“This is the offering of Aaron and his sons that they shall present to the Lord on the day he is anointed: One-tenth of an ephah of fine flour as a perpetual meal offering, half of it in the morning, and half of it in the evening” (Leviticus 6:13). “This is the offering of Aaron and of his sons” – Rabbi Levi began: “For God is judge” (Psalms 75:8). A noblewoman asked Rabbi Yosei bar Ḥalafta, she said to him: ‘In how many days did the Holy One blessed be He create His world?’ He said to her: ‘In six days, as it is written: “For in six days the Lord made the heavens…”’ (Exodus 31:17). She said to them: ‘And from that time until now, what has He been sitting and doing?’ He said to her: ‘He is matchmaking; the wife of so-and-so is allotted to so-and-so, the daughter of so-and-so is allotted to so-and-so, the money of so-and-so is allotted to so-and-so.’1The reference is to money that will be allotted as a dowry. She said to him: ‘Is that all? I too can do so. I have several slaves and I have several maidservants, and I can make matches between them in a short time.’ He said to her: ‘If it appears simple in your eyes, before the Holy One blessed be He it is as difficult as the parting of the Red Sea.’ He left her and went on his way. What did she do? She sent and brought one thousand slaves and one thousand maidservants and stood them in several lines. She said to them: ‘So-and-so man shall marry so-and-so woman, and so-and-so [shall marry] so-and-so.’ She made matches between them in one night. In the morning they came to her. This one’s head was wounded, this one’s eye was gouged, this one’s elbow was shattered, and this one’s leg was broken. This one said: ‘I do not want that one.’ That one said: ‘I do not want this one.’ Immediately she sent and brought Rabbi Yosei bar Ḥalafta. She said to him: ‘Rabbi, your Torah is true; it is fine and praiseworthy. Everything that you said, you said correctly.’ He said to her: ‘Is that not what I said to you: If it appears simple in your eyes, before the Holy One blessed be He it is as difficult as the parting of the Red Sea, as it is stated: “God settles the individuals in a home; He liberates prisoners bound in fetters [bakosharot]” (Psalms 68:7). What is “bakosharot”? It is with weeping [bekhi] and with song [veshirot]. To one who is satisfied, with song; to one who is unsatisfied, with weeping.2One who is happy with his match sings songs of praise, and one who is unhappy weeps. But the Holy One blessed be He matches them against their will and not to their liking.’3Even when it is not to their liking, God sometimes matches people up and ensures that they remain together (Matnot Kehuna). Rabbi Berekhya said: Rabbi Yosei bar Ḥalafta answered her in these words: ‘The Holy One blessed be He sits and crafts ladders; He elevates this one and humbles that one, as it is stated: “For God is judge; He humbles this one and elevates that one”’ (Psalms 75:8). Rabbi Yona Botzri interpreted the verse in Israel’s regard: They were humbled with the term “this,” and they were elevated with the term “this.” They were humbled with the term “this”: “For this [man] Moses [who brought us up from the land of Egypt, we do not know what became of him]” (Exodus 32:1).4This was stated by the people immediately before committing the sin of the Golden Calf. They were elevated with the term “this”: “This they shall give, everyone who passes [among the counted: Half a shekel in the sacred shekel]” (Exodus 30:13).5This donation was given by each individual in advance of the construction of the Tabernacle. The Rabbis interpret the verse in Aaron’s regard. With the term “this” he was humbled: “I cast it into the fire and this calf emerged” (Exodus 32:24). With the term “this” he was elevated: “This is the offering of Aaron and his sons…”
Another matter: “This is the offering of Aaron” – that is what the verse said: “He said to them: From the eater emerged food” (Judges 14:14). Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman said: When the Divine Spirit began to resonate in Samson, it began in three places, as it is stated: “The spirit of the Lord began to move him in the camp of Dan, between Tzora and Eshtaol” (Judges 13:25). What is “between Tzora and Eshtaol”?6What mighty act did he perform there? Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman said: It teaches that he took two mountains and knocked them against one another, like a person who takes two pebbles and knocks them against one another. Rabbi Yehuda and Rabbi Naḥman: Rabbi Yehuda said: When the Divine Spirit would rest upon him, he would take a single stride like the distance from Tzora to Eshtaol. Rabbi Naḥman said: When the Divine Spirit would rest upon him, his hairs would stand on end and would knock against one another like a bell, and the sound would travel like the distance between Tzora and Eshtaol. When he descends to Timna, “Samson, his father, and his mother descended to Timna […a young lion was roaring toward him. The spirit of the Lord rested upon him, and he tore it apart as one would tear apart a kid]” (Judges 14:5–6). “The spirit of the Lord rested upon him, and he descended to Ashkelon [and he smote thirty of their men]” (Judges 14:19); “he came to Leḥi…[The spirit of the Lord rested upon him, and the ropes that were on his arms became like flax that was burned with fire, and his bonds dissolved from upon his hands]” (Judges 15:14). When he returned from Timna, he said: I will go and see the fallen lion, as it is stated: “After a year, he returned to take her, [and he turned aside to see the carcass of the lion; and behold, there was a swarm of bees in the carcass of the lion, and honey], and he scraped it into his hands” (Judges 14:8–9). Samson was wondering in his heart, and he said: A lion eats all beasts and now food is emerging from it? So too, Aaron eats all the offerings and now an offering is emerging from him? Which is that? It is the offering of Aaron and his sons.
Regarding the matter itself, Rabbi Idi said: David yearned for the offering of the princes.7David yearned to construct the Temple and to inaugurate it with offerings as the Tabernacle had been inaugurated with the offerings of the princes (see Numbers, chap. 7). That is what is written: “[I will offer You] burnt offerings of fattened animals [with the burning of rams; I will sacrifice oxen and goats]” (Psalms 66:15). Which offering contains in it bulls, rams, and sheep? It is only the offering of the princes, as it is stated: “And for the sacrifice of peace offerings, [two oxen, five rams, five goats, five sheep]” (Numbers 7:17). Rabbi Yehuda, Rabbi Neḥemya, and the Rabbis: Rabbi Yehuda says: The offering of the princes was as beloved before the Holy One blessed be He as the song that Israel sang at the sea. The song that Israel recited at the sea: “This [zeh] is my God and I will exalt Him” (Exodus 15:2), and here it is written: “This [zeh] is the offering of Naḥshon ben Aminadav” (Numbers 7:17). Rabbi Neḥemya said: The offering of the princes was as beloved before the Holy One blessed be He as the two Tablets of the Covenant. Regarding the two Tablets of the Covenant it is written: “From this side and from that side they were inscribed” (Exodus 32:15), and here it is written: “This is the offering of Naḥshon ben Aminadav.” The Rabbis say: The offering of Aaron was as beloved before the Holy One blessed be He as the offering of the princes. Regarding the offering of the princes it is written: “This is the offering of Naḥshon ben Aminadav,” and here it is written: “This is the offering of Aaron.” Rabbi Berekhya said: The offering of Aaron was as beloved before the Holy One blessed be He as the twelve tribes. What is the source? “This [zeh]”: the numerical value of zeh is zayin – seven and heh – five; that is twelve.
“On the day he is anointed: One-tenth of an ephah” – Rabbi Yoḥanan said in the name of Rabbi Shimon ben Yehotzadak: It teaches that the tenth of an ephah is a prerequisite for the priesthood of Aaron and his sons. “Fine flour as a perpetual meal offering” – Rabbi Yehoshua of Sikhnin said in the name of Rabbi Levi: Come and see the extent to which the Holy One blessed be He spares Israel’s money. He said to them: One who is obligated to bring an offering shall bring it from the cattle: “If his offering is a burnt offering [from the cattle]” (Leviticus 1:3). If he was unable to find from the cattle, he shall bring a sheep: “If a sheep” (Leviticus 3:7). If he was unable to find from the sheep, he shall bring from the goats: “And if a goat” (Leviticus 3:12). If he was unable to find from the goats, he shall bring from the birds: “If from the birds” (Leviticus 1:14). If he was unable to find from the birds, he shall bring fine flour: “Fine flour as a perpetual meal offering.” Moreover, none of the offerings are brought in halves, but this is brought in halves: “Half of it in the morning, and half of it in the evening.” Moreover, anyone who sacrifices it, the verse ascribes to him as though he sacrifices from one end of the world to the other,8It is as though he sanctified God’s Name throughout the entire world. as it is stated: “For from the rising of the sun to its setting, [My name is great among the nations, and in every place burnt-offerings and pure meal-offerings are presented to My name]” (Malachi 1:11).
זֶה קָרְבַּן אַהֲרֹן וּבָנָיו (ויקרא ו, יג), רַבִּי לֵוִי פָּתַח (תהלים עה, ח): כִּי אֱלֹהִים שֹׁפֵט, מַטְרוֹנִיתָא שָׁאֲלָה אֶת רַבִּי יוֹסֵי בַּר חֲלַפְתָּא, אָמְרָה לוֹ, בְּכַמָּה יָמִים בָּרָא הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא אֶת עוֹלָמוֹ, אָמַר לָהּ, לְשֵׁשֶׁת יָמִים, דִּכְתִיב (שמות לא, יז): כִּי שֵׁשֶׁת יָמִים עָשָׂה ה' אֶת הַשָּׁמַיִם וגו'. אָמְרָה לוֹ, וּמֵאוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה עַד עַכְשָׁו מַהוּ יוֹשֵׁב וְעוֹשֶׂה, אָמַר לָהּ מְזַוֵּג זִוּוּגִים, אִשְׁתּוֹ שֶׁל פְּלוֹנִי לִפְלוֹנִי, בִּתּוֹ שֶׁל פְּלוֹנִי לִפְלוֹנִי, מָמוֹנוֹ שֶׁל פְּלוֹנִי לִפְלוֹנִי. אָמְרָה לוֹ, הֲדָא הוּא, אַף אֲנִי יְכוֹלָה לַעֲשׂוֹת כֵּן, כַּמָּה עֲבָדִים יֵשׁ לִי וְכַמָּה שְׁפָחוֹת יֵשׁ לִי וַאֲנִי יְכוֹלָה לְזַוְּגָם בְּשָׁעָה אֶחָת. אָמַר לָהּ, אִם קַלָּה הִיא בְּעֵינַיִךְ קָשָׁה הִיא לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא כִּקְרִיעַת יַם סוּף, הִנִּיחָהּ וְהָלַךְ לוֹ. מֶה עָשְׂתָה, שָׁלְחָה וְהֵבִיאָה אֶלֶף עֲבָדִים וְאֶלֶף שְׁפָחוֹת, וְהֶעֱמִידָה אוֹתָן שׁוּרוֹת שׁוּרוֹת, אָמְרָה לָהֶם פְּלוֹנִי יִשָּׂא לִפְלוֹנִית פְּלוֹנִי לִפְלוֹנִית, זִוְּגָן בְּלַיְלָה אַחַת, לְצַפְרָא אָתִין לְגַבָּהּ דֵּין מֹחוֹ פְּצִיעָה וְדֵין עֵינוֹ שְׁמוּטָה וְדֵין אֲצִילֵיהּ פָּרִיךְ וְדֵין אַרְכּוּבֵיהּ תְּבִירָה, דֵּין אֲמַר לֵינָא בָּעֲיָא לְדֵין, וְדֵין אֲמַר לֵינָא בָּעֲיָא לְדֵין. מִיָּד שָׁלְחָה וְהֵבִיאָה אֶת רַבִּי יוֹסֵי בַּר חֲלַפְתָּא, אָמְרָה לוֹ, רַבִּי אֱמֶת הִיא תּוֹרַתְכֶם נָאָה מְשֻׁבַּחַת הִיא, יָפֶה אָמַרְתָּ כָּל מַה שֶּׁאָמַרְתָּ. אָמַר לָהּ לֹא כָךְ אָמַרְתִּי לָךְ אִם קַלָּה הִיא בְּעֵינַיִךְ קָשָׁה הִיא לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא כִּקְרִיעַת יַם סוּף, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (תהלים סח, ז): אֱלֹהִים מוֹשִׁיב יְחִידִים בַּיְתָה מוֹצִיא אֲסִירִים בַּכּוֹשָׁרוֹת, מַהוּ בַּכּוֹשָׁרוֹת, בְּכִי וְשִׁירוֹת, דְּבָעֵא אֲמַר שִׁירָה דְּלָא בָעֵא בָּכֵה, וּמָה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא עוֹשֶׂה מְזַוְּגָן עַל כָּרְחָן שֶׁלֹּא בְּטוֹבָתָן. אָמַר רַבִּי בֶּרֶכְיָה בְּלָשׁוֹן זֶה הֵשִׁיבָהּ רַבִּי יוֹסֵי בַּר חֲלַפְתָּא, הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא יוֹשֵׁב וְעשֶׂה סֻלָּמוֹת מַגְבִּיהַּ לָזֶה וּמַשְׁפִּיל לָזֶה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (תהלים עה, ח): כִּי אֱלֹהִים שֹׁפֵט זֶה יַשְׁפִּיל וְזֶה יָרִים. רַבִּי יוֹנָה בּוֹצְרִי פָּתַר קְרָיָא בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל, בְּלָשׁוֹן זֶה הֻשְׁפָּלוּ, בְּלָשׁוֹן זֶה הוּגְבָּהוּ, בְּלָשׁוֹן זֶה הוּשְׁפָּלוּ (שמות לב, א): כִּי זֶה משֶׁה, וּבְלָשׁוֹן זֶה הוּגְבָּהוּ (שמות ל, יג): זֶה יִתְּנוּ כָּל הָעֹבֵר. וְרַבָּנָן פָּתְרִין קְרָיָא בְּאַהֲרֹן, בְּלָשׁוֹן זֶה הוּשְׁפַּל (שמות לב, כד): וָאַשְׁלִיכֵהוּ בָאֵשׁ וַיֵּצֵא הָעֵגֶל הַזֶּה, וּבְלָשׁוֹן זֶה הוּגְבַּהּ, זֶה קָרְבַּן אַהֲרֹן וּבָנָיו וגו'.
“This is the offering of Aaron and his sons that they shall present to the Lord on the day he is anointed: One-tenth of an ephah of fine flour as a perpetual meal offering, half of it in the morning, and half of it in the evening” (Leviticus 6:13).
“This is the offering of Aaron and of his sons” – Rabbi Levi began: “For God is judge” (Psalms 75:8). A noblewoman asked Rabbi Yosei bar Ḥalafta, she said to him: ‘In how many days did the Holy One blessed be He create His world?’ He said to her: ‘In six days, as it is written: “For in six days the Lord made the heavens…”’ (Exodus 31:17). She said to them: ‘And from that time until now, what has He been sitting and doing?’ He said to her: ‘He is matchmaking; the wife of so-and-so is allotted to so-and-so, the daughter of so-and-so is allotted to so-and-so, the money of so-and-so is allotted to so-and-so.’1The reference is to money that will be allotted as a dowry. She said to him: ‘Is that all? I too can do so. I have several slaves and I have several maidservants, and I can make matches between them in a short time.’ He said to her: ‘If it appears simple in your eyes, before the Holy One blessed be He it is as difficult as the parting of the Red Sea.’ He left her and went on his way. What did she do? She sent and brought one thousand slaves and one thousand maidservants and stood them in several lines. She said to them: ‘So-and-so man shall marry so-and-so woman, and so-and-so [shall marry] so-and-so.’ She made matches between them in one night. In the morning they came to her. This one’s head was wounded, this one’s eye was gouged, this one’s elbow was shattered, and this one’s leg was broken. This one said: ‘I do not want that one.’ That one said: ‘I do not want this one.’ Immediately she sent and brought Rabbi Yosei bar Ḥalafta. She said to him: ‘Rabbi, your Torah is true; it is fine and praiseworthy. Everything that you said, you said correctly.’ He said to her: ‘Is that not what I said to you: If it appears simple in your eyes, before the Holy One blessed be He it is as difficult as the parting of the Red Sea, as it is stated: “God settles the individuals in a home; He liberates prisoners bound in fetters [bakosharot]” (Psalms 68:7). What is “bakosharot”? It is with weeping [bekhi] and with song [veshirot]. To one who is satisfied, with song; to one who is unsatisfied, with weeping.2One who is happy with his match sings songs of praise, and one who is unhappy weeps. But the Holy One blessed be He matches them against their will and not to their liking.’3Even when it is not to their liking, God sometimes matches people up and ensures that they remain together (Matnot Kehuna).
Rabbi Berekhya said: Rabbi Yosei bar Ḥalafta answered her in these words: ‘The Holy One blessed be He sits and crafts ladders; He elevates this one and humbles that one, as it is stated: “For God is judge; He humbles this one and elevates that one”’ (Psalms 75:8).
Rabbi Yona Botzri interpreted the verse in Israel’s regard: They were humbled with the term “this,” and they were elevated with the term “this.” They were humbled with the term “this”: “For this [man] Moses [who brought us up from the land of Egypt, we do not know what became of him]” (Exodus 32:1).4This was stated by the people immediately before committing the sin of the Golden Calf. They were elevated with the term “this”: “This they shall give, everyone who passes [among the counted: Half a shekel in the sacred shekel]” (Exodus 30:13).5This donation was given by each individual in advance of the construction of the Tabernacle. The Rabbis interpret the verse in Aaron’s regard. With the term “this” he was humbled: “I cast it into the fire and this calf emerged” (Exodus 32:24). With the term “this” he was elevated: “This is the offering of Aaron and his sons…”
דָּבָר אַחֵר, זֶה קָרְבַּן אַהֲרֹן, זֶה שֶׁאָמַר הַכָּתוּב (שופטים יד, יד): וַיֹּאמֶר לָהֶם מֵהָאֹכֵל יָצָא מַאֲכָל, אָמַר רַבִּי שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר נַחְמָן כֵּיוָן שֶׁהִתְחִיל רוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ לְגַשְׁגֵּשׁ בְּשִׁמְשׁוֹן בִּשְׁלשָׁה מְקוֹמוֹת הִתְחִיל, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שופטים יג, כה): וַתָּחֶל רוּחַ ה' לְפַעֲמוֹ בְּמַחֲנֵה דָן בֵּין צָרְעָה וּבֵין אֶשְׁתָּאֹל, מַאי בֵּין צָרְעָה וּבֵין אֶשְׁתָּאֹל, אָמַר רַבִּי שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר נַחְמָן מְלַמֵּד שֶׁנָּטַל שְׁנֵי הָרִים וְהֵקִישָׁן זֶה לָזֶה, כְּאָדָם שֶׁנּוֹטֵל שְׁנֵי צְרוֹרוֹת וּמַקִּישָׁן זֶה לָזֶה. רַבִּי יְהוּדָה וְרַבִּי נַחְמָן, רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אָמַר בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁהָיְתָה רוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ שְׁרוּיָה עָלָיו הָיָה פּוֹסֵעַ פְּסִיעָה אַחַת כְּמִצָּרְעָה וְעַד אֶשְׁתָּאֹל. רַבִּי נַחְמָן אָמַר בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁהָיְתָה רוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ שׁוֹרָה עָלָיו שַׂעֲרוֹתָיו עוֹמְדוֹת וְהָיוּ מַקִּישׁוֹת זוֹ לָזוֹ כְּזוֹג, וְקוֹלָן הוֹלֵךְ כְּמִצָּרְעָה וְעַד אֶשְׁתָּאֹל. כְּשֶׁהוּא יוֹרֵד לְתִמְנָתָה (שופטים יד, ה): וַיֵּרֶד שִׁמְשׁוֹן וְאָבִיו וְאִמּוֹ תִּמְנָתָה, (שופטים יד, יט): וַתִּצְלַח עָלָיו רוּחַ ה' וַיֵּרֶד אַשְׁקְלוֹן וגו', (שופטים טו, יד): הוּא בָא עַד לֶחִי, כְּשֶׁהוּא חוֹזֵר מִתִּמְנָתָה אָמַר אֵלֵךְ וְאֶרְאֶה אֶת מַפֶּלֶת הָאַרְיֵה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שופטים יד, ח ט): וַיָּשָׁב מִיָּמִים לְקַחְתָּהּ, וַיִּרְדֵהוּ אֶל כַּפָּיו, וְהָיָה שִׁמְשׁוֹן תָּמֵהַּ בְּלִבּוֹ וְאָמַר, אֲרִי אוֹכֵל כָּל הַחַיּוֹת וְעַכְשָׁיו יָצָא מִמֶּנּוּ מַאֲכָל, כָּךְ אַהֲרֹן אוֹכֵל כָּל הַקָּרְבָּנוֹת וְעַכְשָׁיו יָצָא מִמֶּנּוּ קָרְבָּן, וְאֵיזֶהוּ זֶה קָרְבַּן אַהֲרֹן וּבָנָיו.
Another matter: “This is the offering of Aaron” – that is what the verse said: “He said to them: From the eater emerged food” (Judges 14:14). Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman said: When the Divine Spirit began to resonate in Samson, it began in three places, as it is stated: “The spirit of the Lord began to move him in the camp of Dan, between Tzora and Eshtaol” (Judges 13:25). What is “between Tzora and Eshtaol”?6What mighty act did he perform there? Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman said: It teaches that he took two mountains and knocked them against one another, like a person who takes two pebbles and knocks them against one another.
Rabbi Yehuda and Rabbi Naḥman: Rabbi Yehuda said: When the Divine Spirit would rest upon him, he would take a single stride like the distance from Tzora to Eshtaol. Rabbi Naḥman said: When the Divine Spirit would rest upon him, his hairs would stand on end and would knock against one another like a bell, and the sound would travel like the distance between Tzora and Eshtaol.
When he descends to Timna, “Samson, his father, and his mother descended to Timna […a young lion was roaring toward him. The spirit of the Lord rested upon him, and he tore it apart as one would tear apart a kid]” (Judges 14:5–6). “The spirit of the Lord rested upon him, and he descended to Ashkelon [and he smote thirty of their men]” (Judges 14:19); “he came to Leḥi…[The spirit of the Lord rested upon him, and the ropes that were on his arms became like flax that was burned with fire, and his bonds dissolved from upon his hands]” (Judges 15:14). When he returned from Timna, he said: I will go and see the fallen lion, as it is stated: “After a year, he returned to take her, [and he turned aside to see the carcass of the lion; and behold, there was a swarm of bees in the carcass of the lion, and honey], and he scraped it into his hands” (Judges 14:8–9). Samson was wondering in his heart, and he said: A lion eats all beasts and now food is emerging from it? So too, Aaron eats all the offerings and now an offering is emerging from him? Which is that? It is the offering of Aaron and his sons.
גּוּפָא אָמַר רַבִּי אִידֵי מִתְאַוֶּה הָיָה דָּוִד לְקָרְבָּנָם שֶׁל נְשִׂיאִים, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (תהלים סו, טו): עֹלוֹת מֵחִים וגו', אֵיזֶה קָרְבָּן שֶׁיֵּשׁ בּוֹ פָּרִים וְאֵילִים וּכְבָשִׂים, אֶלָּא קָרְבָּנָם שֶׁל נְשִׂיאִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (במדבר ז, יז): וּלְזֶבַח הַשְּׁלָמִים וגו'. רַבִּי יְהוּדָה וְרַבִּי נְחֶמְיָה וְרַבָּנָן, רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר חָבִיב קָרְבָּנָם שֶׁל נְשִׂיאִים לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא כַּשִּׁירָה שֶׁאָמְרוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל בַּיָּם, שִׁירָה שֶׁאָמְרוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל בַּיָּם (שמות טו, ב): זֶה אֵלִי וְאַנְוֵהוּ, וְכָאן כְּתִיב (במדבר ז, יז): זֶה קָרְבַּן נַחְשׁוֹן בֶּן עַמִּינָדָב. רַבִּי נְחֶמְיָה אָמַר חָבִיב קָרְבָּנָם שֶׁל נְשִׂיאִים לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא כִּשְׁנֵי לוּחוֹת הַבְּרִית, בִּשְׁנֵי לוּחוֹת הַבְּרִית כְּתִיב (שמות לב, טו): מִזֶּה וּמִזֶּה הֵם כְּתֻבִים, וְכָאן כְּתִיב: זֶה קָרְבַּן נַחְשׁוֹן בֶּן עַמִּינָדָב. וְרַבָּנָן אָמְרֵי חָבִיב קָרְבָּנוֹ שֶׁל אַהֲרֹן לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא כַּקָּרְבָּן שֶׁל נְשִׂיאִים, בַּקָּרְבָּנוֹת שֶׁל נְשִׂיאִים כְּתִיב: זֶה קָרְבַּן נַחְשׁוֹן בֶּן עַמִּינָדָב, וְכָאן כְּתִיב: זֶה קָרְבַּן אַהֲרֹן. אָמַר רַבִּי בֶּרֶכְיָה חָבִיב קָרְבָּן שֶׁל אַהֲרֹן לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא כִּשְׁנֵים עָשָׂר שְׁבָטִים, מַה טַּעַם, זֶה, מִנְיַן זֶה. ז' שִׁבְעָה, ה' חֲמִשָּׁה, הָא תְּרֵי עֲשַׂר.
Regarding the matter itself, Rabbi Idi said: David yearned for the offering of the princes.7David yearned to construct the Temple and to inaugurate it with offerings as the Tabernacle had been inaugurated with the offerings of the princes (see Numbers, chap. 7). That is what is written: “[I will offer You] burnt offerings of fattened animals [with the burning of rams; I will sacrifice oxen and goats]” (Psalms 66:15). Which offering contains in it bulls, rams, and sheep? It is only the offering of the princes, as it is stated: “And for the sacrifice of peace offerings, [two oxen, five rams, five goats, five sheep]” (Numbers 7:17).
Rabbi Yehuda, Rabbi Neḥemya, and the Rabbis: Rabbi Yehuda says: The offering of the princes was as beloved before the Holy One blessed be He as the song that Israel sang at the sea. The song that Israel recited at the sea: “This [zeh] is my God and I will exalt Him” (Exodus 15:2), and here it is written: “This [zeh] is the offering of Naḥshon ben Aminadav” (Numbers 7:17). Rabbi Neḥemya said: The offering of the princes was as beloved before the Holy One blessed be He as the two Tablets of the Covenant. Regarding the two Tablets of the Covenant it is written: “From this side and from that side they were inscribed” (Exodus 32:15), and here it is written: “This is the offering of Naḥshon ben Aminadav.” The Rabbis say: The offering of Aaron was as beloved before the Holy One blessed be He as the offering of the princes. Regarding the offering of the princes it is written: “This is the offering of Naḥshon ben Aminadav,” and here it is written: “This is the offering of Aaron.” Rabbi Berekhya said: The offering of Aaron was as beloved before the Holy One blessed be He as the twelve tribes. What is the source? “This [zeh]”: the numerical value of zeh is zayin – seven and heh – five; that is twelve.
בְּיוֹם הִמָּשַׁח אֹתוֹ עֲשִׂירִת הָאֵפָה (ויקרא ו, יג), רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן יְהוֹצָדָק אָמַר מְלַמֵּד שֶׁעֲשִׂירִית הָאֵפָה מְעַכֶּבֶת לִכְהֻנַּת אַהֲרֹן וּבָנָיו. (ויקרא ו, יג): סֹלֶת מִנְחָה תָּמִיד, רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ דְּסִכְנִין בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי לֵוִי אָמַר בּוֹא וּרְאֵה כַּמָּה חָס הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא עַל מָמוֹנָם שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל, אָמַר לָהֶן מִי שֶׁנִּתְחַיֵּב לְהָבִיא קָרְבָּן יָבִיא מִן הַבָּקָר (ויקרא א, ג): אִם עוֹלָה קָרְבָּנוֹ, וְאִם לֹא מָצָא מִן הַבָּקָר, יָבִיא כֶּבֶשׂ (ויקרא ג, יז): אִם כֶּבֶש, וְאִם לֹא מָצָא מִן הַכְּבָשִׂים, יָבִיא מִן הָעִזִּים (ויקרא ג, יב): וְאִם עֵז, וְאִם לֹא מָצָא מִן הָעִזִּים יָבִיא מִן הָעוֹפוֹת (ויקרא א, יד): וְאִם מִן הָעוֹף, וְאִם לֹא מָצָא מֵהָעוֹף יָבִיא סֹלֶת (ויקרא א, יד): סֹלֶת מִנְחָה תָּמִיד. וְלֹא עוֹד אֶלָּא שֶׁכָּל הַקָּרְבָּנוֹת אֵינָן בָּאִים חֲצָיִּים וְזוֹ בָאָה חֲצָיִּים (ויקרא ו, יג): מַחֲצִיתָהּ בַּבֹּקֶר וּמַחֲצִיתָהּ בָּעָרֶב. וְלֹא עוֹד אֶלָּא כָּל מִי שֶׁהוּא מַקְרִיב אוֹתָהּ, מַעֲלֶה עָלָיו הַכָּתוּב כְּאִלּוּ הוּא מַקְרִיב מִסּוֹף הָעוֹלָם וְעַד סוֹפוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (מלאכי א, יא): כִּי מִמִּזְרַח שֶׁמֶשׁ וְעַד מְבוֹאוֹ וגו'.
“On the day he is anointed: One-tenth of an ephah” – Rabbi Yoḥanan said in the name of Rabbi Shimon ben Yehotzadak: It teaches that the tenth of an ephah is a prerequisite for the priesthood of Aaron and his sons.
“Fine flour as a perpetual meal offering” – Rabbi Yehoshua of Sikhnin said in the name of Rabbi Levi: Come and see the extent to which the Holy One blessed be He spares Israel’s money. He said to them: One who is obligated to bring an offering shall bring it from the cattle: “If his offering is a burnt offering [from the cattle]” (Leviticus 1:3). If he was unable to find from the cattle, he shall bring a sheep: “If a sheep” (Leviticus 3:7). If he was unable to find from the sheep, he shall bring from the goats: “And if a goat” (Leviticus 3:12). If he was unable to find from the goats, he shall bring from the birds: “If from the birds” (Leviticus 1:14). If he was unable to find from the birds, he shall bring fine flour: “Fine flour as a perpetual meal offering.” Moreover, none of the offerings are brought in halves, but this is brought in halves: “Half of it in the morning, and half of it in the evening.” Moreover, anyone who sacrifices it, the verse ascribes to him as though he sacrifices from one end of the world to the other,8It is as though he sanctified God’s Name throughout the entire world. as it is stated: “For from the rising of the sun to its setting, [My name is great among the nations, and in every place burnt-offerings and pure meal-offerings are presented to My name]” (Malachi 1:11).