Nature of the Chatat/1
Nature of the Chatat
Introduction
Vayikra 4 detail the laws of one of the two obligatory offerings, the Chatat. The opening verses of the chapter state whom is obligated to bring the offering, any who have unintentionally transgressed a commandment:
דַּבֵּר אֶל בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל לֵאמֹר נֶפֶשׁ כִּי תֶחֱטָא בִשְׁגָגָה מִכֹּל מִצְוֺת י״י אֲשֶׁר לֹא תֵעָשֶׂינָה וְעָשָׂה מֵאַחַת מֵהֵנָּה.
“Speak to the children of Israel, saying, ‘If anyone sins unintentionally, in any of the things which Hashem has commanded not to be done, and does any one of them:
Elsewhere, though, we find other individuals who must bring a Chatat, even though there is no mention of their having sinned. These include one who is undergoing purification after having given birth, having tzara'at, or having an emission, a Nazirite who has finished the days of his oath of abstinence, and the Levites upon their consecration. A Chatat is also brought on the holidays and New Moon. What is the common denominator between all these cases? What is the primary purpose of bringing a Chatat: to atone for sin, aid in purification, or something else entirely?
