פרשת צו — שני (Aliyah 2)
Parashat Tzav | Leviticus 6:12–7:10 | Aliyah 2 of 7
קלאוד על הפרשה
The second aliyah of Parashat Tzav opens with a new divine address to Moses, introducing the daily meal offering of Aaron and his sons — the chavitin (Leviticus 6:12-16). This offering, a tenth of an ephah of fine flour prepared with oil on a griddle, was brought half in the morning and half in the evening. Rashi, drawing on Sifra and Menachot 51b, clarifies an important distinction embedded in the verse: while ordinary priests bring this offering only once, on the day of their inaugural service, the High Priest brings it every single day as a perpetual obligation. The word “tamid” (continual) signals this elevated duty. The preparation method — scalded, baked, then fried, and finally broken into pieces — reflects the meticulous care the Torah demands for offerings that are entirely consumed on the altar. Unlike standard meal offerings where the kometz (handful) is burned and the remainder eaten by priests, a priest’s own meal offering is burned in its entirety, as the Torah declares: “it shall not be eaten” (6:16). Ibn Ezra notes the logic: it would be unseemly for a priest to consume his own offering, for how can the one seeking atonement also be the one who benefits from eating the sacrifice?
The aliyah then transitions to the law of the chatat, the sin offering (6:17-23), introduced with the words “zot torat ha-chatat” — “this is the ritual of the sin offering.” The Torah emphasizes that this sacrifice is “kodesh kodashim,” most holy, and must be slaughtered in the same location as the burnt offering, on the north side of the altar. The officiating priest who performs the blood service eats the flesh in the sacred precinct, the courtyard of the Tent of Meeting. Rashi explains that the phrase “ha-kohen ha-mechatte otah” does not restrict consumption exclusively to the priest who sprinkled the blood, but rather to any priest who is ritually fit to perform the service — thereby excluding a priest who was tamei (impure) at the time of the blood sprinkling. This reading is confirmed by the subsequent verse (6:22), which broadens the permission: “All the males in the priestly line may eat of it.”
The passage then addresses the extraordinary sanctity that radiates outward from the chatat’s flesh. Whatever touches its meat absorbs its status — if the offering is valid, the food that touched it may be eaten only under the same stringent conditions; if the offering is disqualified, so too is whatever absorbed from it (6:20). Blood splattered on a garment must be laundered in a sacred precinct, and cooking vessels must be purified according to their material: earthenware vessels, which permanently absorb flavors, must be broken, while copper vessels can be scoured and rinsed. Rashi, citing Avodah Zarah 34a, explains the underlying principle: earthenware can never fully expel what it has absorbed, a halakhic concept that reverberates through the laws of kashrut to this day. Sforno adds a further dimension, noting that sin offerings of such gravity that their blood is brought inside the sanctuary — specifically the sin offering of the High Priest or the congregation — may not be eaten at all but must be burned entirely.
The aliyah’s final section turns to the asham, the guilt offering (7:1-10), which shares the chatat’s status as kodesh kodashim and is likewise slaughtered on the north side. Here the Torah specifies the fat portions — the broad tail, the fat covering the entrails, the two kidneys with their fat, and the diaphragm above the liver — details that had not been enumerated for the guilt offering in its earlier treatment in Parashat Vayikra. Rashi explains this was a necessary supplement, since the sin offering’s fat portions had already been detailed in Leviticus 4 but the guilt offering’s had not. The declaration “asham hu” — “it is a guilt offering” — generated significant discussion in the Talmud (Zevachim 5b), with Rabbi Eliezer and the other Sages debating whether the word “hu” teaches that the offering is invalidated if slaughtered with the wrong intent or if slaughtered outside the designated northern location.
The aliyah concludes by establishing a unifying principle: “As the sin offering, so is the guilt offering — one law for them” (7:7). The priest who performs the atonement rite receives the flesh, excluding those unfit for service. The Torah then addresses priestly entitlements more broadly: the officiating priest keeps the hide of a burnt offering, while baked, fried, and griddled meal offerings belong to the priest who offers them. Dry meal offerings and those mixed with oil, however, are distributed equally among all of Aaron’s sons. Rashi reconciles the apparent tension between the singular “the priest who offers it” and the plural “all the sons of Aaron” by explaining that the reference is to the priestly family (beit av) serving on that particular day. This careful delineation of priestly portions reflects the Torah’s broader concern with maintaining order, equity, and sanctity within the sacrificial system.
Leviticus 6:12–7:10 · ויקרא ו:יב–ז:י
פסוק ו:יב · 6:12
Hebrew:
וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר׃
English:
יהוה spoke to Moses, saying:
פסוק ו:יג · 6:13
Hebrew:
זֶ֡ה קׇרְבַּן֩ אַהֲרֹ֨ן וּבָנָ֜יו אֲשֶׁר־יַקְרִ֣יבוּ לַֽיהֹוָ֗ה בְּיוֹם֙ הִמָּשַׁ֣ח אֹת֔וֹ עֲשִׂירִ֨ת הָאֵפָ֥ה סֹ֛לֶת מִנְחָ֖ה תָּמִ֑יד מַחֲצִיתָ֣הּ בַּבֹּ֔קֶר וּמַחֲצִיתָ֖הּ בָּעָֽרֶב׃
English:
This is the offering that Aaron and his sons shall offer to יהוה on the occasion of his*his Or “their.” anointment: a tenth of an ephah of choice flour as a regular meal offering, half of it in the morning and half of it in the evening,
פסוק ו:יד · 6:14
Hebrew:
עַֽל־מַחֲבַ֗ת בַּשֶּׁ֛מֶן תֵּעָשֶׂ֖ה מֻרְבֶּ֣כֶת תְּבִיאֶ֑נָּה תֻּפִינֵי֙ מִנְחַ֣ת פִּתִּ֔ים תַּקְרִ֥יב רֵֽיחַ־נִיחֹ֖חַ לַיהֹוָֽה׃
English:
shall be prepared with oil on a griddle. You shall bring it well soaked, and offer it as a meal offering of baked*baked Meaning of Heb. tuphine uncertain. slices, of pleasing odor to יהוה.
פסוק ו:טו · 6:15
Hebrew:
וְהַכֹּהֵ֨ן הַמָּשִׁ֧יחַ תַּחְתָּ֛יו מִבָּנָ֖יו יַעֲשֶׂ֣ה אֹתָ֑הּ חׇק־עוֹלָ֕ם לַיהֹוָ֖ה כָּלִ֥יל תׇּקְטָֽר׃
English:
And so shall the priest, anointed from among his sons to succeed him, prepare it; it is יהוה’s—a law for all time—to be turned entirely into smoke.
פסוק ו:טז · 6:16
Hebrew:
וְכׇל־מִנְחַ֥ת כֹּהֵ֛ן כָּלִ֥יל תִּהְיֶ֖ה לֹ֥א תֵאָכֵֽל׃ {פ}
English:
So, too, every meal offering of a priest shall be a whole offering: it shall not be eaten.
פסוק ו:יז · 6:17
Hebrew:
וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר׃
English:
יהוה spoke to Moses, saying:
פסוק ו:יח · 6:18
Hebrew:
דַּבֵּ֤ר אֶֽל־אַהֲרֹן֙ וְאֶל־בָּנָ֣יו לֵאמֹ֔ר זֹ֥את תּוֹרַ֖ת הַֽחַטָּ֑את בִּמְק֡וֹם אֲשֶׁר֩ תִּשָּׁחֵ֨ט הָעֹלָ֜ה תִּשָּׁחֵ֤ט הַֽחַטָּאת֙ לִפְנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֔ה קֹ֥דֶשׁ קׇֽדָשִׁ֖ים הִֽוא׃
English:
Speak to Aaron and his sons thus: This is the ritual of the sin offering: the sin offering shall be slaughtered before יהוה, at the spot*the spot Cf. 1.11. where the burnt offering is slaughtered: it is most holy.
פסוק ו:יט · 6:19
Hebrew:
הַכֹּהֵ֛ן הַֽמְחַטֵּ֥א אֹתָ֖הּ יֹאכְלֶ֑נָּה בְּמָק֤וֹם קָדֹשׁ֙ תֵּֽאָכֵ֔ל בַּחֲצַ֖ר אֹ֥הֶל מוֹעֵֽד׃
English:
The priest who offers it as a sin offering shall eat of it; it shall be eaten in the sacred precinct, in the enclosure of the Tent of Meeting.
פסוק ו:כ · 6:20
Hebrew:
כֹּ֛ל אֲשֶׁר־יִגַּ֥ע בִּבְשָׂרָ֖הּ יִקְדָּ֑שׁ וַאֲשֶׁ֨ר יִזֶּ֤ה מִדָּמָהּ֙ עַל־הַבֶּ֔גֶד אֲשֶׁר֙ יִזֶּ֣ה עָלֶ֔יהָ תְּכַבֵּ֖ס בְּמָק֥וֹם קָדֹֽשׁ׃
English:
Anything that touches its flesh shall become holy; and if any of its blood is spattered upon a garment, you shall wash the bespattered part in the sacred precinct.
פסוק ו:כא · 6:21
Hebrew:
וּכְלִי־חֶ֛רֶשׂ אֲשֶׁ֥ר תְּבֻשַּׁל־בּ֖וֹ יִשָּׁבֵ֑ר וְאִם־בִּכְלִ֤י נְחֹ֙שֶׁת֙ בֻּשָּׁ֔לָה וּמֹרַ֥ק וְשֻׁטַּ֖ף בַּמָּֽיִם׃
English:
An earthen vessel in which it was boiled shall be broken; if it was boiled in a copper vessel, [the vessel] shall be scoured and rinsed with water.
פסוק ו:כב · 6:22
Hebrew:
כׇּל־זָכָ֥ר בַּכֹּהֲנִ֖ים יֹאכַ֣ל אֹתָ֑הּ קֹ֥דֶשׁ קׇֽדָשִׁ֖ים הִֽוא׃
English:
Only the males in the priestly line may eat of it: it is most holy.
פסוק ו:כג · 6:23
Hebrew:
וְכׇל־חַטָּ֡את אֲשֶׁר֩ יוּבָ֨א מִדָּמָ֜הּ אֶל־אֹ֧הֶל מוֹעֵ֛ד לְכַפֵּ֥ר בַּקֹּ֖דֶשׁ לֹ֣א תֵאָכֵ֑ל בָּאֵ֖שׁ תִּשָּׂרֵֽף׃ {פ}
English:
But no sin offering may be eaten from which any blood is brought into the Tent of Meeting for expiation in the sanctuary; any such shall be consumed in fire.
פסוק ז:א · 7:1
Hebrew:
וְזֹ֥את תּוֹרַ֖ת הָאָשָׁ֑ם קֹ֥דֶשׁ קׇֽדָשִׁ֖ים הֽוּא׃
English:
This is the ritual of the guilt offering: it is most holy.
פסוק ז:ב · 7:2
Hebrew:
בִּמְק֗וֹם אֲשֶׁ֤ר יִשְׁחֲטוּ֙ אֶת־הָ֣עֹלָ֔ה יִשְׁחֲט֖וּ אֶת־הָאָשָׁ֑ם וְאֶת־דָּמ֛וֹ יִזְרֹ֥ק עַל־הַמִּזְבֵּ֖חַ סָבִֽיב׃
English:
The guilt offering shall be slaughtered at the spot where the burnt offering is slaughtered, and the blood shall be dashed on all sides of the altar.
פסוק ז:ג · 7:3
Hebrew:
וְאֵ֥ת כׇּל־חֶלְבּ֖וֹ יַקְרִ֣יב מִמֶּ֑נּוּ אֵ֚ת הָֽאַלְיָ֔ה וְאֶת־הַחֵ֖לֶב הַֽמְכַסֶּ֥ה אֶת־הַקֶּֽרֶב׃
English:
All its fat shall be offered: the broad tail; the fat that covers the entrails;
פסוק ז:ד · 7:4
Hebrew:
וְאֵת֙ שְׁתֵּ֣י הַכְּלָיֹ֔ת וְאֶת־הַחֵ֙לֶב֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עֲלֵיהֶ֔ן אֲשֶׁ֖ר עַל־הַכְּסָלִ֑ים וְאֶת־הַיֹּתֶ֙רֶת֙ עַל־הַכָּבֵ֔ד עַל־הַכְּלָיֹ֖ת יְסִירֶֽנָּה׃
English:
the two kidneys and the fat that is on them at the loins; and the protuberance on the liver, which shall be removed with the kidneys.
פסוק ז:ה · 7:5
Hebrew:
וְהִקְטִ֨יר אֹתָ֤ם הַכֹּהֵן֙ הַמִּזְבֵּ֔חָה אִשֶּׁ֖ה לַיהֹוָ֑ה אָשָׁ֖ם הֽוּא׃
English:
The priest shall turn them into smoke on the altar as an offering by fire to יהוה; it is a guilt offering.
פסוק ז:ו · 7:6
Hebrew:
כׇּל־זָכָ֥ר בַּכֹּהֲנִ֖ים יֹאכְלֶ֑נּוּ בְּמָק֤וֹם קָדוֹשׁ֙ יֵאָכֵ֔ל קֹ֥דֶשׁ קׇֽדָשִׁ֖ים הֽוּא׃
English:
Only the males in the priestly line may eat of it; it shall be eaten in the sacred precinct: it is most holy.
פסוק ז:ז · 7:7
Hebrew:
כַּֽחַטָּאת֙ כָּֽאָשָׁ֔ם תּוֹרָ֥ה אַחַ֖ת לָהֶ֑ם הַכֹּהֵ֛ן אֲשֶׁ֥ר יְכַפֶּר־בּ֖וֹ ל֥וֹ יִהְיֶֽה׃
English:
The guilt offering is like the sin offering. The same rule applies to both: it shall belong to the priest who makes expiation thereby.
פסוק ז:ח · 7:8
Hebrew:
וְהַ֨כֹּהֵ֔ן הַמַּקְרִ֖יב אֶת־עֹ֣לַת אִ֑ישׁ ע֤וֹר הָֽעֹלָה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר הִקְרִ֔יב לַכֹּהֵ֖ן ל֥וֹ יִהְיֶֽה׃
English:
So, too, the priest who offers another person’s burnt offering shall keep the skin of the burnt offering that was offered.
פסוק ז:ט · 7:9
Hebrew:
וְכׇל־מִנְחָ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֤ר תֵּֽאָפֶה֙ בַּתַּנּ֔וּר וְכׇל־נַעֲשָׂ֥ה בַמַּרְחֶ֖שֶׁת וְעַֽל־מַחֲבַ֑ת לַכֹּהֵ֛ן הַמַּקְרִ֥יב אֹתָ֖הּ ל֥וֹ תִֽהְיֶֽה׃
English:
Further, any meal offering that is baked in an oven, and any that is prepared in a pan or on a griddle, shall belong to the priest who offers it.
פסוק ז:י · 7:10
Hebrew:
וְכׇל־מִנְחָ֥ה בְלוּלָֽה־בַשֶּׁ֖מֶן וַחֲרֵבָ֑ה לְכׇל־בְּנֵ֧י אַהֲרֹ֛ן תִּהְיֶ֖ה אִ֥ישׁ כְּאָחִֽיו׃ {פ}
English:
But every other meal offering, with oil mixed in or dry, shall go to the sons of Aaron all alike.