Menachot 120

מנחת חובה ונאמר הכא מנחת נדבה

a meal-offering as an obligation and it also speaks of the offering of a meal-offering as of free will: just as freewill meal-offering requires bringing near, so the obligatory meal-offering requires bringing near. And [if it be objected that] this<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The rite of bringing near.');">¹</span>

מה מנחת נדבה טעונה הגשה אף מנחת חובה טעונה הגשה מה למנחת נדבה שכן טעונה שמן ולבונה מנחת סוטה תוכיח

is so of the freewill meal-offering since it requires both oil and frankincense,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Whereas the obligatory meal-offering, namely the sinner's meal-offering, requires neither oil nor frankincense; and that being so, it would also not require bringing near.');">²</span> then the meal-offering of a suspected adulteress can prove [the contrary].<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' This meal-offering requires neither oil nor frankincense and yet requires bringing near; the same would be said of the sinner's meal-offering.');">³</span>

מה למנחת סוטה שכן טעונה תנופה מנחת נדבה תוכיח

And [if it be objected that] this is so the meal-offering of the suspected adulteress since it requires waving, then the freewill meal-offering can prove [the contrary].<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The freewill meal-offering does not require waving yet requires bringing near; the same could be said of the sinner's meal-offering.');">⁴</span> The argument thus goes round.

וחזר הדין לא ראי זה כראי זה ולא ראי זה כראי זה הצד השוה שבהן ששוו לקמיצה ושוו להגשה אף אני אביא מנחת חוטא ששוה להן לקמיצה תשוה להן להגשה

The distinguishing feature of this [meal-offering] is not that of the other [meal-offering], and the distinguishing feature of the other [meal-offering] is not that o this one.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The rite of waving prescribed in the meal-offering of the suspected adulteress cannot be said to be the cause entailing the bringing near since this cause is not found with the freewill meal-offering. And, on the other hand, the need for oil and frankincense in the freewill meal-offering cannot be the cause entailing the bringing near since this cause is not found with the meal-offering of the suspected adulteress.');">⁵</span> Their common features,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Between the freewill meal-offering and the meal-offering of a suspected adulteress.');">⁶</span>

מה להצד השוה שבהן שכן הוכשרו לבא בעשיר כבעני תאמר במנחת חוטא שלא הוכשרה לבא בעשיר כבעני תלמוד לומר את המנחה

however, are that they are alike with regard to the taking of the handful and also with regard to bringing near; I will then also include the sinner's meal-offering, that since it is lik unto them with regard to the taking of the handful it shall be like unto them also with regard to the bringing near. But [it will be objected that] there is yet another common feature, namely that the same offering is valid for the rich as for the poor, whereas in the case of the sinner's meal-offering the same offering is not valid f the rich as for the poor.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The meal-offering brought as a sin-offering is prescribed only for a person in poor circumstances; a person of better means must bring a pair of doves, and a rich person a lamb, for a sin-offering. V. Lev. V, 6, 7, 11.');">⁷</span>

רבי שמעון אומר והבאת לרבות מנחת העומר להגשה וכן הוא אומר (ויקרא כג, י) והבאתם את עומר ראשית קצירכם אל הכהן והקריבה לרבות מנחת סוטה להגשה וכן הוא אומר (במדבר ה, כה) והקריב אותה אל המזבח

The text therefore [must] state 'the meal-offering'. R'Simeon says, 'And thou shalt bring' - this includes the meal-offering of the 'Omer, so that it too requires bringing near, as it is said, Ye shall bring the sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ibid. XXIII, 10, where the same expression 'bring' is used.');">⁸</span>

ודין הוא ומה מנחת חוטא שאינה טעונה תנופה טעונה הגשה מנחת סוטה שטעונה תנופה אינו דין שטעונה הגשה מה למנחת חוטא שכן באה חיטין

'And he shall present it' - this includes the meal-offering of a suspected adulteress, so that it too requires bringing near, as it is said, And he shall present it unto the altar.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Num. V, 25, where the same expression 'present' is used,');">⁹</span> But surely this could be derived by the following argument:<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' That the meal-offering of a suspected adulteress requires bringing near, so that the verse which expressly includes it becomes superfluous.');">¹⁰</span>

מנחת העומר תוכיח מה למנחת העומר שכן טעונה שמן ולבונה מנחת חוטא תוכיח

if the sinner's meal-offering, which does not require waving, nevertheless requires bringing near, how much more does the meal-offering of a suspected adulteress, which requires waving, require bringing near! But [if it be objected that] this<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The rite of bringing near.');">¹¹</span> is so of the sinner's meal-offering since it is offered from wheat,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Whereas the meal-offering of a suspected adulteress was of barley; cf. Num. V, 15.');">¹²</span>

וחזר הדין לא ראי זה כראי זה ולא ראי זה כראי זה הצד השוה שבהן ששוו לקמיצה ושוו להגשה אף אני אביא מנחת סוטה ששוותה להן לקמיצה תשוה להן להגשה

then the meal-offering of the 'Omer can prove [the contrary].<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The 'Omer meal-offering was of barley and yet required bringing near; the same would then be said of the meal-offering of a suspected adulteress.');">¹³</span> And [if it be objected that] this is so of the meal-offering of the 'Om since it requires both oil and frankincense, then the sinner's meal-offering can prove [the contrary].

מה להצד השוה שבהן שכן לא הוכשרו לבא קמח תאמר מנחת סוטה שהוכשרה לבא קמח תלמוד לומר והקריבה

The argument thus goes round. The distinguishing feature of this [meal-offering] is not that of the other, and the distinguishing feature of that [meal-offering] is not that of this one.

ר' יהודה אומר והבאת לרבות מנחת סוטה להגשה וכן הוא אומר (במדבר ה, טו) והביא את קרבנה עליה

Their common features,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Between the 'Omer meal-offering and the sinner's meal-offering.');">¹⁴</span> however, are that they are alike with regard to the taking of the handful and also with regard to bringing near; I will then also include the meal-offering of a suspected adulteress, that since it is like unto them with regard to the taking of the handful it shall be like unto them also with regard to the bringing near.

אבל מנחת העומר לא צריכא קרא מאי טעמא מדינא קא אתיא ומה מנחת חוטא שאינה טעונה תנופה טעונה הגשה מנחת העומר שטעונה תנופה אינו דין שטעונה הגשה

But [it will be objected that] there is yet another common feature, namely that coarse flour is not valid in either case,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The sinner's meal-offering must be of fine flour of wheat and the 'Omer meal-offering, although of barley, must also be fine and not coarse.');">¹⁵</span> whereas in the case of the meal-offering of the suspected adulteress [only] coarse flour is valid.

מה למנחת חוטא שכן באה חיטין מנחת סוטה תוכיח מה למנחת סוטה שכן באה לברר עון דמזכרת עון היא מנחת חוטא תוכיח

The text [must] therefor state, 'And he shall present it'. R'Judah says, 'And thou shalt bring', includes the meal-offering of a suspected adulteress, so that it too requires bringing near, as it is said, And he shall bring her offering for her.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Num. V, 15, where the same expression 'bring' is used.');">¹⁶</span>

וחזר הדין לא ראי זה כראי זה ולא ראי זה כראי זה הצד השוה שבהן שכן שוו לקמיצה ושוו להגשה אף אני אביא מנחת העומר ששוותה להן לקמיצה תשוה להן להגשה

For the meal-offering of the 'Omer, however, no verse is necessary,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' To teach that it requires bringing near. According to R. Judah the expression 'And he shall present it' is utilized later for another purpose; v. infra.');">¹⁷</span> since it can be inferred from the following argument: if the sinner's meal-offering, which does not require waving, requires bringing near, how much more does the meal-offering of the 'Omer, which requires waving, require bringing near! But [if it be objected that] this is so of the sinner's meal-offering since it is offered of wheat, then the meal-offering the suspected adulteress can prove [the contrary].

ומאי פרכת רבי שמעון פריך הכי מה להצד השוה שבהן שכן מצויין

And [if it be objected that] that this is so of the meal-offering of the suspected adulteress since it is brought to discover guilt,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' To ascertain whether this woman committed adultery or not. The 'Omer meal-offering, on the other hand, has no relation to sin.');">¹⁸</span> then the sinner's meal-offering can prove [the contrary].<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' For it is not brought in order to discover sin but rather to atone for a sin committed, and yet requires bringing near; the same would be said of the meal-offering of the 'Omer, namely, although it has no relation to any sin it requires bringing near.');">¹⁹</span>

ורבי יהודה אדרבה הא מצוייה טפי הנך זימנין דלא משכחת לה כלל

The argument thus goes round. The distinguishing feature of this [meal-offering] is not that of the other, and the distinguishing feature of the other [meal-offering] is not tha of this one.

או אינו אומר והבאת אלא שיחיד מתנדב ומביא מנחה אחרת חוץ מאלה שבענין

Their common features,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Between the sinner's meal-offering and the meal-offering of the suspected adulteress.');">²⁰</span> however, are that they are alike with regard to the taking of the handful and also with regard to bringing near; I will then include the meal-offering of the 'Omer, too, that since it is like unto them in respect of the taking of the handful it shall be like unto them in respect of bringing near.

ודין הוא ציבור מביא מנחה מן החיטין חובה ומביא מנחה מן השעורים חובה אף יחיד שמביא מנחה מן החיטין נדבה (יכול) יביא מנחה מן השעורין נדבה תלמוד לומר אלה אין לי אלא אלה

And what objection can you now raise against this? R'Simeon, however, objects to it on this ground: there is yet another common feature, namely that those may happen frequently.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Those two meal-offerings (v. p. 358, n. 6) may be offered quite frequently, whereas the 'Omer meal-offering is offered but once a year, on the sixteenth day of Nisan.');">²¹</span>

או אינו אומר אלה אלא לאומר הרי עלי מנחה שמביא חמישתן תלמוד לומר מאלה רצה אחת מביא רצה חמישתן מביא

But R'Judah maintains that, on the contrary; this<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The 'Omer meal-offering.');">²²</span> is more frequent, whereas the others may never happen at all.

רבי שמעון אומר את המנחה לרבות שאר מנחות כגון מנחת נכרים מנחת נשים להגשה יכול שאני מרבה אף שתי הלחם ולחם הפנים תלמוד לומר מאלה

But perhaps the expression 'And thou shalt bring'<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lev. II, 8.');">²³</span> serves rather to intimate that an individual may of his free will bring a meal-offering other than those mentioned in the context!<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., that an individual be allowed to offer a meal-offering of barley of his free will, for all the meal-offerings mentioned in the context are of wheat.');">²⁴</span>

ומה ראית לרבות שאר מנחות ולהוציא שתי הלחם ולחם הפנים מרבה אני שאר מנחות שיש מהן לאישים ומוציא אני שתי הלחם ולחם הפנים שאין מהן לאישים

And this can even be supported by the following argument: the community brings a meal-offering of wheat<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The Two Loaves at Pentecost.');">²⁵</span> as an obligation and it also brings a meal-offering of barley<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The meal-offering of the 'Omer.');">²⁶</span>

והלא מנחת נסכים כולה לאישים יכול יהא טעונה הגשה תלמוד לומר והקריבה

as an obligation, then likewise an individual, since he brings a meal-offering of wheat of his free will, may also bring a meal-offering of barley of his free will. The text therefore states these:<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lev. II, 8.');">²³</span>

והא אפיקתיה והקריב והקריבה ומה ראית לרבות שאר מנחות ולהוציא מנחת נסכים

only these that are mentioned in the context. But perhaps the expression 'these' serves only to signify that a person who says 'I take upon myself to offer a meal-offering' must bring the five kinds.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' That are enumerated in this passage viz., the meal-offering of fine flour, that prepared on a griddle, that prepared in a pan, and that, baked in the oven which is of two kinds, of cakes and of wafers.');">²⁷</span> The text therefore states 'of these', implying that if he so wishes he may bring one only, and if he s wishes he may bring the five kinds. R'Simeon says, The expression 'the meal-offering'<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lev. II, 8.');">²³</span> includes other meal-offerings,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Namely, the sinner's meal-offering, thus in agreement with the view of the first Tanna stated supra 60a, ad fin. The additional words in the text, e.g., 'the meal-offering of a gentile and the meal-offering of women' are not found in the MSS., or in the parallel passage in the Sifra, and evidently were not in the text before Rashi. They are struck out by Sh. Mek.');">²⁸</span> so that they too require bringing near. But I might say that it includes also the Two Loaves and the Shewbread, the text therefore states of these. And why do you prefer to include other meal-offerings and to exclude the Two Loaves and the Shewbread [rather than the reverse]?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Sc. the handful. And in this respect they are like those meal-offerings mentioned in the context.');">²⁹</span> include other meal-offerings since part thereof is put upon the fire of the altar,' but I exclude the Two Loaves and the Shewbread since no part thereof is put upon the fire of the altar. But the meal-offering offered with the drink-offerings is put entirely upon the fire, is not? Then I would say that it requires bringing near! The text therefore states, And he shall present it.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lev. II, 8.');">³⁰</span> But have you not employed this expression for another purpose?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Supra p. 357. The expression, as stated above, includes the meal-offering of a suspected adulteress.');">³¹</span> - [For that alone, Scripture could have stated] 'And he shall present', but it says, And he shall present it.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' It is therefore the pronominal suffix 'it' which excludes this meal-offering that is offered with the drink-offerings.');">³²</span> And why do you prefer to include other meal-offerings and to exclude the meal-offering offered with the drink-offerings [rather than the reverse]?