Bartenura on Mishnah Bikkurim Chapter 2
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הַתְּרוּמָה וְהַבִּכּוּרִים חַיָּבִין עֲלֵיהֶן מִיתָה. זָר הָאוֹכְלָן בְּמֵזִיד חַיָּב מִיתָה בִּידֵי שָׁמַיִם, דִּכְתִיב בַּתְּרוּמָה (ויקרא כב) וּמֵתוּ בוֹ כִּי יְחַלְּלֻהוּ, וּבִכּוּרִים אִקְּרוּ תְּרוּמָה, דְּאָמַר מַר וּתְרוּמַת יָדֶךָ, אֵלּוּ בִּכּוּרִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בָּהֶן (דברים כו) וְלָקַח הַכֹּהֵן הַטֶּנֶא מִיָּדֶךָ:
התרומה והבכורים חייבין עליהן מיתה – A foreigner (i.e., non-Kohen/priest) who willfully eats them (i.e., the heave offering and the first-fruit offerings) are liable to death at the hands of heaven, as it is written regarding the heave offering (Leviticus 22:9): “[They shall keep My charge, lest they incur guilt thereby] and die for it, having committed profanation: [I the LORD consecrate them].” And “First-Fruits” are called/referred to as Terumah, “the Terumah of your hands” are the First Fruits, as it says concerning them (Deuteronomy 26:4): “The priest shall take the basket from your hand [and set it down in front of the altar of the LORD your God].”
וְחֹמֶשׁ. הָאוֹכְלָן שׁוֹגֵג מְשַׁלֵּם קֶרֶן לַבְּעָלִים וְחֹמֶשׁ לְכָל כֹּהֵן שֶׁיִּרְצֶה:
וחומש – He (i.e., the foreigner/non-Kohen) who eats of them inadvertently pays the principal amount to the owners and the additional fifth to any Kohen that he desires.
וַאֲסוּרִים לְזָרִים. בְּחִנָּם הִיא שְׁנוּיָה, דְּכֵיוָן שֶׁחַיָּבִין עֲלֵיהֶם מִיתָה וְחֹמֶשׁ פְּשִׁיטָא שֶׁאֲסוּרִים לְזָרִים. וּלְרַבִּי יוֹחָנָן דְּאָמַר חֲצִי שִׁעוּר אָסוּר מִן הַתּוֹרָה, מָצִינַן לְמֵימַר דִּתְנַן אֲסוּרִים לְזָרִים לַחֲצִי שִׁעוּר, שֶׁהוּא אָסוּר מִן הַתּוֹרָה, וְאֵין בּוֹ לֹא מִיתָה וְלֹא חֹמֶשׁ:
ואסורים לזרים – it is taught [in the Mishnah] for no reason, for since they (i.e., the non-Kohen who partakes of these) are liable for the death penalty [if eaten willfully] and the payment of the additional fifth [in addition to the principal if eaten inadvertently], it is obvious that it is forbidden to foreigners (i.e., non-Kohanim). And for Rabbi Yochanan who stated that half the legal size is forbidden from the Torah, we have found [worthy] to say that is taught in the Mishnah “forbidden to non-Kohanim/foreigners” for half the legal size – that this is forbidden from the Torah, and there is no death [penalty] or [payment of] the additional fifth.
וְהֵן נִכְסֵי כֹהֵן. שֶׁיָּכוֹל לְמָכְרָן וְלִקַּח בָּהֶן עֲבָדִים וְקַרְקָעוֹת וּבְהֵמָה טְמֵאָה:
וְעוֹלִים בְּאֶחָד וּמֵאָה. אִם נִתְעָרְבוּ בְּמֵאָה שֶׁל חֻלִּין:
ועולים באחד ומאה – If it got mixed with one-hundred parts of unconsecrated things.
וּטְעוּנִים רְחִיצַת יָדַיִם. הַבָּא לִגַּע בָּהֶן צָרִיךְ לִטֹּל יָדָיו תְּחִלָּה, שֶׁסְּתָם יָדַיִם פּוֹסְלוֹת אֶת הַתְּרוּמָה, וּבִכּוּרִים נַמִּי אִקְּרוּ תְּרוּמָה:
וטעונים רחיצת ידים – A Kohen who wishes to touch them must first [ritually] wash his hands , for one’s unknown hands (i.e., if they are defiled or not) invalidate the Terumah/heave-offering and First Fruits are also called/referred to as Terumah.
וְהַעֲרֵב שֶׁמֶשׁ. טָמֵא שֶׁטָּבַל אֵינוֹ אוֹכֵל בִּתְרוּמָה עַד שֶׁיַּעֲרִיב שִׁמְשׁוֹ, דִּכְתִיב (ויקרא כב) וּבָא הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ וְטָהֵר וְאַחַר יֹאכַל מִן הַקָּדָשִׁים, וְהוּא הַדִּין לְבִכּוּרִים:
והערב שמש – An impure person (i.e., in this case, a Kohen), who ritually immersed himself cannot partake of the Terumah until sunset, as it is written (Leviticus 22:7): ‘As soon as the sun sets, he shall be pure; and afterward he may eat of the sacred donations [for they are his food].” And same law applies to the First Fruits.
מַה שֶּׁאֵין כֵּן בַּמַּעֲשֵׂר. דְּשָׁרֵי לְזָרִים, וְאָסוּר לִקְנוֹת בִּדְמֵי מַעֲשֵׂר שֵׁנִי בְּהֵמָה טְמֵאָה וַעֲבָדִים וְקַרְקָעוֹת, וּבָטֵל בְּרוֹב הֵיכָא דְּאֵין לוֹ מַתִּירִין, וְהַנּוֹגֵעַ בּוֹ אֵין טָעוּן רְחִיצַת יָדַיִם, וְאֵין צָרִיךְ הַעֲרֵב שֶׁמֶשׁ, דְּאָמְרִינַן טָבַל וְעָלָה אוֹכֵל בַּמַּעֲשֵׂר:
משא"כ במעשר – which is permitted to foreigners (i.e., non-Kohanim). But it is forbidden to purchase with the monetary value of the Second Tithe/Ma’aser Sheni an impure animal or slaves and land, and it is made void with a majority of it where there is not an act that makes it permissible. But he who touches it does not require the ritual washing of the hands, and it does not require [waiting until] sunset for we have said: He may immerse and come up and eat the Second Tithe.
הֲבָאַת מָקוֹם. לְהַעֲלוֹתָן לִירוּשָׁלַיִם, דִּכְתִיב (דברים יב) וַהֲבֵאתֶם שָׁמָּה עֹלֹתֵיכֶם וְזִבְחֵיכֶם וְאֵת מַעַשְׂרֹתֵיכֶם וְאֵת תְּרוּמַת יֶדְכֶם, וְדָרְשִׁינַן תְּרוּמַת יֶדְכֶם אֵלּוּ הַבִּכּוּרִים:
הבאת מקום – to bring them (Ma’aser Sheni and Bikkurim) to Jerusalem, as it is written (Deuteronomy 12:6): “And there you are to bring your burnt offerings and other sacrifices, your tithes and contributions…”And they [i.e., the Rabbis] expound that “contributions”/תרומת ידכם are First Fruits.
וּטְעוּנִים וִדּוּי. בַּמַּעֲשֵׂר כְּתִיב (שם כו) וְאָמַרְתָּ לִפְנֵי ה' אֱלֹקֶיךָ בִּעַרְתִּי הַקֹּדֶשׁ מִן הַבַּיִת, וּבַבִּכּוּרִים כְּתִיב (שם) וְעָנִיתָ וְאָמַרְתָּ לִפְנֵי ה' אֱלֹהֶיךָ אֲרַמִּי אֹבֵד אָבִי. וְאַף עַל גַּב דִּתְרוּמָה נַמִּי בַּעְיָא וִדּוּי כִּדְאָמְרִינַן וְגַם נְתַתִּיו לַלֵּוִי זוֹ תְּרוּמָה וּתְרוּמַת מַעֲשֵׂר, מִיהוּ מַעֲשֵׂר וּבִכּוּרִים מַעֲשֵׂר לְבַדּוֹ אוֹ בִכּוּרִים לְבַדָּן טְעוּנִים וִדּוּי, וּתְרוּמָה אִי לֵית לֵיהּ אֶלָּא תְּרוּמָה לְבַדָּהּ אֵינוֹ טָעוּן וִדּוּי:
וטעונים וידוי – Regarding [Second and Poor] Tithes, it is written (Deuteronomy 26:13): “You shall declare before the LORD your God: ‘I have cleared out the consecrated portion from the house’..” and regarding First Fruits, it is written (Deuteronomy 26:5): “You shall then recite as follows before the LORD your God: ‘My father was a fugitive Aramean’.…” And even though the heave offering (of consecrated foodstuffs) also requires confession as we say (Deuteronomy 26:13): “and I have given it to the Levite, [the stranger, the fatherless and the widow]…”, this is the heave offering/consecrated food [for the Kohen] and the contribution of tithes [by the Levite for the Kohen]. However, However, the [second] tithe and First Fruits are separate tithes, or First Fruits alone require confession, and the heave offering/consecrated food for the Kohen if he only has the heave offering, it does not require confession.
וַאֲסוּרִין לָאוֹנֵן. בַּמַּעֲשֵׂר כְּתִיב (שם) לֹא אָכַלְתִּי בְאֹנִי מִמֶּנּוּ. וּבַבִּכּוּרִים נֶאֱמַר (שם) וְשָׂמַחְתָּ בְכָל הַטּוֹב, מְלַמֵּד שֶׁאֲסוּרִים לָאוֹנֵן:
ואסורין לעונן – Regarding the [Second] tithe, it is written (Deuteronomy 26:14): “I have not eaten of iot while in mourning,” and regarding First Fruits, it is states (Deuteronomy 26:11): “And you shall rejoice, [together with the Levite and the stranger in your midst]…” which teaches that these are forbidden to someone in mourning (literally, someone whose dead lies before them, as yet unburied).
וְרַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן מַתִּיר. בִּכּוּרִים לָאוֹנֵן, דִּתְרוּמָה קְרִינְהוּ רַחֲמָנָא, וּתְרוּמָה שַׁרְיָא לָאוֹנֵן:
ורבי שמעון מתיר – [Rabbi Shimon permits] First Fruits [to a Kohen] in mourning, for they are called “heave offerings/consecrated food” by the Torah and heave offerings are permitted to someone in mourning.
וְחַיָּבִים בַּבִּעוּר. לְבַעֲרָן מִן הָעוֹלָם לְסוֹף שָׁלֹשׁ שָׁנִים, כְּדִכְתִיב בְּפָרָשַׁת מַעֲשֵׂר (דברים כו) בִּעַרְתִּי הַקֹּדֶשׁ מִן הַבַּיִת, וּמַשְׁמַע נַמִּי בִּכּוּרִים מִדִּכְתִיב הַקֹּדֶשׁ, הַקֹּדֶשׁ הָאָמוּר לְמַעְלָה, אֵלּוּ בִּכּוּרִים שֶׁנֶּאֶמְרוּ בַּפָּרָשָׁה שֶׁלְּמַעְלָה:
וחייבים בביעור – to remove them out of existence from the world at the end of three years, as it is written in the portion of the [Second] tithe (Deuteronomy 26:13): “I have removed the consecrated portion from the house” and implying also First Fruits, since it is written, “the consecrated portion”. The higher level of sanctity is the First Fruits, which were mentioned in the portion above it.
וְרַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן פּוֹטֵר. בִּכּוּרִים מִן הַבִּעוּר, אֶלָּא יִנָּתְנוּ לַכֹּהֵן, דִּתְרוּמָה קְרִינְהוּ רַחֲמָנָא, וּתְרוּמָה אֵין צָרִיךְ לְבַעֲרָהּ מִן הָעוֹלָם:
ור"ש פוטר – [Rabbi Shimon exempts] First Fruits from the [commandment of] removal, but they should be given to the Kohen, since they are called “Terumah” by the Torah and there is no need to remove Terumah/heave-offering from the world.
וַאֲסוּרִים. מַעֲשֵׂר שֵׁנִי וּבִכּוּרִים שֶׁנִּתְעָרְבוּ בְּחֻלִּין אוֹסְרִים תַּעֲרֻבְתָּן בְּכָל שֶׁהוּ, וְאֵין עוֹלִים בְּאֶחָד וּמֵאָה:
Are forbidden. [If ]maaser sheni or bikkurim become mixed with chullin, the mixture is forbidden irrespective of the relative quantities, and [they] are not nullified if [the ratio to the chullin is less than] one to a hundred.
מִלֶּאֱכֹל בִּירוּשָׁלַיִם. כְּלוֹמַר אִם נִתְעָרְבוּ הַמַּעֲשֵׂר שֵׁנִי אוֹ הַבִּכּוּרִים בְּעוֹד שֶׁהֵן בְּתוֹךְ יְרוּשָׁלַיִם, אָז אוֹסְרִים תַּעֲרֻבְתָּן בְּכָל שֶׁהוּא מִלֶּאֱכֹל בְּתוֹרַת חֻלִּין, מִשּׁוּם דַּהֲוֵי דָּבָר שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ מַתִּירִין, הוֹאִיל וְיָכוֹל לֶאֱכֹל הַתַּעֲרֹבֶת כֻּלָּהּ בִּמְקוֹמָהּ. אֲבָל מַעֲשֵׂר שֵׁנִי וּבִכּוּרִים שֶׁנִּתְעָרְבוּ בְּחֻלִּין חוּץ לִירוּשָׁלַיִם אֵינָן אוֹסְרִין בְּכָל שֶׁהוּא, הוֹאִיל וְיֵשׁ טֹרַח לְהַעֲלוֹתָן, לֹא מִקְרֵי דָּבָר שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ מַתִּירִין:
[May] not be eaten in Yerushalaim. That is to say ["may not be eaten if they were mixed while they were in Yerushalayim":] if maaser sheni or bikkurim become mixed with chullin while they are in Yerushalaim, then the mixture is forbidden to be eaten by the laws of chullin, because they are something for which there are reasons to allow [davar sheyesh lo matirin, a category discussed also in Beitzah, 3b: a prohibited item that can be permitted without the process of nullification, and as such the nullification does not take place, not even if mixed in the ratio of a thousand to one] because it is possible to eat the whole mixture where it [already] is, [i.e. Yerushalaim]. But maaser sheni or bikkurim that become mixed with chullin outside of Yerushalaim are not forbidden irrespective of the relative quantities, because it takes effort to bring them up [to Yerushalaim], and as such are not defined as something for which there is reason to allow.
וְגִדּוּלֵיהֶם אֲסוּרִים. תַּעֲרֹבֶת שֶׁל מַעֲשֵׂר וּבִכּוּרִים שֶׁזְּרָעָם וְצָמְחוּ וְגָדְלוּ, אוֹתָן הַגִּדּוּלִים נַמִּי אֲסוּרִים לֶאֱכֹל בְּתוֹרַת חֻלִּין אִם זְרָעָן וְגָדְלוּ בִּירוּשָׁלַיִם. וְאוֹסְרִין תַּעֲרֻבְתָּן בְּכָל שֶׁהוּא, כֵּיוָן שֶׁיְּכוֹלִים לֵאָכֵל בִּמְקוֹמָם:
And their growths are forbidden. [In the case of]a mixture of maaser [sheni] or bikkurim that was planted and sprouted and grew, also the growths are forbidden to be eaten by the laws of chullin if they are planted and grown in Yerushalaim. And their mixture is forbidden, irrespective of the relative quantities, because it is possible to eat it there in its place.
אַף לְזָרִים וְלַבְּהֵמָה. מַעֲשֵׂר שֵׁנִי וּבִכּוּרִים שֶׁאוֹסְרִין תַּעֲרֻבְתָּן בְּכָל שֶׁהוּא, וְגִדּוּלֵיהֶן נַמִּי דַּאֲסוּרִין, אַף לְזָרִים וְלַבְּהֵמָה אֲסוּרִים. אִם בִּכּוּרִים הֵם אוֹסְרִין הַתַּעֲרֹבֶת לְזָרִים, וְאִם מַעֲשֵׂר הוּא אוֹסֵר [אֶת] הַתַּעֲרֹבֶת לַבְּהֵמָה, דְּלֹא תֵימָא דַּוְקָא לְעִנְיַן לֵאָכֵל חוּץ לִירוּשָׁלַיִם הוּא דְּאוֹסְרִים בְּכָל שֶׁהוּא, דִּלְהַאי מִלְּתָא חֲשִׁיבֵי דָּבָר שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ מַתִּירִין כֵּיוָן שֶׁיָּכוֹל לְאָכְלָן בִּמְקוֹמָם בִּירוּשָׁלַיִם וַאֲפִלּוּ בְּאֶלֶף לֹא בָטְלֵי, אֲבָל לֶאֱסֹר הַתַּעֲרֹבֶת לְזָרִים וְלַבְּהֵמָה דְּאִסּוּר זָרוּת וּבְהֵמָה אֵין לוֹ מַתִּירִין, סָלְקָא דַעְתָּךְ אֲמֵינָא דְּלֹא יַאַסְרוּ תַּעֲרֻבְתָּן בְּכָל שֶׁהוּא, קָמַשְׁמַע לָן דְּכֵיוָן דְּחָל עַל הַתַּעֲרֹבֶת שֵׁם בִּכּוּרִים וּמַעֲשֵׂר לֵאָסֵר לְאָכְלָן חוּץ לִירוּשָׁלַיִם, חָל נַמִּי לְעִנְיַן זֶה לֵאָסֵר לֶאֱכֹל לְזָרִים אִם הֵן בִּכּוּרִים, אוֹ לַבְּהֵמָה אִם הוּא מַעֲשֵׂר:
אף לזרים ולבהמה – Second Tithe and First Fruits where we forbid their combination in any amount and their growth also is forbidden, and is forbidden [as well] even for foreigners (i.e. non-Kohanim) and cattle. If [we are dealing with] First Fruits, their combination is forbidden to foreigners and if [we are dealing with] [Second] Tithe, their combination is forbidden for cattle, that is not say specifically regarding the matter of it being eaten outside of Jerusalem which is forbidden in any amount, for that matter we consider a thing which requires an act to make them permissible for one can consume them in their place in Jerusalem, and even in one-thousand parts is not neutralized. But to prohibit this mixture to foreigners (i.e. non-Kohanim) and cattle, for the prohibition of foreigners an cattle have nothing that will make it permissible. You might think that I should say that they would not prohibit the
וְרַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן מַתִּיר. אַגִּדּוּלֵיהֶן בִּלְבָד קָאֵי, דְּסָבַר כְּבָר בְּטֵלִים הֵם, אֲבָל בַּתַּעֲרֹבֶת עַצְמָהּ מוֹדֶה רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן. וְאֵין הֲלָכָה כְּרַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בְּכֻלָּהּ מַתְנִיתִין:
mixture in any amount, therefore, it comes to teach us that since this mixture carries the name “First Fruits” and “[Second] Tithe,” which prohibits eating them outside of Jerusalem, regarding this matter, applies the prohibition for foreigners to eat them if they are First Fruits, or for cattle if it is [Second] Tithe.
מַה שֶּׁאֵין כֵּן בַּתְּרוּמָה. שֶׁכָּל הַדִּינִים הַלָּלוּ אֵין נוֹהֲגִים בַּתְּרוּמָה:
ור' שמעון מתיר – This refers only to their growth, for he thinks that they are nullified, but regarding the mixture itself, Rabbi Shimon admits [that it is permitted]. But the Halakha is not according to Rabbi Shimon for this entire Mishnah.
אוֹסְרִין אֶת הַגֹּרֶן. אָסוּר לֶאֱכֹל מִתְּבוּאָה שֶׁבַּגֹּרֶן עַד שֶׁיַּפְרִישׁ תְּרוּמוֹת וּמַעַשְׂרוֹת, אֲבָל בִּכּוּרִים אֵינָן אוֹסְרִין:
אוסרין את הגורן – It is prohibited to eat from the grain in the threshing floor/granary until the heave-offering/sacred donations to the Kohen and tithes are separated out but First Fruits do not prohibit [the granary].
וְיֵשׁ לָהֶן שִׁעוּר. תְּרוּמָה יֵשׁ לָהּ שִׁעוּר מִדְּרַבָּנָן אֶחָד מֵחֲמִשִּׁים, אֲבָל בִּכּוּרִים אֵין לָהֶם שִׁעוּר אֲפִלּוּ מִדְּרַבָּנָן:
ויש להן שיעור – The heave-offering/sacred-donation to the Kohanim have a Rabbinically [determined] minimal measure which is one-fiftieth (2%), but First Fruits lack a minimal measure, even Rabbinically.
וְנוֹהֲגִים בְּכָל הַפֵּרוֹת. מִדְּרַבָּנָן, וּבִכּוּרִים אֵינָן בָּאִין אֶלָּא מִשִּׁבְעַת הַמִּינִין:
ונוהגים בכל הפירות – Rabbinically, but First Fruits may only come from the seven species (Deuteronomy 8:8 – i.e., wheat, barley, wine, figs, pomegranates, olives and honey).
בִּפְנֵי הַבַּיִת וְשֶׁלֹּא בִפְנֵי הַבַּיִת. וּבִכּוּרִים אֵינָן אֶלָּא בִּפְנֵי הַבַּיִת בִּלְבָד, דִּכְתִיב בְּהוּ (דברים כו) וְהִנִּיחוֹ לִפְנֵי מִזְבַּח ה' אֱלֹהֶיךָ, אִם אֵין מִזְבֵּחַ אֵין בִּכּוּרִים:
בפני הבית ושלא בפני הבית – But Bikkurim are in effect only when the Temple exists, as it is written regarding them (Deuteronomy 26:4): “[The priest shall take the basket from your hand] and set it down in front of the altar of the LORD your God.” If there is no altar, there are no “First Fruits.”
וּבַאֲרִיסוּת וּבַחֲכִירוּת וְכוּ'. מְפֹרָשׁ לְעֵיל בְּרֵישׁ פֶּרֶק קַמָּא, וּבִכּוּרִים אֵינָן בָּאִין אֶלָּא מִמִּי שֶׁהַקַּרְקַע שֶׁלּוֹ מִן הַדִּין דִּכְתִיב (שמות כג) בִּכּוּרֵי אַדְמָתְךְ:
ובאריסות ובחכירות וכו' – It is explained above at the beginning of the first chapter of Bikkurim (Mishnah 2), for the First Fruits do not come other than from someone whose field is legally his, as it is written (Exodus 23:19): “The choice first fruits of your soil [you shall bring to the house of the LORD your God.”
נִקְנִים בִּמְחֻבָּר לַקַּרְקַע. דִּכְתִיב (במדבר יח) בִּכּוּרֵי כָּל אֲשֶׁר בְּאַרְצָם, בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁהֵם מְחֻבָּרִים בְּאַרְצָם בִּכּוּרִים הֵם, וְהָכִי תְּנַן לְקַמָּן יוֹרֵד אָדָם לְתוֹךְ שָׂדֵהוּ וְכוּ' קוֹשְׁרוֹ בְגֶמִי וְאוֹמֵר הֲרֵי אֵלּוּ בִכּוּרִים:
נקנים במחובר לקרקע – As it is written (Numbers 18:13): “The first fruits of everything in their land [that they bring to the LORD, shall be yours; everyone of your household who is clean may eat them].” At the time when they are attached [to the ground] in their land they are “First Fruits,” and such is taught in the Mishnah (Chapter 3, Mishnah 1) further on, “A person goes down into his field, etc. and ties it with bulrushes/reed-grass and says: ‘Behold these are First Fruits’.”
וְעוֹשֶׂה אָדָם כָּל שָׂדֵהוּ בִּכּוּרִים. דִּכְתִיב בִּכּוּרֵי כָּל, מֵרֵאשִׁית כָּל:
ועושה אדם כל שדהו בכורים – as it is written (Numbers 18:13): “The first fruits of everything [in their land]…”
וּטְעוּנִים קָרְבָּן. נֶאֱמַר בַּבִּכּוּרִים שִׂמְחָה, וְשָׂמַחְתָּ בְּכָל הַטּוֹב, וְנֶאֱמַר לְהַלָּן (דברים כז) וְזָבַחְתָּ שְׁלָמִים וְאָכַלְתָּ שָׁם וְשָׂמַחְתָּ, מַה לְּהַלָּן שְׁלָמִים אַף כָּאן שְׁלָמִים:
וטעונים קרבן – It is stated with regard to First Fruits: “joy” [as written in Deuteronomy 26:11): “And you shall enjoy (literally, “you shall rejoice”),[together with the Levite and the stranger in your midst…].” And it states further on (Deuteronomy 27:7): “And you shall sacrifice there offerings of well-being and eat them, rejoicing before the LORD your God.” Just as there (Deuteronomy 27:7), [it speaks about] offerings of well-being, so too here (Deuteronomy 26:11).
וְשִׁיר. נֶאֱמַר כָּאן בְּכָל הַטּוֹב, וְנֶאֱמַר לְהַלָּן (יחזקאל לג) כְּשִׁיר עֲגָבִים יְפֵה קוֹל וּמֵטִב נַגֵּן:
ושיר – It is stated here (Deuteronomy 26:11): “You shall enjoy…all the bounty” and it is stated further on (Ezekiel 33:32): “[To them you are just] a singer of bawdy songs, who has a sweet voice and plays skillfully; [they hear your words , but will not obey them].”
וּתְנוּפָה. כְּתִיב הָכָא וְלָקַח הַכֹּהֵן הַטֶּנֶא מִיָּדֶךָ, וּכְתִיב הָתָם (ויקרא ז) יָדָיו תְּבִיאֶינָה אֵת אִשֵּׁי ה', מַה לְהַלָּן תְּנוּפָה אַף כָּאן תְּנוּפָה:
ותנופה – It is written here (Deuteronomy 26:4): “The priest shall take the basket from your hand;” and it is written there (Leviticus 7:30): “His own hands shall present the LORD’s offerings by fire. [He shall present the fat with the breast, the breast to be elevated as an elevation offering before the LORD].” Just as there is an elevation offering, so also here an elevation offering.
וְלִינָה. שֶׁיָּלִין בִּירוּשָׁלַיִם כָּל הַלַּיְלָה שֶׁל אַחַר הַיּוֹם שֶׁהֵבִיא הַבִּכּוּרִים, דִּכְתִיב (דברים טז) וּפָנִיתָ בַבֹּקֶר וְהָלַכְתָּ לְאֹהָלֶיךָ, הָא כָּל פּוֹנוֹת לֹא יִהְיוּ אֶלָּא בַּבֹּקֶר:
ולינה – It will stay over in Jerusalem the entire night after the day that he brought the First Fruits, as it is written (Deuteronomy 16:7): “[You shall cook and eat it at the place that the LORD your God will choose;] and in the morning you may start back on your journey home.” Therefore all “starting back” that you do only take place in the morning.
נִטֶּלֶת מִן הַטָּהוֹר עַל הַטָּמֵא. דְּהָא דְאֵין תְּרוּמָה נִטֶּלֶת מִן הַטָּהוֹר עַל הַטָּמֵא הַיְנוּ טַעֲמָא מִשּׁוּם דְּבָעִינַן מֻקָּף וְחָיְשִׁינַן דִּלְמָא לֹא מַקִּיף דְּמִסְתְּפֵי דִּלְמָא נָגַע הַטָּהוֹר בַּטָּמֵא. וְהַאי טַעֲמָא לֵיכָּא לְמֵימַר הָכָא, דְּהָא נִתְרֶמֶת שֶׁלֹּא מִן הַמֻּקָּף:
נטלת מן הטהור על הטמא – For behold, the heave-offering/sacred donations [for a Kohen] are not taken from that which is pure/clean from that which is unclean/impure which is the reason that we require that which is close-by, and we are concerned that perhaps they are not close-by, for there is doubt that perhaps the pure came in contact with the impure. And this is the reason that we say here that the heave-offering/sacred donations is not taken from a mass which is not in close neighborhood of those products which are to be redeemed.
וְיֵשׁ לָהּ שִׁעוּר כַּתְּרוּמָה. שֶׁהַתְּרוּמָה נָתְנוּ בָהּ חֲכָמִים שִׁעוּר, תְּרֵי מִמֵּאָה:
ויש לה שיעור כתרומה – For the Sages gave a [minimum] measure for the heave-offering/Terumah – two out of one-hundred.
שָׁוֶה לָאִילָן. דְּאָזְלִינַן בָּתַר חֲנָטָה, וּמוֹנִין לוֹ שָׁלֹשׁ לָעָרְלָה מִשְּׁעַת חֲנָטָה. וְכֵן לָרְבָעִי וְכֵן לַשְּׁבִיעִית, דְּאִם נֶחְנַט בַּשִּׁשִּׁית וְנִגְמַר בַּשְּׁבִיעִית מֻתָּר, וּמִכָּל מָקוֹם פָּטוּר מִמַּעֲשֵׂר, דִּלְעִנְיַן מַעֲשֵׂר אָזְלִינַן בָּתַר לְקִיטָה כְּדִין יָרָק, וְכֵיוָן דְּנִלְקַט בַּשְּׁבִיעִית פָּטוּר מִמַּעֲשֵׂר:
שוה לאילן – that we “go” (i.e. determine it) following the formation of fruits or leaves. For we count [the] three [years towards] “Orlah”/being uncircumcised fruit (i.e., fruit-trees of the first three years) from the time when its leaves/fruit form, and similarly for that which is in its fourth year (which was carried to Jerusalem to be eaten there). And similarly for the seventh year produce, for its fruit/leaves formed in the sixth year and were completed in the seventh year, it is permissible [to eat from them]. But nevertheless, it is exempt from tithing, for concerning [the laws of] tithing, we follow after harvesting like the laws of vegetation, and since it is harvested in the seventh year, it is exempt from tithing.
דַּם מְהַלְּכֵי שְׁתַּיִם. הַיְנוּ דַּם הָאָדָם, כְּמוֹ דַּם חֲלָלִין:
דם מהלכי שתים – which is the blood of a human being, like the blood of the slain
לְהֶכְשֵׁר. לְהַכְשִׁיר אֶת הַזְּרָעִים לְקַבֵּל טֻמְאָה כְּמוֹ דַם בְּהֵמָה דִּכְתִיב בֵּיהּ (דברים יב) עַל הָאָרֶץ תִּשְׁפְּכֶנּוּ כַּמָּיִם:
להכשיר את הזרעים – to be susceptible to become defiled such as the blood of cattle, as it is written concerning it (Deuteronomy 12:24): “You must not partake of it; you must pour it out on the ground like water.”
וְדַם הַשֶּׁרֶץ. כְּלוֹמַר וְשָׁוֶה דַּם מְהַלְּכֵי שְׁתַּיִם לְדַם הַשֶּׁרֶץ, שֶׁאֵין חַיָּבִין עָלָיו מִשּׁוּם דָּם. וְדַוְקָא כְּשֶׁהִתְרוּ בוֹ מִשּׁוּם דָּם אֵין חַיָּבִין עַל דַּם הַשֶּׁרֶץ, אֲבָל אִם הִתְרוּ בוֹ מִשּׁוּם שֶׁרֶץ לוֹקֶה, שֶׁדַּם הַשֶּׁרֶץ כִּבְשָׂרוֹ הוּא:
ודם השרץ – that is to say, that the blood of those walking on two legs (i.e., human beings) is equivalent to the blood of unclean reptiles/moving creatures, which concerning them we are not liable because of the [prohibition of] blood. But specifically, if they warned him concerning [the] blood, we are not liable for the blood of unclean reptiles but if they warned him on account of the unclean reptiles, he is flogged since the blood of unclean reptiles is like its flesh.
כּוֹי. נֶחְלְקוּ בוֹ חַכְמֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, יֵשׁ אוֹמְרִים שֶׁהוּא אֵיל הַבָּר, וְיֵשׁ אוֹמְרִים שֶׁהוּא תַּיִשׁ הַבָּא עַל הַצְּבִיָּה, וְיֵשׁ אוֹמְרִים בְּרִיָּה בִּפְנֵי עַצְמָהּ הִיא. וְלֹא הִכְרִיעוּ בָהּ חֲכָמִים אִם חַיָּה הִיא אִם בְּהֵמָה:
כוי – The Sages of Israel disputed on [what this is]; there are those who say that a כוי – is a forest ram; and there are those who say that it is [the offspring of] a he-goat [that copulated] with a female gazelle; and there are those who say that it is a [unique] creature unto itself. But the Sages did not decide if it is a beast of chase/deer or cattle.
טָעוּן כִּסּוּי כְּדַם חַיָּה. לְחֻמְרָא, וְאֵין מְבָרְכִין עַל כִּסּוּיוֹ, כֵּיוָן דְּסָפֵק הוּא:
טעון כיסוי כדם חיה – As a stringency’ and we do not recite a blessing on the act of covering with ashes the blood of killed animals, since it is a matter of doubt.
וְאֵין שׁוֹחֲטִין אוֹתוֹ בְּיוֹם טוֹב. לְפִי שֶׁאָסוּר לְכַסּוֹת אֶת דָּמוֹ, וְאַף עַל גַּב דְּאֵפֶר כִּירָה מוּכָן הוּא, מוּכָן לְוַדַּאי וְאֵינוֹ מוּכָן לְסָפֵק:
ואין שוחטין אותו ביום טוב – Since it is prohibited to cover its blood, even though the ashes of the portable stove are ready for him; they are ready/prepared for something definitive, but not something doubtful.
בְּטֻמְאַת נְבֵלָה כַּחַיָּה. דְּחֵלֶב בְּהֵמָה טְהוֹרָה טָהוֹר הוּא, כִּדְיָלְפִינַן מִן וְחֵלֶב נְבֵלָה וְחֵלֶב טְרֵפָה יֵעָשֶׂה לְכָל מְלָאכָה (ויקרא ז), וּמִשּׁוּם דִּסְפֵק בְּהֵמָה הוּא וְחֶלְבּוֹ טָהוֹר, סְפֵק חַיָּה וְחֶלְבּוֹ טָמֵא, לְפִיכָךְ טֻמְאָתוֹ סָפֵק:
בטומאת נבילה בחיה – For the fat of a pure cattle is pure, as we derive from “Fat from animals that died or were torn by beasts may be put to any use, but you must not eat it” (Leviticus 7:24). And because it is it is doubtfully cattle and its fat is pure; it is doubtfully a deer/beast of chase, and its fat is impure, therefore, its impurity is doubtful.
וְאֵין פּוֹדִין בּוֹ פֶּטֶר חֲמוֹר. שֶׁמָּא חַיָּה הוּא, וְרַחֲמָנָא אָמַר (שמות לד) וּפֶטֶר חֲמוֹר תִּפְדֶּה בְשֶׂה, וְהַאי סָפֵק שֶׂה סָפֵק צְבִי:
ואין פודין בו פטר חמור – lest it is an animal of chase/deer and the Torah stated (Exodus 34:20): “But the firstling of an ass you shall redeem with a sheep; [if you do not redeem it, you must break its neck].” But this is doubtful whether it is a sheep or a deer.
חֶלְבּוֹ אָסוּר כְּחֵלֶב בְּהֵמָה. כְּחֵלֶב שׁוֹר וְכֶשֶׂב וָעֵז:
חלבו אסור כחלב בהמה – like the abdominal fat of oxen, sheep or goats
וְאֵין חַיָּבִין עָלָיו כָּרֵת. לְהָבִיא חַטָּאת עַל שִׁגְגָתוֹ. וְהוּא הַדִּין שֶׁאֵין לוֹקִין עָלָיו:
ואין חייבין עליו כרת – to bring a sin offering on his inadvertent error, and the same law applies that he is not to be flogged.
וְאֵינוֹ נִלְקָח בְּכֶסֶף מַעֲשֵׂר לְאָכְלוֹ בִּירוּשָׁלַיִם. דְּשֶׁמָּא בְּהֵמָה הוּא, וְאֵין לוֹקְחִין בְּהֵמָה לִבְשַׂר תַּאֲוָה מִכֶּסֶף מַעֲשֵׂר, [אֶלָּא] שְׁלָמִים:
ואינו נלקח בכסף מעשר לאכלו בירושלים – lest it is cattle. And we don’t purchase cattle for meat eaten for satisfying the appetite (i.e., secular meal of meat as opposed to sacrificial meats)from the tithe monies other than to offer peace-offerings.
וְחַיָּב בִּזְרוֹעַ וּבִלְחָיַיִם וּבְקֵבָה. דִּמְרַבִּינַן לְהוּ מִקְּרָא דִּכְתִיב (דברים יח) אִם שֶׂה, לְרַבּוֹת אֶת הַכּוֹי:
וחייב בזרוע ובלחיים ובקיבה – and we include these from the Biblical verse, as it is written (Deuteronomy 18:3): “This then shall be the priests’ due from the people: Everyone who offers a sacrifice, whether it is an ox or a sheep, must give the shoulder, the cheeks, and the stomach to the priest.” The words “or a sheep”/אם שה – include the כוי/kind of bearded deer or antelope.
שֶׁהַמּוֹצִיא מֵחֲבֵרוֹ עָלָיו הָרְאָיָה. דְּאָמַר לֵיהּ בַּעַל הַבְּהֵמָה לַכֹּהֵן, אַיְתֵי רְאָיָה דְּמִין בְּהֵמָה הוּא, וּשְׁקֹל. וַהֲלָכָה כְּרַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר:
שהמוציא מחבירו עליו הראיה – As the owner of the cattle said to the Kohen, I will bring proof that it is a kind of cattle and we will balance it out. And the Halakha follows Rabbi Eliezer.
לֹא כָתַב לוֹ אֶת הַכּוֹי. אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁכָּתַב לוֹ שְׁנֵיהֶם, לֹא הָיָה דַעְתּוֹ אֶלָּא עַל וַדַּאי בְּהֵמָה אוֹ וַדַּאי חַיָּה. וְרַמְבַּ"ם פֵּרֵשׁ שֶׁאִם כָּתַב לוֹ בְּהֶמְתּוֹ לְבַד לֹא קָנָה אֶת הַכּוֹי, דְּאָמְרִינַן לֵיהּ אַיְתֵי רְאָיָה דִּבְהֵמָה הוּא, וְאִם כָּתַב לוֹ חַיָּתוֹ לְבַד אָמְרִינַן לֵיהּ אַיְתֵי רְאָיָה דְּחַיָּה הוּא. נִרְאֶה מִדְּבָרָיו שֶׁאִם כָּתַב לוֹ שְׁנֵיהֶן, קָנָה מִמָּה נַפְשָׁךְ:
לא כתב לו את הכוי – Even though he wrote both of them, he (i.e., the father) only had his mind on a [what was] a definite cow and a definite chase/deer. And Maimonides explained that if he (i.e., the father) had written (to his son) only his cattle, he (the son) did not acquire the kind of bearded deer or antelope/כוי , for when we say to him (the father), bring proof that it is cattle; for if he had written [to his son] only his chase/deer, we say to him, bring proof that it is chase/deer. And it appears from his words that if he wrote both of them, he acquired them, from whichever side you take.
אִם אָמַר הֲרֵינִי נָזִיר שֶׁזֶּה חַיָּה אוֹ בְהֵמָה. בֵּין שֶׁאָמַר הֲרֵינִי נָזִיר שֶׁזֶּה חַיָּה בֵּין שֶׁאָמַר הֲרֵינִי נָזִיר שֶׁזֶּה בְּהֵמָה, הֲרֵי זֶה נָזִיר, דִּסְפֵק אִסּוּרָא לְחֻמְרָא. וַאֲפִלּוּ אָמַר הֲרֵינִי נָזִיר שֶׁזֶּה חַיָּה וּבְהֵמָה אוֹ שֶׁזֶּה אֵינוֹ לֹא חַיָּה וְלֹא בְהֵמָה, הֲרֵי זֶה נָזִיר מִסָּפֵק:
אם אמר הריני נזיר שזה חיה או בהמה – Whether he said I am a Nazirite if this is a deer, or whether he said I am a Nazirite if this is cattle, he is a Nazirite, because in the question of doubt as to whether one has violated a negative commandment, it is judged stringently. For even if he stated, Behold, I am a Nazirite if this is deer and cattle, or this neither deer nor cattle, this is a doubtful Nazirite [and judged stringently].