Sifrei on Deuteronomy Sifrei Devarim 143

English · Shraga Silverstein

(Devarim 16:15) "Three times in the year": "times" signifies "festivals," as it is written (Isaiah 26:6) "the times" (i.e., festivals) of the poor," and (Song of Songs 7:3) "How beautiful are your (festival) times (of "steps" [to Jerusalem]) in sandals!"

2

English · Shraga Silverstein

"shall be seen (all your males"): Yochanan b. Dehavai says in the name of R. Yehudah: One who is blind in one eye is exempt from "being seen," it being written "yeraeh" ("shall be seen," which can also be read as) "yireh" ("shall see"). Just as he comes to see (with both of his eyes), so shall be come to be seen.

3

English · Shraga Silverstein

"males": to exclude females. "your males": to exclude a tumtum (one whose sex is in doubt) and a hermaphrodite.

4

English · Shraga Silverstein

"all of your males": to include minors.

5

English · Shraga Silverstein

Which minor is exempt? One who cannot "ride" on his father's shoulder and go up to Jerusalem to the Temple mount. These are the words of Beth Shammai, it being written "your males." Beth Hillel say: One who cannot hold on to his father's hand and go up to Jerusalem to the Temple mount, it being written (Shemoth 23:14) "Three regalim (festivals)," lit., "feet."

6

English · Shraga Silverstein

(Devarim 16:16) "the presence ("pnei") of the L-rd your G-d": If you do thus, I will "free" ("poneh" [like "pnei"]) Myself of all My affairs and occupy Myself with you alone.

7

English · Shraga Silverstein

"on the festival of matzoth, and on the festival of Shavuoth, and on the festival of Succoth": Because it is written (Ibid. 12:5) "and you shall come there (6) and you shall bring there your sacrifices, etc.," I might think (that if he fails to do so) on the first festival he is in transgression of (Ibid. 23:33) "You shall not delay to pay it"; it is, therefore, written (Bamidbar 29:39) "These shall you offer to the L-rd on your festivals." I might think (that he is in transgression if he does not offer them on the first) two festivals; it is, therefore, written "on the festival of matzoth, and on the festival of Shavuoth, and on the festival of Succoth." We are hereby taught that he is not in transgression until all the festivals of the year have passed. R. Shimon says: Three festivals in order, and Succoth last. R. Elazar b. Shimon says: It need not be written "the festival of Succoth," for that is the subject of the verse. Why is it written? To indicate that it (i.e., passing it) is the cause (of the transgression).

8

English · Shraga Silverstein

"and he shall not appear in the presence of the L-rd empty-handed": of the offering. The Torah did not assign a specific amount for it, but the sages did. Beth Shammai said: The re'iah (the burnt-offering of "appearance"), two (pieces of) silver, and Beth Hillel say: a m'ah of silver; and the simchah offering (i.e., the festive offering, the chagigah,) two (pieces of) silver.

9

English · Shraga Silverstein

(Ibid. 17) "according to the blessing of the L-rd your G-d that He has given to you": From here they ruled: One who has many "eaters" (i.e., a large family) and little wealth brings many peace-offerings (wherewith to feed his family) and few burnt-offerings, (these being entirely consumed). One who has few "eaters" and much wealth brings few peace-offerings and many burnt-offerings. (One who has) little of both, of such a one they said: a m'ah of silver and two (pieces) of silver. (One who has) an abundance of both — of such a one it is written "Each man, according to the gift of his hand, according to the blessing of the L-rd your G-d that He has given to you" (i.e., he gives both in abundance.)

Sifrei Devarim 143

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