Study Zevachim folio 89B with parallel Hebrew-English text, traditional commentary, and modern study tools. Free access to Babylonian Talmud online.
Text Excerpt
גמ׳ מנא הני מילי? דתנו רבנן: ״ופר שני בן בקר תקח לחטאת״ –
Talmud: The Mishnah teaches that the placement of the blood of a sin offering precedes the sprinkling of the blood of a burnt offering, whereas the burning of the limbs of a burnt offering precedes the burning of the portions of a sin offering. The Talmud asks: From where are these matters derived? The Talmud answers: This is as A baraita states discussing a verse about the consecration of the Levites: “Then let them take a young bull, and its meal offering, fine flour mingled with oil; and a second young bull you should take for a sin offering” (Numbers 8:8).
אם בא ללמד שהן שנים, הרי כבר נאמר: ״ועשה את האחד חטאת ואת האחד עלה״; מה תלמוד לומר: ״ופר שני בן בקר תקח לחטאת״? שיכול שיהא חטאת קודמת לכל מעשה עולה, תלמוד לומר: ״ופר שני בן בקר תקח לחטאת״.
The baraita explains: If this verse comes to teach that they are two bulls, this is superfluous, as it is already stated: “And offer the one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering” (Numbers 8:12). Why must the verse state: “And a second young bull you should take for a sin offering”? As one might have thought that the sin offering should precede all the rites of the burnt offering, therefore the verse states: “And a second young bull you should take for a sin offering,” which indicates that the sin offering actually comes second to the burnt offering.
אי ״פר שני״, יכול תהא עולה קודמת לחטאת לכל מעשיה? תלמוד לומר: ״ועשה את האחד חטאת ואת האחד עלה״. הא כיצד? דם חטאת קודמת לדם עולה – מפני שמרצה; איברי עולה כו׳.
The baraita continues: If the verse had stated only that the sin offering is the second bull, one might have thought that the burnt offering precedes the sin offering with regard to all its rites. Therefore, the verse states: “And offer the one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering,” indicating that the sin offering precedes the burnt offering. How can these verses be reconciled? The placement of the blood of the sin offering precedes the sprinkling of the blood of the burnt offering because it effects acceptance, whereas the burnt offering does not effect atonement. And burning the limbs of the burnt offering on the altar precedes burning the portions of the sin offering, in fulfillment of the phrase: “And a second young bull you should take for a sin offering.”