There are 24 presents that are given to the priests.¹ All of them are explicitly mentioned in the Torah. A covenant was established with Aaron over all of them.² Any priest who does not acknowledge them³ 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.

footnotes: ¹ The Rambam specifies and categorizes them in this chapter. ² Numbers 18:19 speaks of 'an eternal covenant of salt.' It is called a covenant of salt, because just as salt never spoils, so too, this covenant will endure forever (Rashi). ³ The Kessef Mishneh

Every [priest] who partakes of one of the presents [given to the priests] that is sanctified⁴ 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].⁵ 10:1-2. And see Hilchot Terumah 15:22 which describes partaking of terumah.

footnotes: ⁴ E.g., like terumah ⁵ These presents also include elements of the sacrificial offerings. The Rambam speaks about the mitzvah to partake of these sacred foods in Hilchot Ma'aseh HaKorbanot

Eight of the presents may be eaten by the priests only in the Sanctuary, within the walls of the Temple Courtyard.⁶). Five of them may be eaten only in Jerusalem within the walls of the city.⁷ According to Scriptural Law, there are five presents that are acquired [by the priests] only in Eretz Yisrael.⁸ There are five presents that they acquire both in Eretz Yisrael and in the Diaspora.⁹ And there is one present that that they acquire from the Temple's [property].¹⁰

footnotes: ⁶ See Halachah 4. The division of the presents into these categories is not found in a prior Rabbinic source, but instead, was made by the Rambam himself (Kessef Mishneh ⁷ See Halachah 5. ⁸ See Halachah 6. ⁹ See Halachah 7. ¹⁰ See Halachah 8.

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,¹¹ 1:1; 10:3. the meat of a guilt-offering,¹² 9:1, 10:3. whether a definite guilt-offering or a guilt-offering brought because of doubt,¹³ 1:1; 10:3. communal peace offerings,¹⁴1:4, 9:4. [the portion of] the omer offering that remains,¹⁵ 7: 12. [the portion of] an Israelite's meal offering that remains,¹⁶ 10:2-3, 12:9. the two loaves [offered on Shavuot],¹⁷ 8:11. the show bread,¹⁸4:9. and the log of oil brought by a metzora.¹⁹ 4:3. [All of] these may be eaten only in the Temple.

footnotes: ¹¹ In Halachah 13, however, the Rambam considers these two as separate presents. As the Radbaz clarifies, there is a difference in the procedure involved in these two offerings. See Hilchot Ma'aseh HaKorbonot ¹² See Hilchot Ma'aseh HaKorbanot ¹³ In Halachah 13, however, the Rambam considers these two as separate presents. As the Radbaz clarifies, there is a difference in the procedure involved in these two offerings. See Hilchot Ma'aseh HaKorbonot ¹⁴ See Hilchot Ma'asehHaKorbanot ¹⁵ I.e., the portion that remains after a handful is taken to be offered on the altar. See Hilchot Temidim UMusafim ¹⁶ I.e., the portion that remains after a handful is taken to be offered on the altar. An Israelite's offering is mentioned in contrast to that of a priest which is offered on the altar entirely. See Hilchot Ma'aseh HaKorbanot ¹⁷ See Hilchot Temidim UMusafim ¹⁸ See Hilchot Temidim UMusafim ¹⁹ SeeHilchot Mechusrei Kapparah

What are the five that are eaten only in Jerusalem? The breast and the leg of the peace offering,²⁰ 10:4-5. the portion granted [the priests] from the thanksgiving offering,²¹ 9:12. the portion granted [the priests] from the ram brought by a nazirite,²² 9:12. the firstborn of a kosher animal,²³ 1:2. and the first fruits.²⁴ [all of] these may be eaten only in Jerusalem.

footnotes: ²⁰ SeeHilchot Ma'aseh HaKorbanot ²¹ See ibid. ²² See ibid. ²³ See Hilchot Bechorot ²⁴ See Chapter 3, Halachah 3.

What are the five [that are given] in Eretz Yisrael? Terumah, terumat ma'aser, and challah - these three are sanctified,²⁵ the first shearings,²⁶ and an ancestral field [that was consecrated]²⁷ 4:1-2, 19. - these are ordinary property. [The priests are granted] these according to Scriptural Law only in Eretz Yisrael.²⁸ and challah are also separated in the Diaspora. Terumot and challot from Eretz Yisrael may be eaten only in Eretz Yisrael.²⁹ 2:17).

footnotes: ²⁵ And must be eaten in a state of ritual purity. ²⁶ See Chapter 10, Halachah 1. ²⁷ See Hilchot Arachin VaCharamim ²⁸ According to Rabbinic Law, terumah ²⁹ On the contrary, if they are taken to the Diaspora, they become impure (see Hilchot Terumah

What are the five that the priests acquire in all places? The presents [given when slaughtering animals],³⁰ [the money given for] the redemption of a firstborn [son],³¹ [the lamb given for] the redemption of a firstborn [donkey],³² [property] stolen from a convert [who died heirless],³³ 8:5. and dedication offerings.³⁴6:4. These five are ordinary property.

footnotes: ³⁰ The foreleg, the jaw, and the maw; see Chapter 9, Halachah 1. ³¹ See Chapter 11. ³² See Chapter 12. ³³ See Hilchot Gezeilah ³⁴ See Hilchot Arachin VaCharamim

The present that they acquire from the Temple's property³⁵ is the hides from the burnt-offerings.³⁶ 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.

footnotes: ³⁵ The Rambam puts this present in a category of its own, because unlike all of the above which were given by individuals, this present comes from the Temple's property (Radbaz). Once the hides are given to the priests, they are considered as ordinary property and may be used for mundane purposes. ³⁶ See Hilchot Ma'aseh HaKorbanot

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.³⁷ 9:1, 10:3, 12:3. Concerning them, [Leviticus 6:22] states: 'All males among the priesthood shall partake of it.

footnotes: ³⁷ Hilchot Ma'aseh HaKorbanot

The five [presents that may be eaten only] in Jerusalem are all sacrifices of lesser sanctity.³⁸ 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.³⁹ 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].⁴⁰ 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.⁴¹ 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.

footnotes: ³⁸ See Hilchot Ma'aseh HaKorbanot ³⁹ See Hilchot Ma'aseh HaKorbanot ⁴⁰ As explained in Hilchot K'lei HaMikdash ⁴¹ This sacrifice is not given to the priests of the weekly watch, but instead to the priest of the owner's choice [Hilchot Bechorot

Thus you have learned that the presents given [directly] to females like males are five: terumah,⁴² 12:22. *terumat ma'aser, challah,*⁴³ apply to both of these. the presents given when slaughtering an animal,⁴⁴ 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.

footnotes: ⁴² See HilchotTerumah ⁴³ For the laws applying to terumah ⁴⁴ The foreleg, the jaw, and the maw; see Chapter 9, Halachah 1.

Our Sages⁴⁵ 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.

footnotes: ⁴⁵ Tosefta, Challah

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.

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.⁴⁶

footnotes: ⁴⁶ Although these hides are not eaten in Jerusalem, but instead, can be sold and the proceeds used for any purpose, the Rambam places them in this category, because the priests would not take them out of the holy city. Instead, as a token of respect for their holiness, they would sell them there and use the proceeds to partake of food that was eaten in that holy place (Radbaz, gloss to Halachah 5).

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 offering⁴⁷ and the foreleg given the priest from the nazirite's ram, with the bread given with it, and the breast and the leg.⁴⁸ Since they are all peace offerings, all of the portions given the priests are considered as one present.

footnotes: ⁴⁷ A thanksgiving offering is one type of peace offering. ⁴⁸ I.e., from the nazirite's ram, the priest is given a foreleg, a hindleg, and the breast. And he is also given a portion of bread that is offered with that sacrifice.

AIl of the presents that are dependent on the sacrifices will be explained in their appropriate places in the laws of sacrifices.⁴⁹ Similarly, [the laws pertaining to] the stolen property of a convert will be explained in Hilchot Gezeilah.⁵⁰ 8:5. We have already explained the laws governing an ancestral field and dedication offerings in Hilchot Arachin⁵¹, 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,⁵² challah,⁵³ the presents given when slaughtering an animal,⁵⁴ the first shearings,⁵⁵ the redemption of a firstborn son,⁵⁶ the redemption of a firstborn donkey.⁵⁷

footnotes: ⁴⁹ See the sources given above. ⁵⁰ See Hilchot Gezeilah ⁵¹ Hilchot Arachin ⁵² See chs. 2-4. ⁵³ See chs. 5-8. ⁵⁴ See ch. 9. ⁵⁵ See ch. 10. ⁵⁶ See ch. 11. ⁵⁷ See ch. 12.