Temurah - תמורה

Seder Kodashim | Tractate on Substitution

About Temurah

Masechet Temurah deals with the laws of substitution (תמורה) - when a person attempts to exchange a consecrated animal for a non-consecrated one. The tractate discusses:

• The prohibition against substituting animals and the consequences when one does so
• Which people can effect substitution (individuals, but not the community or partners)
• Which animals can become substitutes
• The status of substituted animals and offspring of consecrated animals
• What happens to various types of disqualified offerings

The core principle: when someone tries to substitute a non-sacred animal for a consecrated one, both animals become sacred. The original remains consecrated, AND the substitute becomes consecrated too - plus the person receives lashes for violating the prohibition.

Structure

Temurah contains 7 chapters and 34 mishnayot.

Available Mishnayot

Chapter 1

• Temurah 1:1-2 - Who can substitute; substituting across animal types
• Temurah 1:3-4 - Limbs and fetuses; proportional principles
• Temurah 1:5-6 - What cannot make substitution; communal offerings

Chapter 2

• Temurah 2:1-2 - Offerings that create substitutes
• Temurah 2:3-3:1 - Cross-chapter: Offspring and substitutes

Chapter 3

• Temurah 2:3-3:1 - Cross-chapter: Offspring and substitutes
• Temurah 3:2-3 - The offspring of various offerings
• Temurah 3:4-5 - What to do with disqualified offerings

Chapter 4

• Temurah 4:1-2 - Offspring of peace offerings and substitutes
• Temurah 4:3-4 - Substitutes for blemished animals

Chapter 5

• Temurah 5:1-2 - Mixed-up offerings and animals
• Temurah 5:3-4 - More cases of mixed offerings
• Temurah 5:5-6 - Animals that must be left to die

Chapter 6

• Temurah 6:1-2 - Items thrown into the Dead Sea
• Temurah 6:3-4 - What is burned vs. buried
• Temurah 6:5-7:1 - Cross-chapter: Disposal of sacred items

Chapter 7

• Temurah 6:5-7:1 - Cross-chapter: Disposal of sacred items
• Temurah 7:2-3 - Consecrated animals born with blemishes
• Temurah 7:4-5 - What may be eaten vs. what must be burned
• Temurah 7:6-Keritot 1:1 - Final mishna; transition to Keritot

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