Mishneh Torah — First Fruits & Priestly Gifts הלכות ביכורים ושאר מתנות כהונה שבגבולין, Chapter 1

עֶשְׂרִים וְאַרְבַּע מַתָּנוֹת נִתְּנוּ לַכֹּהֲנִים וְכֻלָּן מְפֹרָשִׁין בַּתּוֹרָה. וְעַל כֻּלָּן נִכְרְתָה בְּרִית לְאַהֲרֹן. וְכָל כֹּהֵן שֶׁאֵינוֹ מוֹדֶה בָּהֶן אֵין לוֹ חֵלֶק בַּכֹּהֲנִים וְאֵין נוֹתְנִין לוֹ מַתָּנָה מֵהֶן:

There are 24 presents that are given to the priests. All of them are explicitly mentioned in the Torah. A covenant was established with Aaron over all of them. Any priest who does not acknowledge them notes that Menachot 18b, the Rambam's apparent source, states: 'Any priest that does not acknowledge the priestly service does not receive a portion of the priesthood.' The Kessef Mishneh questions why the Rambam changes the wording of his source. does not have a portion in the priesthood and he is not given any of these presents.

וְכָל הָאוֹכֵל מַתָּנָה שֶׁיֵּשׁ בָּהּ קְדֻשָּׁה מְבָרֵךְ אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בִּקְדֻשָּׁתוֹ שֶׁל אַהֲרֹן וְצִוָּנוּ לֶאֱכל כָּךְ וְכָךְ:

Every [priest] who partakes of one of the presents [given to the priests] that is sanctified or the first fruits which are referred to as 'holy.' should recite a blessing: '[Blessed are You].. who sanctified us with the sanctity of Aaron and commanded us to partake of...' [mentioning the particular type of present he is eating]. 10:1-2. And see Hilchot Terumah 15:22 which describes partaking of terumah.

שְׁמוֹנֶה מַתָּנוֹת מֵהֶם אֵין אוֹכְלִים אוֹתָן הַכֹּהֲנִים אֶלָּא בַּמִּקְדָּשׁ לְפָנִים מֵחוֹמַת הָעֲזָרָה. וְחָמֵשׁ מַתָּנוֹת אֵין אוֹכְלִין אוֹתָן אֶלָּא בִּירוּשָׁלַיִם לְפָנִים מֵחוֹמַת הָעִיר. וְחָמֵשׁ מַתָּנוֹת אֵין זוֹכִין בָּהֶן מִן הַתּוֹרָה אֶלָּא בְּאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל בִּלְבַד. וְחָמֵשׁ מַתָּנוֹת זוֹכִין בָּהֶן בֵּין בָּאָרֶץ בֵּין בְּחוּצָה לָאָרֶץ. וּמַתָּנָה אַחַת זוֹכִין בָּהּ מִן הַמִּקְדָּשׁ:

Eight of the presents may be eaten by the priests only in the Sanctuary, within the walls of the Temple Courtyard.). Five of them may be eaten only in Jerusalem within the walls of the city. According to Scriptural Law, there are five presents that are acquired [by the priests] only in Eretz Yisrael. There are five presents that they acquire both in Eretz Yisrael and in the Diaspora. And there is one present that that they acquire from the Temple's [property].

מַה הֵן הַשְּׁמוֹנֶה שֶׁאֵין נֶאֱכָלִין אֶלָּא בַּמִּקְדָּשׁ. בְּשַׂר הַחַטָּאת אֶחָד חַטַּאת הָעוֹף וְאֶחָד חַטַּאת הַבְּהֵמָה. וּבְשַׂר הָאָשָׁם בֵּין תָּלוּי בֵּין וַדַּאי. וְזִבְחֵי שַׁלְמֵי צִבּוּר. וּמוֹתָר הָעֹמֶר. וּשְׁיָרֵי מְנָחוֹת יִשְׂרָאֵל. וּשְׁתֵּי הַלֶּחֶם. וְלֶחֶם הַפָּנִים. וְלוֹג שֶׁמֶן שֶׁל מְצֹרָע. אֵלּוּ אֵינָן נֶאֱכָלִין אֶלָּא בַּמִּקְדָּשׁ:

What are the eight that may be eaten only in Temple? The meat of the sin offering - this includes both sin-offerings of fowl and sin-offerings of animals, 1:1; 10:3. the meat of a guilt-offering, 9:1, 10:3. whether a definite guilt-offering or a guilt-offering brought because of doubt, 1:1; 10:3. communal peace offerings,1:4, 9:4. [the portion of] the omer offering that remains, 7: 12. [the portion of] an Israelite's meal offering that remains, 10:2-3, 12:9. the two loaves [offered on Shavuot], 8:11. the show bread,4:9. and the log of oil brought by a metzora. 4:3. [All of] these may be eaten only in the Temple.

וּמַה הֵן הֶחָמֵשׁ שֶׁאֵינָן נֶאֱכָלִין אֶלָּא בִּירוּשָׁלַיִם. חָזֶה וְשׁוֹק שֶׁל שְׁלָמִים. וְהַמּוּרָם מִן הַתּוֹדָה. וְהַמּוּרָם מֵאֵיל נָזִיר. וּבְכוֹר בְּהֵמָה טְהוֹרָה. וְהַבִּכּוּרִים. אֵלּוּ אֵינָן נֶאֱכָלִין אֶלָּא בִּירוּשָׁלַיִם:

What are the five that are eaten only in Jerusalem? The breast and the leg of the peace offering, 10:4-5. the portion granted [the priests] from the thanksgiving offering, 9:12. the portion granted [the priests] from the ram brought by a nazirite, 9:12. the firstborn of a kosher animal, 1:2. and the first fruits. [all of] these may be eaten only in Jerusalem.

וּמַה הֵן הֶחָמֵשׁ שֶׁבְּאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל. הַתְּרוּמָה. וּתְרוּמַת מַעֲשֵׂר. וְהַחַלָּה. וּשְׁלָשְׁתָּן קֹדֶשׁ. וְרֵאשִׁית הַגֵּז. וּשְׂדֵה אֲחֻזָּה. וּשְׁנֵיהֶן חֻלִּין. אֵלּוּ אֵינָן זוֹכִין בָּהֶן מִן הַתּוֹרָה אֶלָּא בְּאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל. וְאֵין אוֹכְלִין תְּרוּמוֹת וְחַלּוֹת שֶׁל אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶלָּא בְּאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל:

What are the five [that are given] in Eretz Yisrael? Terumah, terumat ma'aser, and challah - these three are sanctified, the first shearings, and an ancestral field [that was consecrated] 4:1-2, 19. - these are ordinary property. [The priests are granted] these according to Scriptural Law only in Eretz Yisrael. and challah are also separated in the Diaspora. Terumot and challot from Eretz Yisrael may be eaten only in Eretz Yisrael. 2:17).

וּמַה הֵן הֶחָמֵשׁ שֶׁזּוֹכִין בָּהֶן הַכֹּהֲנִים בְּכָל מָקוֹם. הַמַּתָּנוֹת. וּפִדְיוֹן הַבֵּן. וּפֶטֶר חֲמוֹר. וְגֵזֶל הַגֵּר. וְהַחֲרָמִים. וַחֲמִשְּׁתָּן חֻלִּין לְכָל דָּבָר:

What are the five that the priests acquire in all places? The presents [given when slaughtering animals], [the money given for] the redemption of a firstborn [son], [the lamb given for] the redemption of a firstborn [donkey], [property] stolen from a convert [who died heirless], 8:5. and dedication offerings.6:4. These five are ordinary property.

וְהַמַּתָּנָה שֶׁזּוֹכִין בָּהּ מִן הַמִּקְדָּשׁ הִיא עוֹרוֹת הָעוֹלוֹת. וְהוּא הַדִּין לִשְׁאָר עוֹרוֹת קָדְשֵׁי הַקָּדָשִׁים כֻּלָּן לַכֹּהֲנִים:

The present that they acquire from the Temple's property is the hides from the burnt-offerings. 5:19. Hilchot Pesulei HaMukdashim 19:9. This also applies to the hides from other sacrifices of the most holy order. They are all given to the priests.

הַשְּׁמוֹנֶה מַתָּנוֹת שֶׁאֵינָן נֶאֱכָלִין אֶלָּא בַּמִּקְדָּשׁ כֻּלָּן קָדְשֵׁי קָדָשִׁים הֵן וְאֵינָן נֶאֱכָלִים אֶלָּא לְזִכְרֵי כְּהֻנָּה כְּמוֹ שֶׁיִּתְבָּאֵר בִּמְקוֹמוֹ. וּבָהֶן נֶאֱמַר (ויקרא ו כב) "כָּל זָכָר בַּכֹּהֲנִים יֹאכַל אֹתוֹ" וְגוֹ':

The eight presents that may be eaten only in the Sanctuary are all sacrifices of the most holy order. They may be eaten only by male priests, as will be explained in the appropriate place. 9:1, 10:3, 12:3. Concerning them, [Leviticus 6:22] states: 'All males among the priesthood shall partake of it.

הֶחָמֵשׁ שֶׁבִּירוּשָׁלַיִם הֵן קָדָשִׁים קַלִּים וְנֶאֱכָלִין לִזְכָרִים וְלִנְקֵבוֹת וּבָהֶן נֶאֱמַר (במדבר יח יא) "לְךָ נְתַתִּים וּלְבָנֶיךָ וְלִבְנֹתֶיךָ אִתְּךָ לְחָק עוֹלָם". וְאַף עַל פִּי כֵן אֵין נִתָּנִין אֶלָּא לְזִכְרֵי כְּהֻנָּה שֶׁהֲרֵי לְאַנְשֵׁי מִשְׁמָר הֵן. וְהַבְּכוֹר מַקְרִיבִין חֶלְבּוֹ וְדָמוֹ וְאֵין מַקְרִיבוֹ אֶלָּא אִישׁ. וְכֵן עוֹרוֹת קָדְשֵׁי הַקָּדָשִׁים. וּשְׂדֵה אֲחֻזָּה. וְהַחֲרָמִים. וְגֵזֶל הַגֵּר. אֵין זוֹכִין בָּהֶן אֶלָּא אַנְשֵׁי מִשְׁמָר כְּמוֹ שֶׁיִּתְבָּאֵר. וְכֵן פִּדְיוֹן הַבֵּן לְזִכְרֵי כְּהֻנָּה שֶׁכֵּן נֶאֱמַר בּוֹ (במדבר ג מח) "וְנָתַתָּ הַכֶּסֶף לְאַהֲרֹן וּלְבָנָיו". וּפֶטֶר חֲמוֹר לְזִכְרֵי כְּהֻנָּה. שֶׁדִּין הַבְּכוֹרוֹת כֻּלָּן שָׁוֶה לִזְכָרִים וְלֹא לִנְקֵבוֹת:

The five [presents that may be eaten only] in Jerusalem are all sacrifices of lesser sanctity. 1:17 with regard to the sacrifices of lesser sanctity. Chapter 3, Halachah 1, equates the first fruits with those sacrifices. [Both] males and females [of the priestly family] may partake of them. 10:17. Concerning them, [Numbers 18:11] states: 'To you, and your sons and your daughters with you have I given them as an eternal decree.' [Although a woman may partake of them,] they are granted only to the males of the priestly family. For they are given to the men of the watch [serving in the Temple]. 4:3, the priestly family was divided into 24 watches. Each one would serve in the Temple for a week. During that week, its members had the rights to all the sacrifices offered during that time.The fat and the blood of the firstborn [of kosher animals] was offered and only a male was allowed to offer it. 1:15; the Rambam's Commentary to the Mishnah (Challah 4:9)]. That priest in turn offers it on the altar and may give its meat to whichever members of the priestly family, males and females, he desires to (see Radbaz). Similarly, the hides of the sacrifices of the most sacred order, an ancestral field, dedication offerings, and the stolen property of a convert, are acquired only by the men of the priestly watch [of that week], as will be explained.Similarly, the redemption of firstborn [sons is given] only to males of the priestly family, for concerning it, [Numbers 3:48] states: 'And you shall give the money to Aaron and his sons.' [Similarly, the redemption of] a firstborn donkey [is given] to males of the priestly family, for all the laws of the firstborn are parallel. [The redemption is given] to males and not females.

הִנֵּה לָמַדְתָּ שֶׁהַמַּתָּנוֹת שֶׁנִּתָּנִין לִנְקֵבוֹת כִּזְכָרִים חָמֵשׁ מַתָּנוֹת. תְּרוּמָה. וּתְרוּמַת מַעֲשֵׂר. וְחַלָּה. וּמַתְּנוֹת בְּהֵמָה. וְרֵאשִׁית הַגֵּז. וּמִנַּיִן אַתָּה אוֹמֵר שֶׁרֵאשִׁית הַגֵּז נִתֶּנֶת לַכֹּהֲנוֹת שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים יח ד) "רֵאשִׁית דְּגָנְךָ תִּירשְׁךָ וְיִצְהָרֶךָ וְרֵאשִׁית גֵּז צֹאנְךָ תִּתֶּן לּוֹ". מָה רֵאשִׁית דָּגָן נִתֶּנֶת לִנְקֵבוֹת כִּזְכָרִים אַף רֵאשִׁית הַגֵּז:

Thus you have learned that the presents given [directly] to females like males are five: terumah, 12:22. terumat ma'aser, challah, apply to both of these. the presents given when slaughtering an animal, and the first shearings.What is the source that teaches that the first shearings may be given to a woman of the priestly family? 'The first of your grain, your wine, and your oil, and the first shearings of your flock shall you give to him' [Deuteronomy 18:4]. [The verse establishes an equivalence:] Just as [terumah,] the first of the grain, may be given to females as well as males, so too, the first shearings.

מָנוּ חֲכָמִים מַתָּנוֹת אֵלּוּ עַל דֶּרֶךְ אַחֶרֶת וְאָמְרוּ עֶשְׂרִים וְאַרְבַּע מַתְּנוֹת כְּהֻנָּה נִתְּנוּ לְאַהֲרֹן וְאֵלּוּ הֵן. עֶשֶׂר בַּמִּקְדָּשׁ. אַרְבַּע בִּירוּשָׁלַיִם. וְעֶשֶׂר בַּגְּבוּלִין:

Our Sages 2:7. reckoned these presents in another manner, stating: 24 presents for the priests were given to Aaron. They are 10 in the Temple, 4 in Jerusalem, and 10 in the outlying areas.

עֶשֶׂר בַּמִּקְדָּשׁ. חַטַּאת בְּהֵמָה. וְחַטַּאת הָעוֹף. אָשָׁם. וְאָשָׁם תָּלוּי. זִבְחֵי שַׁלְמֵי צִבּוּר. וְלֹג שֶׁמֶן שֶׁל מְצֹרָע. שְׁתֵּי הַלֶּחֶם. וְלֶחֶם הַפָּנִים. שְׁיָרֵי מְנָחוֹת. וּמוֹתַר הָעֹמֶר:

The ten in the Temple are: a) an animal brought as a sin-offering, b) a fowl brought as a sin-offering, c) a guilt-offering, d) a guilt-offering brought because of doubt, e) the communal peace-offerings, f) the log of oil brought by a nazirite, g) the two breads, h) the show bread, i) the remnants of the meal offering, and j) the remnants of the omer offering.

אַרְבַּע בִּירוּשָׁלַיִם. הַבְּכוֹר. וְהַבִּכּוּרִים. וּמוּרָם מִתּוֹדָה וְאֵיל נָזִיר. וְעוֹרוֹת קָדָשִׁים:

The four in Jerusalem are: a) the firstborn [kosher animal], b) the first fruits, c) the portion granted [the priests] from the thanksgiving offering and the portion granted [the priests] from the ram brought by a nazirite, and d) the hides of the sacrifices.

עֶשֶׂר בַּגְּבוּלִין. תְּרוּמָה. וּתְרוּמַת מַעֲשֵׂר. וְחַלָּה. וְרֵאשִׁית הַגֵּז. וְהַמַּתָּנוֹת. וּפִדְיוֹן הַבֵּן. וּפִדְיוֹן פֶּטֶר חֲמוֹר. שְׂדֵה חֲרָמִים. וּשְׂדֵה אֲחֻזָּה. וְגֵזֶל הַגֵּר. וּלְפִי חֶשְׁבּוֹן זֶה חַשֵּׁב כָּל הַמּוּרָם מִקָּדָשִׁים קַלִּים מַתָּנָה אַחַת. וְהֵן חָזֶה וְשׁוֹק הַמּוּרָם מִכָּל זֶבַח שְׁלָמִים עִם הַלֶּחֶם הַמּוּרָם עִמָּהֶם [אִם הָיָה תּוֹדָה. עִם הַזְּרוֹעַ הַמּוּרֶמֶת מֵאֵיל נָזִיר עִם הַלֶּחֶם הַמּוּרָם עִמָּהּ] עִם חָזֶה וְשׁוֹק. הוֹאִיל וּשְׁלָשְׁתָּן שְׁלָמִים הֵן חֲשֹׁב הַמּוּרָם מֵהֶם מַתָּנָה אַחַת:

The ten in the outlying areas are: a) terumah, b) terumat ma'aser, c) challah, d) the first shearings, e) the presents given when slaughtering an animal, f) the redemption of a firstborn [son], g) the redemption of a firstborn donkey, h) a field that was designated as a dedication offering, i) an ancestral field, and j) the stolen property of a convert.According to this reckoning, all of the portions given the priests from sacrifices of lesser sanctity are considered as one present. This includes: the breast and the leg that is given [the priest] from every peace offering, together with the bread that is given with them if [the peace offering] was a thanksgiving offering and the foreleg given the priest from the nazirite's ram, with the bread given with it, and the breast and the leg. Since they are all peace offerings, all of the portions given the priests are considered as one present.

כָּל הַמַּתָּנוֹת שֶׁהֵן תְּלוּיוֹת בַּקָּרְבָּנוֹת תִּתְבָּאֵר כָּל אַחַת וְאַחַת בִּמְקוֹמָהּ בְּהִלְכוֹת קָרְבָּנוֹת. וְכֵן גֵּזֶל הַגֵּר יִתְבָּאֵר בְּהִלְכוֹת גְּזֵלָה. וּכְבָר בֵּאַרְנוּ דִּין שְׂדֵה אֲחֻזָּה וְדִין הַחֲרָמִים בְּהִלְכוֹת עֶרְכִין. וְדִין תְּרוּמָה וּתְרוּמַת מַעֲשֵׂר בְּהִלְכוֹת תְּרוּמוֹת. וּבַהֲלָכוֹת אֵלּוּ אֲבָאֵר מִשְׁפְּטֵי הַמַּתָּנוֹת שֶׁאֵין תְּלוּיִין בְּקָרְבָּנוֹת. וְהֵן: הַבִּכּוּרִים. וְהַחַלָּה. וְהַמַּתָּנוֹת. וְרֵאשִׁית הַגֵּז. וּפִדְיוֹן הַבֵּן. וּפֶטֶר חֲמוֹר:

AIl of the presents that are dependent on the sacrifices will be explained in their appropriate places in the laws of sacrifices. Similarly, [the laws pertaining to] the stolen property of a convert will be explained in Hilchot Gezeilah. 8:5. We have already explained the laws governing an ancestral field and dedication offerings in Hilchot Arachin, chs. 4-8. and the laws of terumah and terumat ma'aser in Hilchot Terumah. In the present halachot, I will explain the laws of the [priestly] presents that are not dependent on the sacrifices: the first fruits, challah, the presents given when slaughtering an animal, the first shearings, the redemption of a firstborn son, the redemption of a firstborn donkey.