PEACE-OFFERINGS. The term shelamim (peace offerings) is self-explanatory.¹ (peace). Unlike other sacrifices, shelamim are not offered for sin but rather for the continued peaceful existence of the celebrant. See I.E.’s short commentary on Ex. 29:27.

footnotes: ¹ It is related to the word shalom

BY THE LOINS. The meaning of the term kesalim (loins) is known. It is related to the word kesilehem² is, their flanks. (constellations thereof) in and the constellations thereof (Is**. 13:10).³

footnotes: ² According to I.E. the literal meaning of kesilehem ³ According to I.E. the reference is to the stars that flank the heavenly north and south poles. This was the current knowledge of astronomy in those days. See I.E. on Is. 13:10.

HARD BY THE KIDNEYS. The term al (hard by) means with,⁴ as in And they came, both men with (al) women (Ex. 35:22).⁵ Kelayot (kidneys) are so called because they are the source of lust and sex. The word kelayot is related to the word kaletah (pineth) in My soul yearneth, yea, even pineth (Ps. 84:3).

footnotes: ⁴ Its usual meaning is on. Hence I.E.’s comment. ⁵ Translated according to I.E.

THE FAT THEREOF, THE FAT TAIL ENTIRE. The meaning of chelbo ha-alyah temimah (the fat thereof, the fat tail entire) is, the fat as it is,⁶ for the tail is called fat.⁷ is, the fat thereof, that is, the tail. The Sadducees, as I will explain to you in the next Torah portion,⁸. Literally, in the second portion. err. The Gaon⁹ also errs, for he says that chelbo haalyah is to be interpreted as the fat thereof and the tail.¹⁰ The latter is contrary to the rules of grammar, for¹¹ the phrase should have read chelbo ve-alyato (its fat and its tail) or hachelev ve-ha-alyah (and its tail and its fat).

footnotes: ⁶ In its entirety. ⁷ In other words, the meaning of chelbo ha-alyah ⁸ The Torah portion Tzav ⁹ Rabbi Saadiah Gaon. ¹⁰ In other words, Scripture speaks of two organs. ¹¹ According to Rabbi Saadiah Gaon’s interpretation.

THE RUMP-BONE. The meaning of atzeh (rump-bone) is known from its context. It has no brother.¹² There is a commentator who far-fetchedly connected it to the word etz (tree).¹³ (rump-bone) is as hard as wood.

footnotes: ¹² The word is not found again in Scripture. ¹³ For the atzeh

THE FOOD¹⁴. OF THE OFFERING MADE BY FIRE. I have previously explained that the meaning of lechem is food.¹⁵ It is found in reference to fruit¹⁶ and meat.¹⁷

footnotes: ¹⁴ Hebrew, lechem ¹⁵ It does not refer only to bread. See I.E. on Ex.16:4 (Vol. 2, p. 316). ¹⁶ See Jer. 11:19. ¹⁷ In our verse.

AND IF HIS OFFERING BE A GOAT. Any animal classified as a goat, be it male or female,¹⁸ (goat) takes in both males and females. as is the case with a sheep.¹⁹. The term keves applies to both males and females. See verse 7. Scripture does not mention the fat tail with regard to the herd. It only mentions it with regard to the lamb because the tail of a goat or a bull is small. Furthermore, the lambs in the Land of Israel have a large tail.²⁰ The latter is well known.²¹ 5:3.

footnotes: ¹⁸ In other words, the term ez ¹⁹ Hebrew, keves ²⁰ A large fat tail. ²¹ See Sabbath

ALL THE FAT IS THE LORD’S. This is a general statement. Now, since the fat and the blood belong to God, they are prohibited to you. I will expostulate at length on the phrase a perpetual statute in the next Torah portion.