Relationship Between Vayikra 1-5 and 6-7/2
Relationship Between Vayikra 1-5 and 6-7
Exegetical Approaches
Complement Vayikra 1-5
The laws of Vayikra 6-7 complement those in Vayikra 1-5. This position divides regarding the unique focus of each unit that differentiates it from the other:
Different Audiences
While Parashat Vayikra emphasizes the nation's role in the sacrificial process, Vayikra 6-7 focuses on the priest and his responsibilities.
- מנחת כהן משיח – As this sacrifice is only brought by a priest, it is omitted from the discussion in Parashat Vayikra and mentioned only in Parashat Tzav.
- קרבן תודה – It is not clear why this subcategory of Shelamim, which can also be brought by an Israelite, is singled out in Tzav.
Different Stages
The directives of the two units speak of two different stages in the sacrificial service. Vayikra 1-5 details the bringing and preparation of the sacrifice, while the laws of Chapters 6-7 turn to the aftermath of this process, the apportioning and consumption of the sacrifices by Hashem, priest and lay Israelite.
- Thus, Vayikra 1-5 moves from voluntary offerings (Olah, Minchah and Shelamim) to obligatory sacrifices brought as atonement for sin (Chatat and Asham).
- In contrast, in Parashat Tzav the Olah is listed first as it is offered totally to Hashem.16 The Minchah, Chatat and Asham follow, as they are shared between Hashem and the priest. [The Minchah heads this group as there is one type, מנחת כהן משיח, which is for God exclusively, and the Chatat follows as there are some examples which are burnt totally17 and not eaten.18] The unit closes with the Shelamim which is shared also by the lay Israelite.19
- 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.20 This explains why the parts of the procedure which are related to the offering's preparation rather than its allocation, 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.
- Details – several other small details are mentioned in both units, such as the fact and placement of the slaughter of the Chatat. This though might be mentioned just to introduce the fact that it is specifically the priest who does the work who receives a portion of the sacrifice.
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
- "זֹאת הַתּוֹרָה לָעֹלָה... וְלַמִּלּוּאִים" – R. Hoffmann suggests that the inclusion of the Miluim in the closing verses of Vayikra 6-733 proves that the verses form a conclusion not just to these chapters but also to Shemot 29 which discusses the Miluim in detail.34 As such, all three chapters form one unit and were commanded together.
- "זֹאת מִשְׁחַת אַהֲרֹן וּמִשְׁחַת בָּנָיו... בְּיוֹם מׇשְׁחוֹ" – This summary verse, too, connects Chapters 6-7 to the events of the Days of Consecration mandated in Shemot 29.
- מנחת כהן משיח – This Minchah is clearly connected to the days of Consecration, when Aharon was anointed, explaining its location in Vayikra 6 rather than Vayikra 2. One might question, however, why the offering is not mentioned in Shemot 29. According to R. Hoffmann, since the sacrifice is relevant not only to Aharon, but to his descendants as well,35 it is mentioned only in Vayikra 6 together with the other laws relevant for all generations.36
- קרבן תודה– The discussion of the קרבן תודהs focuses on the loaves of bread brought. As such, it, too, might be mentioned in Vayikra 6 specifically since they are very similar to the loaves of bread which accompanied the Miluim offering.37 [Alternatively, their mention is related to this chapter's specific emphasis on the portions allocated to the priests, discussed below.
- 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 29.40 The Minchah and Asham are exceptional because they were not offered during the Consecration ceremony.41 As such, their procedures are not discussed in Shemot 29, but are instead relayed in Vayikra 6,42 together with the other laws aimed at the priests which were relevant for all generations.43 It is only between the two sets of chapters, then, that the priests gets a complete list of procedures.
- Vayikra 1-5 – 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,44 it was necessary to distinguish between the various processes for each. It is possible that the protocol regarding the Asham is omitted45 because it might be considered a sub-type of Chatat,46 whose sacrificial process was already discussed.47
- חטאת – During the days of Consecration, the meat and skin of the Chatat offering were burnt outside the camp. Vayikra 6 comes to teach that normally, in contrast, the priest is to eat of this meat.49
- קרבן שלמים – During the Miluim ceremony the ram's right thigh was offered to Hashem together with the fat, and the breast was given to Moshe (who was the acting priest). Normally, though, both this thigh and breast are given to the priest, as emphasized in Vayikra 7.50
- לחמי תודה – During the Miluim ceremony, some of the accompanying loaves of bread were sacrificed on the altar. As such, Vayikra 7 emphasizes that the loaves that accompany Thanksgiving Offerings, in contrast, were eaten by the priest and not sacrificed.51
- " בִּמְקוֹם אֲשֶׁר תִּשָּׁחֵט הָעֹלָה תִּשָּׁחֵט הַחַטָּאת" – This verse,54 at first glance, is somewhat difficult for this position as Shemot 29 does not delineate the place of the slaughter. As such, the verse seems to be relying on information gleaned from Vayikra 1-5. R. Hoffmann responds that Shemot 29:43's statement: "עֹלַת תָּמִיד לְדֹרֹתֵיכֶם פֶּתַח אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד" suggests that the location was relayed orally and known to the priests.55
- List of Menachot in Vayikra 7:9-10– This list of the various individual Menachot also appears to assume knowledge of Vayikra 2 as these Menachot are not mentioned anywhere in Shemot 29. R. Hoffmann posits that it is possible that these categories of Menachot were well known from ancient times.