention of karet teaches us that one who is impure is in fact liable for eating these sin offerings brought inside the Sanctuary.