Commentary for Sanhedrin 122:25

אי קבליה עליה באלוה מזיד הוא

They agree, however, that his sacrifice is a she-goat, as that of a private individual [who committed idolatry inadvertently].<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., though in Lev. IV, 3, a young bullock is prescribed as the sacrifice for an anointed Priest's inadvertent sin, yet in the ease of idolatry, even the Sages agree that he is treated as an ordinary individual, who offers a she-goat: Num. XV, 27. And if any soul sin through ignorance, then he shall bring a she-goat of the first year for a sin offering. By 'any soul' one understands even a High Priest; and 'sin' is interpreted as referring to idol-worship. ');">²¹</span> They also agree that he is not bound to bring the guilt offering of doubt.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' If one is in doubt whether he has committed a sin, for the certain (unwitting) transgression of which a sin-offering must be brought, he is bound to bring a guilt offering of doubt (Lev. V, 17-19). This, however, does not apply to a High Priest. Now, even if the doubt is in respect of idolatry, though Rabbi assimilates the High Priest in this case to the common people as to the measure of inadvertency required, he nevertheless concurs with the Sages that the High Priest differs from others, in that he need not bring a guilt-offering of doubt. All this is deduced from Scripture in Hor. 7b. ');">²²</span> Now, how can the act of idol-worship be committed unwittingly? If he [saw an idolatrous shrine,] thought it to be a synagogue, and bowed down to it. — surely his heart was to heaven!<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Hence, he has not even inadvertently committed idolatry. ');">²³</span> But it must mean that he saw a royal statue and bowed down to it;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' It was customary to set up royal statutes to which homage was paid. This was quite permissible. But occasionally a royal statue was actually worshipped; thereafter it was forbidden to make obeisance to it. ');">²⁴</span> now, if he accepted it as a god, he is a deliberate sinner;

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