Sifra 1.0.21

Vayikra Dibbura DeNedavah, Chapter 12

1) "And if a meal-offering (baked) on a machavath (griddle) is your offering": We are hereby taught that "machavath" is a vessel. (This has various halachic ramifications.) (It is stated here) "your offering," and, below (Vayikra 2:7), "your offering," for a gezeirah shavah (identity). Just as the offering here requires pouring (of oil) and mixing, so, the offering below. And just as the offering below requires placing oil in the vessel before it (the meal-offering) is processed, so, the offering here.

2) "soleth mixed (with oil"): We are hereby taught that it is mixed (with oil) while it is soleth. Rebbi says: It is (thus) mixed (when they are at the stage of) challoth, viz. (Vayikra 2:4): "challoth … mixed" — whereupon they said to him: Are not "challoth" mentioned in respect to the thanksgiving loaves (Vayikra 7:12), and it is impossible to mix them (with oil) when they are challoth, (there being too little oil for that); but (it must be that the oil is mixed with) soleth. How is this done? He places oil in the vessel before processing (the meal-offering). Then he places oil on it (the soleth), and mixes it, and kneads it, and breaks it into pieces, and pours oil on it, and takes the fistful. Rebbi says: He mixes them (with oil) when they are challoth, viz.: "challoth … mixed with oil." How is this done? He places oil in the vessel before processing it, and places (oil) on it, and kneads it, and bakes it, and crumbles it, and places oil on it, and mixes it, and then again pours oil on it, and takes the fistful. "unleavened": I might think that this is a mitzvah specification only; it is, therefore, written "shall it be" — Scripture makes it a categorical requirement.

3) (Vayikra 2:6): "You shall break it": I might think only in two; it is, therefore, written: "into pieces." I might then think it should be made into crumbs; it is, therefore, written: "it" — "it" into pieces (so that there are four pieces), and not its pieces into pieces.

4) From here it was derived that the meal-offering of an Israelite (not a Cohein) is doubled into halves and then into quarters and separated (for the taking of the fistful); the meal-offering of Cohanim is doubled into halves and then into quarters, but not separated, (no fistful being taken); the meal-offering of the anointed (high-) priest was not doubled (twice, but only once). R. Shimon says: The meal-offering of Cohanim and the meal-offering of the high-priest did not require doubling, there being no fistful requirement for them; and wherever there is no fistful, there is no doubling. And all of the pieces (after the quartering) are reduced to olive-sizes.

5) "You shall break it into pieces … It is a meal-offering" — to include all meal-offerings for breaking into pieces. I might think that even the two loaves and the show bread are to be broken into pieces; it is, therefore, written: "it" (to exclude the foregoing). Why do you see fit to include all the meal-offerings and to exclude the two loaves and the show bread? After Scripture included, it excluded. Just as these (the other meal-offerings) are unique in that something is taken from them for the fire (of the altar), so, all from which something is taken for the fire (are broken into pieces) — to exclude the two loaves and the show bread, from which nothing is taken for the fire (but which are entirely eaten by the Cohanim).

6) (Vayikra 2:6): "and you shall pour oil upon it; it is a meal-offering" — to include all meal-offerings for pouring of oil. I might think that even a meal-offering baked in an oven (is thus included); it is, therefore, written "upon it." (In that case,) I would exclude (from pouring, only) challoth, (of which the verse [Vayikra 2:5] speaks), but not wafers (baked in an oven); it is, therefore, written (to exclude wafers too): "it (is a meal-offering").

7) (Vayikra 2:7): "And if a meal-offering of the marchesheth (stewing pan) is your offering": What is the difference between the machavath (griddle) and the marchesheth? The marchesheth has a cover and the machavath does not have a cover. These are the words of R. Yossi Haglili. R. Chanina b. Gamliel says: A marchesheth is deep, and what is baked in it (accordingly) soft; a machavath is flat, and what is baked in it (accordingly) hard. "Of soleth in oil shall it be made": This teaches us that it is first necessary to place oil into the vessel.