Commentary for Pesachim 177:24

תניא נמי הכי נמנין ומושכין את ידיהן ממנו עד שישחט רבי שמעון אומר נמנין עד שישחט ומושכין עד שיזרק הדם:

Surely it was taught: All [blood] which is applied by dashing [against the altar], if he [the priest] applied [i by pouring it out, he has discharged [his duty]?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The sacrifice is valid.');">¹⁹</span> - Granted that we say [thus] where he has done so; [do we say thus] as the very outset too?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Surely we may not arrange at the very outset that the blood should be gently poured out where it really requires to be dashed against the altar. Hence there is no possibility of observing the Second Passover.');">²⁰</span> <big><b>MISHNAH: </b></big>IF A MAN SAYS TO HIS CHILDREN, 'BEHOLD, I SLAUGHTER THE PASSOVER-OFFERING ON BEHALF OF WHICHEVER OF YOU GOES UP FIRST TO JERUSALEM,' AS SOON AS THE FIRST HAS INSERTED HIS HEAD AND THE GREATER PART OF HIS BODY [IN JERUSALEM] HE HAS ACQUIRED HIS PORTION, AND HE ACQUIRES IT ON BEHALF OF HIS BRETHREN WITH HIM. <big><b>GEMARA: </b></big>This proves that selection is retrospective?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. supra 87a. It is now assumed that only one was registered.');">²¹</span> Said R'Johanan: He [their father] said this in order to encourage them in [the performance of] precepts.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' But actually he had registered all of them beforehand.');">²²</span> This may be proved too, for he [the Tanna] teaches: AND HE ACQUIRES IT ON BEHALF OF HIS BRETHREN WITH HIM; now it is well if you say that he had registered them beforehand, then it is correct. But if you say that he had not registered them beforehand, can they be registered after he has slaughtered it? Surely we learned: They may register and withdraw their hands from it until it is killed!<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' But not after.');">²³</span> This proves it. It was taught likewise: It once happened that the daughters outstripped the sons, and so it was seen that the daughters were zealous while the sons were indolent. <big><b>MISHNAH: </b></big>ONE MAY ALWAYS REGISTER FOR IT AS LONG AS THERE IS AS MUCH AS AN OLIVE THEREIN FOR EACH ONE [REGISTERED]. THEY MAY REGISTER AND WITHDRAW THEIR HANDS FORM IT UNTIL IT IS SLAUGHTERED; R'SIMEON SAID: UNTIL THE BLOOD IS SPRINKLED. <big><b>GEMARA: </b></big>What does he inform us? - He informs us this, viz. , though this company had registered for it, it can retract [entirely] and a different company register for it.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' This disagrees with R. Judah, who maintains infra ');">²⁴</span> THEY MAY REGISTER AND WITHDRAW THEIR HANDS FROM IT UNTIL IT IS KILLED etc. Abaye said: The controversy is in respect of withdrawing, for the Rabbis hold: [And if the household be too little] for being [me-heyoth] for a lamb<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ex. XII, 4.');">²⁵</span> [implies] in the lifetime [mi-hayuth] of the lamb;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The verse is understood to refer to withdrawal, it being translated: And if the household has become too little etc., because some of its members have withdrawn. The present interpretation of mi-heyoth teaches that this withdrawal is possible only while the animal is still alive.');">²⁶</span> while R'Simeon holds [that it implies] during the existence [mi-hawayuth] of the lamb.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., as long as it still exists for its sacrifice rites to be preformed, which is until the blood is sprinkled.');">²⁷</span> But in respect of registering all agree [tha this can be done only] until it is killed, because the Writ saith, according to the number of [bemiksath] the souls, and then, ye shall make your count [takosu].<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ibid. 'Be-miksath' and 'takosu' are connected with a root meaning to slaughter, while at the same time retaining their connotation of numbering, i.e., registering. Hence registration is permitted only until it is slaughtered; cf. supra 61a.');">²⁸</span> It was taught likewise: They may register and withdraw their hands from it until it is slaughtered. R'Simeon said: They may register until it is slaughtered and withdraw until the blood is sprinkled.

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