Relationship Between Vayikra 1-5 and 6-7/2

Relationship Between Vayikra 1-5 and 6-7

Exegetical Approaches

This topic has not yet undergone editorial review

Complement Vayikra 1-5

The laws of Vayikra 6-7 complement those in Vayikra 1-5.  The directives of Vayikra 1-5 focus on the bringing and preparation of the sacrifice, while the laws of Chapters 6-7 focus on the apportioning of the sacrifices.

Sources:RambanVayikra 6:2Vayikra 6:18Vayikra 7:38About R. Moshe b. Nachman, perhaps Akeidat YitzchakVayikra Peirush 6About R. Yitzchak Arama,¹ AbarbanelVayikra 6 IntroductionVayikra 6:13Vayikra 7:22About R. Yitzchak Abarbanel, SefornoVayikra 6Vayikra 7About R. Ovadyah Seforno, HaKetav VeHaKabbalahVayikra 6:2Vayikra 7:37About R. Yaakov Mecklenburg, ShadalVayikra 6:2About R. Shemuel David Luzzatto, R. S.R. HirschVayikra 6:1About R. Samson Raphael Hirsch

Target of the command – The laws of Vayikra 1-5 are directed at lay Israelites ("דַּבֵּר אֶל בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל") who bring the sacrifices,² while the commands of Vayikra 6-7 are aimed at the priests ("צַו אֶת אַהֲרֹן וְאֶת בָּנָיו") who apportion them. This accords with the focus of each unit.

Order of the sacrifices – The sacrifices in Parashat Vayikra are listed according to the level of obligation mandating their offering, while those of Parashat Tzav are ordered according to whom each is apportioned. Again, this is in line with the theme of each unit.

• Thus, Vayikra 1-5 moves from voluntary offerings (Olah, Minchah and Shelamim) to obligatory sacrifices brought as atonement for sin (Chatat and Asham).³
• In contrast, Parashat Tzav moves from קדשי קדשים to קדשים קלים.  The Olah is listed first as it is offered totally to Hashem.⁴  The Minchah and Chatat follow as there are examples of each which are for God exclusively⁵ and others that are shared also by the priest.⁶ The Asham, which is always divided between Hashem and the priest, comes next, while the unit closes with the Shelamim which is shared also by the lay Israelite.⁷

Sacrificial procedure – On the whole, Vayikra 1-5 details the sacrificial procedure for each offering, while Vayikra 6-7 does not. This is logical if we assume that Vayikra 6-7 revolves mainly around the allocating of the portions and not the dynamics of the offering itself. This position, though, must explain two exceptions to the rule: the Minchah whose procedure is mentioned in both units, and the Asham, whose protocol is mentioned only in Vayikra 6-7:

• The Minchah – As the Minchah is a meal offering which does not require slaughter, sprinkling of blood, or the like, its preparation is basically equivalent to its allotment between the altar and the priest, and so it is mentioned in both units.⁸  As such, too, parts of the procedure which are unrelated to the apportioning, such as the placing of oil and frankincense on the offering, are omitted in Parashat Tzav. 
• The Asham – It is not clear, according to this position, why the Asham's sacrificial procedure is mentioned in Vayikra 6 and not in Vayikra 5, where expected.

Reasons for bringing the offerings – As expected, only in Parashat Vayikra do the verses explain why the various sacrifices are brought, listing the sins and circumstances which mandate bringing a Chatat or Asham.

Object to be sacrificed – As Vayikra 1-5 focuses on the bringing of the sacrifice, it is only these verses which distinguish between the different animals which can be brought for each sacrifice and the various types of meal offerings.⁹

Sacrifices mentioned only in Tzav

•  מנחת כהן משיח ושלמי תודה – Both the Minchah of the Kohen Mashiach and the Thanksgiving Offering, a type of Shelamim, are mentioned only in Parashat Tzav.  This position would explain that since each of these has certain laws regarding the allocation of the sacrifice that distinguish it from other offerings in its category,¹⁰ they needed to be mentioned individually as a contrast to the other similar offerings.¹¹  They are omitted from Parashat Vayikra because this distinction is irrelevant there, as the unit does not focus on the apportioning of the sacrifice.¹²
•  קרבן תמיד – As this specific Olah is a national rather than individual offering, it has no place in parsaht Vayikra and is instead mentioned only in Parashat Tzav together with the other laws aimed at the priest specifically.

Guiding word - "זֹאת תּוֹרַת" – This phrase repeats throughout the unit of Vayikra 6-7,¹³ yet never appears in Vayikra 1-5.  As the phase is often understood to mean "procedure",¹⁴ this is somewhat surprising considering that it is specifically in Parashat Vayikra that most of the sacrificial procedures are enumerated. However, translated literally, the words "זֹאת תּוֹרַת" simply mean "this is the teaching" or "laws of..." and, as such, in context, might refer to the laws of allocating each sacrifice.¹⁵

Terumat HaDeshen – As the process of removing the ashes of the daily Olah offering has nothing to do with the lay Israelite's bringing of the sacrifice, it is not mentioned in Vayikra 1-5.  Moreover, as the ashes highlight how the entire offering had been given to Hashem, it is appropriate to the discussions of Parashat Tzav.

Ohel Moed vs. Har Sinai – It is not clear why one set of laws would be given at Har Sinai and the other in the Ohel Moed. Ramban¹⁶ attempts to explain that really the two phrases refer to the same place, the Tabernacle.¹⁷  When the verses speaks of Mt. Sinai, it means in front of the mountain,¹⁸ where the Ohel Moed was stationed.¹⁹

The conclusion: "זֹאת הַתּוֹרָה לָעֹלָה... וְלַמִּלּוּאִים" – The inclusion of the special consecration offering (Miliuim) in the summary sentences of Vayikra 7 is difficult for this position, as there is no mention of the Miluim in either Parashat Vayikra or Parashat Tzav.

Supplement Shemot 29

The laws of Vayikra 6-7 supplement the laws regarding the Days of Consecration in Shemot 29, adding laws specific to the priest which were relevant not only for this ceremony but for future generations as well. The laws of Vayikra 1-5 are detached from the ceremony and focus instead on laws governing the individual's bringing of sacrifices throughout the generations

Sources:R. D"Z Hoffmann

Distinct sets of laws – According to R. D"Z Hoffmann, Shemot 29 and Vayikra 6-7 together form one set of laws, aimed at the priests, which were all commanded on Mount Sinai. Vayikra 1-5, in contrast, form a distinct set of laws aimed at the lay Israelite which were commanded in the Ohel Moed. While the laws of Shemot 29 are specific to the Days of the Consecration, the laws in both Vayikra 1-5 and 6-7 are relevant for all future generations.

Target audience – The laws of Vayikra 1-5  open with the command: "דַּבֵּר אֶל בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל" because they are directed at lay Israelites who bring the sacrifices, while the commands of Vayikra 6-7 are introduced with the directive: "צַו אֶת אַהֲרֹן וְאֶת בָּנָיו" because they are aimed at the priests .

Ohel Moed vs. Har Sinai – R. Hoffmann's hypothesis is based on this distinction in the location in which each set of laws was given.  Since the verses teach that the laws of Vayikra 6-7 were given on Mt. Sinai, he concludes that they were given before, and not together with, the laws of Vayikra 1-5.  As such, they serve to supplement not these chapters but rather Shemot 29 which was similarly relayed on the mountain. Vayikra 1-5, in contrast were only commanded after the Tabernacle was built and the people could begin to offer sacrifices.

Why is Vayikra 6-7 separated from Shemot 29? This position must explain why Vayikra 6-7 is separated from Shemot 29, if the laws were given together.  R.  Hoffmann answers that Shemot 29  only includes those laws which were needed for the Days of Consecration themselves, while Vayikra 6-7 adds those laws which are relevant for all time.²⁰  As such, they are placed in Vayikra together with the other laws which are relevant to all generations.

Why doesn't Vayikra 6-7 precede Vayikra 1-5? According to this approach one would have expected the laws of Parashat Vayikra to follow those in Parashat Tzav, as per the order in which they were commanded. However, it is possible that once Vayikra 6-7 was detached from Shemot 29, when writing the Torah for future generations, it made more sense to begin with laws aimed at the nation's bringing of sacrifices and only afterwards to include the laws aimed at the priests and their portions.²¹

Connections between Shemot 29 and Vayikra 5-6 – There are several points in the description of the sacrifices in Parashat Tzav which highlight the unit's connection to Shemot 29 specifically:

• "זֹאת הַתּוֹרָה לָעֹלָה... וְלַמִּלּוּאִים" – R. Hoffmann suggests that the inclusion of the Miluim in the closing verses of Vayikra 6-7 proves that the verses form a conclusion not just to these chapters but also to Shemot 29 which discusses the Miluim in detail. As such, all three chapters form one unit and were commanded together.
• "זֹאת מִשְׁחַת אַהֲרֹן וּמִשְׁחַת בָּנָיו... בְּיוֹם מׇשְׁחוֹ" – This verse, too, clearly connects Chapters 6-7 to the events of the Days of Consecration mandated in Shemot 29.
• Elaboration on the Olah –
• Minchat Kohen Mashiach
• Lachmei Todah

Sacrificial procedure – The sacrificial procedures are laid out twice, once in the context of the lay Israelite (Vayikra 1-5) and once in relation to the priests (Shemot 29 and Vayikra 6-7).

• Vayikra 6-7 omits the procedures for most of the sacrifices not because they are mentioned in 1-5 (which was only given later) but because they were relayed already in Shemot 29.  The Minchah and Asham are exceptional because they were not offered during the Consecration ceremony.²² As such, their procedures are not discussed in Shemot 29, but are instead relayed in Vayikra 6, together with the other laws aimed at the priests which were relevant for all generations.²³ It is only between the two sets of chapters, then, that the priests gets a complete list of procedures.
• Though the laws of Vayikra 1-5 are given after the laws of Shemot 29 and Parashat Tzav, they also mention the protocol for each sacrifice, since here these laws are aimed at the lay Israelite rather than the priest. Since only in these chapters is there a distinction between the types of animals that might be brought for each sacrifice,²⁴ it was necessary to distinguish between the various processes for each. It is possible that the protocol regarding the Asham is omitted because it might be considered a sub-type of Chatat,²⁵ whose sacrificial process was already discussed.²⁶  

Elaboration regarding the Daily Olah Offering – This specific Olah is discussed at length in Parashat Tzav (but not at all in Parashat Vayikra), just as it is discussed at the end of Shemot 29. 

Minchat Kohen Mashiach

"וְהִשְׁלִיךְ אֹתָהּ אֵצֶל הַמִּזְבֵּחַ קֵדְמָה אֶל מְקוֹם הַדָּשֶׁן" – R. Hoffman points to this verse as proof that the laws of Vayikra 1-5 were given after those of Vayikra 6-7 and are aware of them. The verse assumes knowledge of the place where the ashes of the Olah were brought, even though this is mentioned nowhere in this unit and only in Parashat Tzav.

כי איל מלאים הוא

Chatat: Emphasis on Priestly portion

¹ Akeidat Yitzchak speaks at length about how Vayikra 6-7 revolve around the allocation of the sacrifices to the priest. However, he does not say explicitly that this is why this unit is separated form Vayikra 1-5.

² As such, too, the phrases "וְנֶפֶשׁ כִּי" and "אָדָם כִּי" repeat numerous times (see Vayikra 1:2, 2:1, 4:2, and 5:1) in the unit.

³ This subdivision also explains why there is a new heading in Chapter 4:1 (וַיְדַבֵּר י״י אֶל מֹשֶׁה לֵּאמֹר.); it serves to divide the obligatory offerings from the voluntary ones.  The two sections are further distinguished by different guiding words.  Throughout the first section the various offerings are repeatedly described as "אִשֵּׁי י״י" or "אִשֵּׁה רֵיחַ נִיחֹחַ לַי״י", while in the second section, we are repeatedly told: "וְכִפֶּר עֲלֵהֶם הַכֹּהֵן... וְנִסְלַח לוֹ".

⁴ Only the skin is given to the priest.

⁵ The Minchah of the Kohen Mashiach (Vayikra 6:12-16) and the internal Chataot (Vayikra 6:23) are given totally to Hashem.

⁶ One might have thought that within the discussion of Menachot and Chataot, the first sacrifices mentioned would have been those which are given to Hashem exclusively, yet the opposite is true.  This is likely because the majority of these sacrifices are partaken of also by the priest, while those which are given totally to Hashem are the exception, not the norm.  It is even possible that they are only mentioned here to serve as a contrast to those sacrifices from which the priest eats.

⁷ The Shelamim's unique status as קדשים קלים would explain why there are several concluding verses (Vayikra 7:8-10) which separate it from the previous discussion.  In addition, as it is this only offering of which an Israelite might partake, there are two sections, each with a new opening, (Vayikra 7:22-27 and 7:28-34) aimed at them specifically, warning that they may nonetheless not eat the portions meant for Hashem or the priest.

⁸ This position might also suggest that since the Minchah of the Kohen Mashiach is distinct in being given exclusively to Hashem, it was important to elaborate by the discussion of the regular Menachot so it would be clear that these are divided between the altar and priest. As such, more details than usual are provided regarding the procedure itself, as this clarifies what is given to whom.

⁹ Vayikra 7:9-10 does mention the various types of Menachot, but only as part of a summary statement.  It does not, though, delve individually into the laws of each.

¹⁰ As opposed to most Menachot which are divided between the altar and the priest, this Minchah is given totally to Hashem.  The Thanksgiving Offering is unique in that it is accompanied by loaves of bread, unlike other Shelamim offerings.  These loaves are also given to the priest, and thus the offering is discussed here.

¹¹ See Akeidat YitzchakVayikra Peirush 6About R. Yitzchak Arama.

¹² We would not have expected the sacrifices of the newly anointed priest to be found in Parashat Vayikra regardless, as those chapters revolve around the lay Israelite and his bringing of sacrifices, while this offering is unique to the priest. [According to Chazal, the verses refer not only to the inaugural offering of every priest but to the daily minchat chavitin, which was brought by the High Priest.  Regardless, the sacrifice is never brought by a layman.]

¹³ See Vayikra 6:2, 6:7, 6:18, 7:1,7:11,and 7:37.

¹⁴ See its usage in Vayikra 12:7, 13:59, 15:32, Bemidbar 5:29 and Bemidbar 6:13.  In each o fthese cases the verse either introduces or concludes the description of a purification process or other cultic procedure.

¹⁵ See ChizkuniVayikra 7:37About R. Chizkiyah b. Manoach, Akeidat YitzchakVayikra Peirush 6About R. Yitzchak Arama and SefornoVayikra 6Vayikra 7About R. Ovadyah Seforno who appear to understand the phrase in this manner. For example, Akeidat Yitzchak writes, "זאת תורת וחוק הראוי לינתן למקריב העולה".

¹⁶ This is one of three explanations that he brigns.  He also notes Chzal's understanding that the verse only mentions Mt. Sinai to teach that all the laws were originally taught to Moshe on the mountain and then repeated again in the Tabernacle.

¹⁷ One could have also suggested the opposite, that both phrases refer to Mt. Sinai, and that when Vayikra 1:1 speaks of the Ohel Moed, it is referring to Moshe's personal tent which was set up at the mountain (see Shemot 33:7-11). The advantage of this reading is that it allows one to suggest that all the laws of the sacrifices might have been commanded before the erection of the Tabernacle.  As these laws were to be utilized as soon as the Tabernacle was erected (sacrifices were brought during the dedication itself), it is logical that they were relayed earlier.

¹⁸ Ramban points to Bemidbar 10:33 and Devarim 1:6 which similarly mention the "mountain" but really refer to the area surrounding it.

¹⁹ He further suggests that verse 38 mentions "במדבר סיני" rather than "בהר סיני" for this very reason - to teach that the laws were not said on the mountain itself, but in its vicinity in the Wilderness.

²⁰ One might question why then the daily Olah offering (עולת תמיד), which is for all generations,  is mentioned in Shemot 29.  However, considering the fundamental role played  by the Tamid in inviting Hashem's presence to dwell in the Mishkan, it is logical why it would close the unit on the Mishkan in Shemot.

²¹ See Samet...

²² Similarly, Terumat haDeshen (the gathering of the ashes of the Olah offering) which was not mentioned in Shemot 29, as it was not part of the one-time ceremony but rather connected to the daily Olah offering, is only mentioned in Vayikra.

²³ Nonetheless the various sub-types of Menachot are mentioned only in Parashat Vayikra since these are relevant mainly to the person bringing the offering (the focus of those chapters) and not to the priest.

²⁴ This is logical as it is these chapters which highlight the actual bringing of the sacrifice, where one must differentiate between the animals brought.

²⁵ Throughout the discussion of both offerings both roots אשם and חטא appear interchangeably.

²⁶ See