Mishneh Torah — Sacrificial Procedure הלכות מעשה הקרבנות, Chapter 16

הַנּוֹדֵר גָּדוֹל וְהֵבִיא קָטָן לֹא יָצָא. קָטָן וְהֵבִיא גָּדוֹל יָצָא. כֵּיצַד. אָמַר הֲרֵי עָלַי עוֹלָה אוֹ שְׁלָמִים כֶּבֶשׂ וְהֵבִיא אַיִל. אוֹ שֶׁנָּדַר עֵגֶל וְהֵבִיא שׁוֹר. גְּדִי וְהֵבִיא שָׂעִיר יָצָא:

When a person vows to bring a large animal, but instead brings a small one, he does not fulfill his obligation. [If he vows to bring] a small one and brings a large one, he fulfills his obligation.What is implied? He said: "I promise [to bring] a lamb as a burnt-offering" or "...as a peace-offering," and he brings a ram,). or he vowed a calf and brought an ox,). or a kid and brought a goat,). he fulfills his obligation.

נָדַר עוֹלָה מִן הַכְּבָשִׂים אוֹ מִן הָאֵילִים וְהֵבִיא פִּלְגָּס הֲרֵי זֶה סָפֵק אִם יָצָא יְדֵי נִדְרוֹ אוֹ לֹא יָצָא. וְכֵן הַנּוֹדֵר עוֹלַת עוֹף מִן הַתּוֹרִים אוֹ מִן בְּנֵי הַיּוֹנָה וְהֵבִיא תְּחִלַּת הַצִּהוּב שֶׁבָּזֶה וְשֶׁבָּזֶה הֲרֵי זֶה סָפֵק. נָדַר שָׁחֹר וְהֵבִיא לָבָן לָבָן וְהֵבִיא שָׁחֹר זָכָר וְהֵבִיא נְקֵבָה נְקֵבָה וְהֵבִיא זָכָר לֹא יָצָא:

If he vows to bring a burnt-offering either from lambs or from rams and brings a pilgas,). there is an unresolved doubt whether or not he fulfilled his obligation.. Hence, the person cannot be considered as having fulfilled his obligation. Nevertheless, since its status is unresolved, we are not definitely certain that he did not fulfill his obligation.The Kessef Mishneh questions why is he not considered to have fulfilled his obligation if he vowed to bring a lamb. As stated in the previous halachah, if one vows to bring a small animal and instead, brings a large animal, he is considered to have fulfilled his obligation. Thus in the case at hand, if a pilgas is considered a lamb, he will have fulfilled his obligation and if it is considered as a ram, he would have fulfilled his obligation, based on the principle stated in Halachah 1. The Kessef Mishneh answers that the animal's status is considered one of doubt, an intermediate state between the two. Hence it is not considered as acceptable as either type. Similarly, if one vowed to bring a burnt-offering of fowl, from either turtle-doves, or ordinary doves 3:2). and brought a fowl that began to sprout yellow feathers). of both species, there is an unresolved doubt [whether or not he fulfilled his obligation].If one vowed to bring a black[-colored animal] and brought one that was white, [vowed to bring] a white one and brought a black one, [vowed] a male and brought a female or vowed a female and brought a male, he did not fulfill his obligation.

הַנּוֹדֵר סְתָם מֵבִיא מִן הַגְּדוֹלִים שֶׁבַּמִּין שֶׁנָּדַר. וְאִם אוֹתוֹ הַמָּקוֹם רְגִילִין לִקְרוֹת בִּסְתָם לְאֶחָד מִן הַמִּינִין מֵבִיא כְּאַנְשֵׁי הַמָּקוֹם. כֵּיצַד. נָדַר עוֹלָה מִן הַבָּקָר יָבִיא שׁוֹר. אָמַר הֲרֵי עָלַי עוֹלָה אִם דֶּרֶךְ אַנְשֵׁי הַמָּקוֹם לִקְרוֹת עוֹלָה סְתָם אֲפִלּוּ לְעוֹלַת הָעוֹף מֵבִיא פְּרֵדָה אַחַת תּוֹר אוֹ בֶּן יוֹנָה. וְאִם דַּרְכָּן שֶׁאֵין קוֹרִין עוֹלָה סְתָם אֶלָּא לְעוֹלַת בָּקָר יָבִיא שׁוֹר. וְכֵן כָּל כַּיּוֹצֵא בָּזֶה:

When one takes a vow without specifying [the type of animal he is bringing], he should bring from the developed animals in the species he vowed to bring. If in his place [of residence], people commonly identify one of [the type of sacrifices] with a specific species [of animals], he should bring [the type of animal brought by] the people of that locale.What is implied? If a person vowed to bring a burnt-offering from cattle," he should bring an ox. Should he say: "I promise to bring a burnt-offering," if the practice of the people of that locale is to use the term "burnt-offering" without any description to refer even to a fowl offered as a burnt-offering, he may bring even one fowl, a turtle dove or an ordinary dove. If their practice is to use that term only when referring to a burnt-offering of cattle, he should bring an ox. Similar laws apply in all analogous situations.

מִי שֶׁנָּדַר שׁוֹר אוֹ אַיִל אוֹ כֶּבֶשׂ אוֹ עֵגֶל וְכַיּוֹצֵא בָּהֶם לֹא יָבִיא כָּחוּשׁ בְּיוֹתֵר שֶׁבְּאוֹתוֹ הַמִּין מִפְּנֵי שֶׁדָּמָיו מוּעָטִין. וְאֵינוֹ חַיָּב לְהָבִיא הַיָּפֶה הַשָּׁמֵן בְּיוֹתֵר שֶׁאֵין שָׁם לְמַעְלָה מִמֶּנּוּ אֶלָּא יָבִיא הַבֵּינוֹנִי. וְאִם הֵבִיא הַכָּחוּשׁ יָצָא יְדֵי נִדְרוֹ:

A person who vowed to bring an ox, a ram, a lamb, a calf, or the like should not bring the frailest specimen of that species, because their value is minimal. 7:1. Nor is he obligated to bring the nicest, stockiest specimen of which there is no better.:11 states: "One who desires to gain merit for himself, subjugate his evil inclination, and amplify his generosity, should bring his sacrifice from the most desirable and superior type of the item he is bringing," this is a desirable ethical standard, but not a halachic imperative. Instead, he should bring an average animal. 13:8 mentions prices to be paid for animals offered as sacrifices. In the Rambam's Commentary to the Mishnah, he explains that the prices mentioned were the average prices for animals at that time. If he brought a frail animal, he fulfilled his vow.

הָאוֹמֵר הֲרֵי עָלַי שׁוֹר שְׁוֵה מָנֶה יָבִיא שׁוֹר שֶׁשָּׁוֶה מָנֶה בְּאוֹתוֹ מָקוֹם חוּץ מִנְּסָכָיו. הֵבִיא שְׁנַיִם בְּמָנֶה לֹא יָצָא:

When a person says: "I promise to bring an ox worth a maneh," he should bring an ox worth a maneh in that place aside from its accompanying offerings. If he brought two [oxen] for a maneh, he did not fulfill his obligation.

הָאוֹמֵר שׁוֹר זֶה עוֹלָה וְנָפַל בּוֹ מוּם אִם רָצָה יָבִיא בְּדָמָיו שְׁנַיִם וַאֲפִלּוּ הֵבִיא בְּדָמָיו אַיִל אֶחָד יָצָא. אָמַר שְׁנֵי שְׁוָרִים אֵלּוּ עוֹלָה וְנָפַל בָּהֶם מוּם אִם רָצָה יָבִיא בִּדְמֵיהֶם אֶחָד. אַיִל זֶה עוֹלָה וְנָפַל בּוֹ מוּם אִם רָצָה יָבִיא בְּדָמָיו כֶּבֶשׂ. וְכֵן אִם נָדַר כֶּבֶשׂ וְנִפְסַל אִם רָצָה יָבִיא בְּדָמָיו אַיִל:

[The following rules apply when] a person says: "This ox is a burnt-offering" and it becomes blemished. If he desires, he may bring two for the price he receives for it. 108a. If he brings even one ram for the price he receives, he fulfills his vow.If he says: "These two oxen are burnt-offerings," and they become blemished, should he desire, he may bring one with the money he receives for their sale. "This ram is a burnt-offering" and it becomes blemished, if he desires he may bring a lamb with the money he receives for its sale. Similarly, if he vows a lamb and it becomes disqualified, he may bring a ram with the money he receives for its sale.

אָמַר הֲרֵי עָלַי עוֹלָה וְהִפְרִישׁ שׁוֹר וְנִגְנַב פּוֹטֵר עַצְמוֹ בְּשֶׂה. אָמַר שׁוֹר זֶה וְדָמָיו עָלַי עוֹלָה הֻקְבַּע וְאִם נִפְסַל לֹא יָבִיא בְּדָמָיו אֶלָּא שׁוֹר:

If he says: "I promise to bring a burnt-offering" and he set aside an ox and it was stolen, he may fulfill his obligation with a sheep. If he says: "I promise to bring this ox or its value as a burnt-offering," [his commitment] is established as binding. If [the ox] is disqualified, he may bring only an ox with the money he receives for its sale.

הָאוֹמֵר אֶחָד מִכְּבָשַׂי הֶקְדֵּשׁ וְאֶחָד מִשְּׁוָרַי הֶקְדֵּשׁ וְהָיוּ לוֹ שְׁנַיִם הַגָּדוֹל שֶׁבָּהֶן הֶקְדֵּשׁ. הָיוּ שְׁלֹשָׁה הַגָּדוֹל שֶׁבָּהֶן הֶקְדֵּשׁ וְחוֹשְׁשִׁין לַבֵּינוֹנִי. כֵּיצַד יַעֲשֶׂה. יַמְתִּין לַבֵּינוֹנִי עַד שֶׁיִּפּל בּוֹ מוּם וְתָחוּל הַקְּדֻשָּׁה עַל הַגָּדוֹל לְבַדּוֹ. וְאִם אָמַר שׁוֹר שֶׁבִּשְׁוָרַי הֶקְדֵּשׁ הַגָּדוֹל שֶׁבָּהֶם הֶקְדֵּשׁ וְאֵין חוֹשְׁשִׁין לַבֵּינוֹנִי:

If he says: "One of my sheep is consecrated and one of my oxen is consecrated," but he had two, the larger one is consecrated. 108b). If he has three, the larger one is consecrated, but concern should also be shown for the middle one.What should be done? He should wait until the middle one becomes blemished so that the holiness will fall on the larger one alone. interprets the Rambam's words as implying that once the second one becomes blemished, the holiness automatically falls on the third. This runs contrary to Rashi's approach (Menachot, loc. cit.) which requires the person to make a stipulation conditionally transferring the holiness that might have fallen on the middle ox. If he says: "An ox from my oxen is consecrated," the larger one is consecrated and concern need not be shown for the middle one.). The commentaries note that the Rambam's ruling in Hilchot Meilah 7:7 appears to run contrary to this explanation.

פֵּרַשׁ אֶחָד מֵהֶן וְשָׁכַח אוֹ שֶׁאָמַר לוֹ אָבִיו אֶחָד מֵהֶן הֶקְדֵּשׁ הֲרֵי זֶה מַקְדִּישׁ גָּדוֹל שֶׁבָּהֶן וְאַחַר כָּךְ יֵצֵא יְדֵי חוֹבָתוֹ. וְכֵן הַנּוֹדֵר עוֹלָה מִן הַבָּקָר וְקָבַע נִדְרוֹ וְשָׁכַח מַה קָּבַע אִם שׁוֹר אִם עֵגֶל הֲרֵי זֶה יָבִיא שׁוֹר. וְכֵן אִם קָבַע בַּכְּבָשִׂים וְשָׁכַח מַה קָּבַע יָבִיא אַיִל. קָבַע בָּעִזִּים וְשָׁכַח יָבִיא שָׂעִיר. שָׁכַח בְּאֵיזֶה מִין מִן הַבְּהֵמָה קָבַע עוֹלָתוֹ יָבִיא שׁוֹר וְאַיִל וְשָׂעִיר. וְאִם נִסְתַּפֵּק לוֹ שֶׁמָּא קָבַע עוֹלָתוֹ בָּעוֹף יוֹסִיף תּוֹר וּבֶן יוֹנָה:

If he designated one of [three animals as a sacrifice] and forgot [which one he designated] or his father told him "One of these animals was consecrated,"). he should designate the largest one as consecrated and, afterwards, he fulfills his obligation [with its sacrifice]. Similarly, if one vowed to bring a burnt-offering from cattle and designated [an animal as a sacrifice to fulfill] his vow and [later] forgot whether he had designated an ox or a calf, he should bring an ox. 13:6); see also Ra'avad]. Similarly, if he designated a sheep and forgot what he designated, he should bring a ram. If he designated a goat and forgot what he designated, he should bring a grown goat. If he forgot the species from which he designated the burnt-offering, he should bring an ox, a ram, and a grown goat. If he was in doubt that perhaps he designated the burnt-offering from fowl, he should also add a turtle-dove and an ordinary dove.

נָדַר תּוֹדָה אוֹ שְׁלָמִים וְקָבַע נִדְרוֹ בַּבָּקָר וְשָׁכַח בְּמִי קְבָעוֹ יָבִיא פַּר וּפָרָה. וְכֵן אִם נִסְתַּפֵּק לוֹ בַּכְּבָשִׂים יָבִיא אַיִל וְרָחֵל. נִסְתַּפֵּק לוֹ בָּעִזִּים יָבִיא שָׂעִיר וּשְׂעִירָה. שָׁכַח בְּאֵי זֶה מִין קָבַע נִדְרוֹ מֵבִיא פַּר וּפָרָה אַיִל וְרָחֵל שָׂעִיר וּשְׂעִירָה. הָאוֹמֵר הֲרֵי עָלַי עוֹלַת עוֹף מֵבִיא תּוֹר אוֹ בֶּן יוֹנָה. פֵּרֵשׁ וְשָׁכַח בְּאֵי זֶה מִין קָבַע נִדְרוֹ מֵבִיא תּוֹר וּבֶן יוֹנָה:

When a person vowed to bring a thanksgiving-offering or a peace offering, specifying that it would be brought from cattle, but forgot what he designated to bring, he should bring an ox and a cow. Similarly, if he is unsure with regard to sheep, he should bring a ram and a ewe. If he is unsure with regard to goats, he must bring a he-goat and a she-goat.If he forgot the species from which he designated the sacrifice, he should bring an ox, a cow, a ram, a ewe, a he-goat, and a she-goat. If he said: "I promise to bring a burnt-offering of fowl," he should bring a turtle-dove or an ordinary dove. If he designated one particular species in his vow and forgot which one, he should bring both a turtle-dove and an ordinary dove.

הָאוֹמֵר הֲרֵי עָלַי לַמִּזְבֵּחַ יָבִיא קֹמֶץ לְבוֹנָה שֶׁאֵין לְךָ דָּבָר שֶׁקָּרֵב כֻּלּוֹ לַמִּזְבֵּחַ כְּמוֹת שֶׁהוּא אֶלָּא לְבוֹנָה. פֵּרֵשׁ נִדְרוֹ וְשָׁכַח מַה פֵּרֵשׁ יָבִיא מִכָּל דָּבָר שֶׁקָּרֵב כֻּלּוֹ לַמִּזְבֵּחַ. לְפִיכָךְ מֵבִיא עוֹלַת בְּהֵמָה וְעוֹלַת הָעוֹף וּמִנְחַת נְסָכִים וּלְבוֹנָה וְיַיִן בִּפְנֵי עַצְמוֹ:

When one says: "I promise to bring [an offering] for the altar," he should bring a handful of frankincense, for there is nothing that is offered entirely on the altar in its immediate state except for frankincense.If he specified his vow, but forgot what he specified to bring, he should bring every type of entity that is offered on the altar in its entirety. Therefore he should bring a burnt-offering of an animal, a burnt-offering of fowl, a meal-offering of flour, frankincense, and wine alone.).

אָמַר הֲרֵי עָלַי בְּסֶלַע לַמִּזְבֵּחַ יָבִיא כֶּבֶשׂ. שֶׁאֵין לְךָ דָּבָר שֶׁקָּרֵב בְּסֶלַע לַמִּזְבֵּחַ אֶלָּא כֶּבֶשׂ. פֵּרֵשׁ וְשָׁכַח מַה שֶּׁפֵּרֵשׁ יָבִיא בְּסֶלַע מִכָּל דָּבָר וְדָבָר שֶׁקָּרֵב לַמִּזְבֵּחַ:

When a person says: "I promise to bring [an offering] worth a sela to the altar," he should bring a sheep, for there is nothing offered on the altar worth [exactly] a sela except a sheep. If he specified [a particular entity], but forgot what he specified, he should bring a sela's worth of everything that is offered on the altar.

הָאוֹמֵר הֲרֵי עָלַי לְבוֹנָה לֹא יִפְחֹת מִקֹּמֶץ. הֲרֵי עָלַי עֵצִים לֹא יִפְחֹת מִשְּׁנֵי גְּזָרִים עָבִין כִּמְחוּקוֹת וְאָרְכָּן אַמָּה. הֲרֵי עָלַי עֵץ מֵבִיא גֶּזֶר אֶחָד אָרְכּוֹ אַמָּה. וְאִם רָצָה לְהָבִיא דְּמֵי הָעֵצִים יָבִיא:

When a person says: "I promise to bring frankincense," he should not bring less than a handful. 106b derives this concept from a comparison to the flour offered from a meal offering, just as there a handful is offered, so too, a handful of frankincense should be offered. If one says: "I promise to bring wood," he should not bring less than two logs as thick as a leveling rod that are a cubit long. 7:3. "I promise to bring a piece of wood," he should bring one log a cubit long. If he desires to bring the worth of the logs, he may. 3:3).

מִי שֶׁנָּדַר אוֹ הִתְנַדֵּב שֶׁמֶן כֵּיצַד עוֹשִׂין בּוֹ. קוֹמֵץ מִמֶּנּוּ קֹמֶץ וְנוֹתֵן עָלָיו מֶלַח וְזוֹרְקוֹ עַל גַּבֵּי הָאִשִּׁים וְהַשְּׁאָר נֶאֱכָל לַכֹּהֲנִים כִּשְׁיָרֵי מְנָחוֹת. וְכֵיצַד עוֹשִׂין בְּיַיִן הַבָּא בִּפְנֵי עַצְמוֹ. נוֹתֵן עָלָיו מֶלַח וּמְנַסְּכוֹ כֻּלּוֹ עַל גַּבֵּי הַשִּׁיתִין כְּכָל הַנְּסָכִים. וְהַלְּבוֹנָה הַבָּאָה בִּפְנֵי עַצְמָהּ נוֹתֵן עָלֶיהָ מֶלַח וְכֻלָּהּ לָאִשִּׁים:

What should a person who vowed or pledged to bring oil do? He should take a handful of it, questions how one takes a handful of oil. put salt on it, 5:11). and toss it on the fire. The remainder is eaten by the priests like the remainder of the meal offerings.What is done with wine that is brought independently? It is salted, states that salt is not required for wine that is offered on the altar, that refers to wine offered as a libation accompanying other sacrifices. When, however, wine is offered alone, salt is required (Kessef Mishneh). and then poured entirely down the shittin 2:11 which states: "There were two cavities in the southwest corner [of the Altar], resembling two thin nostrils.... The blood [which was poured onto the Altar] would run off through them and... [ultimately,] go out to the Kidron River." like the other libations.). Frankincense which is brought independently should be salted and then offered on the pyre in its entirety.

מִי שֶׁנָּדַר נֵדֶר לֹא יְבִיאֶנּוּ מִמְּעוֹת מַעֲשֵׂר שֵׁנִי שֶׁהֲרֵי נִתְחַיֵּב בְּקָרְבָּן זֶה וְכָל הַמְחֻיָּב בְּקָרְבָּן לֹא יָבִיא קָרְבָּנוֹ אֶלָּא מִן הַחֻלִּין:

When a person vowed [to bring a sacrifice], he should not bring it from money [for which] the second tithe [was redeemed]., ch. 4, when a person lives far from Jerusalem and cannot easily take produce from the second tithe to the holy city, he should redeem it for money. That money must be used to purchase food which must be eaten in Jerusalem according to the strictures that apply to the second tithe. [The rationale is that] he became obligated to bring this sacrifice and anyone who is obligated to bring a sacrifice may bring it only from ordinary property.

אָמַר הֲרֵי עָלַי תּוֹדָה מִן הַחֻלִּין וְלַחְמָהּ מִן הַמַּעֲשֵׂר לֹא יָבִיא לַחְמָהּ אֶלָּא מִן הַחֻלִּין. שֶׁהֲרֵי נָדַר בְּקָרְבַּן תּוֹדָה וְהַתּוֹדָה אֵינָהּ בָּאָה אֶלָּא עִם הַלֶּחֶם מִן הַחֻלִּין:

If a person states: "I promise to bring a thanksgiving-offering from ordinary funds and its bread from the [second] tithe," he should bring its bread only from ordinary funds. [The rationale is that] he vowed to bring a thanksgiving-offering and that offering comes only when accompanied by bread which is from ordinary property.

פֵּרֵשׁ וְאָמַר הֲרֵי עָלַי לְהָבִיא תּוֹדָה מִמְּעוֹת מַעֲשֵׂר שֵׁנִי וְלַחְמָהּ מִן הַחֻלִּין יֵשׁ לוֹ לְהָבִיא כְּמוֹ שֶׁנָּדַר. וְאִם הֵבִיא הַכּל מִן הַחֻלִּין יָצָא. וְכֵן אִם פֵּרֵשׁ וְאָמַר הֲרֵי עָלַי תּוֹדָה הִיא וְלַחְמָהּ מִן הַמַּעֲשֵׂר יָבִיא. וְלֹא יָבִיא לַחְמָהּ מֵחִטֵּי מַעֲשֵׂר שֵׁנִי אֶלָּא מִמְּעוֹת מַעֲשֵׂר שֵׁנִי כְּמוֹ הַבְּהֵמָה שֶׁהִיא מִמְּעוֹת מַעֲשֵׂר שֵׁנִי. וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁפֵּרֵשׁ שֶׁיָּבִיא לַחְמָהּ מִן הַמַּעֲשֵׂר לֹא יָבִיא נְסָכֶיהָ מִמְּעוֹת מַעֲשֵׂר שֵׁנִי שֶׁאֵין הַנְּסָכִים בָּאִין לְעוֹלָם אֶלָּא מִן הַחֻלִּין כְּמוֹ שֶׁבֵּאַרְנוּ. לְפִי שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בָּהֶן (במדבר טו ד) "וְהִקְרִיב הַמַּקְרִיב קָרְבָּנוֹ" עַד שֶׁיִּהְיוּ מִשֶּׁלּוֹ וְלֹא יִהְיֶה בָּהֶן צַד לְגָבוֹהַּ כְּלָל:

If he explicitly said: "I promise to bring a thanksgiving offering from money from the second tithes and its bread from ordinary property," he may bring [the sacrifice] as he vowed. If he brought it all from ordinary property, he fulfilled his obligation. 7:5; based on Menachot 81b), the Rambam writes that it is indeed more desirable for him to bring the sacrifice from ordinary funds. Similarly, if he explicitly said: "I promise to bring a thanksgiving-offering and its bread from the second tithe," he may bring it [as vowed]. He should not bring the bread from wheat that is the second tithe, but from [flour purchased with] money [for which] the second tithe was redeemed like the animal which was [purchased with] such money.Even though he explicitly stated that he would bring the bread from [the money of] the second] tithe, he should not bring its libations from the money of the second tithe, for at all times, libations must be brought solely from ordinary funds, as explained. [The rationale is] that concerning [the libations], [Numbers 15:4] states: "The one who offers them shall offer his sacrifice." Implied is that the sacrifice must be his without having any dimension that belongs to the Most High.