(Ibid. 5) "seh": Included in "seh" is a goat and a sheep, viz. (Devarim 14:4) "the seh of the sheep and the seh of the goats." "unblemished": to exclude a blemished animal. "male": to exclude a tumtum (one of indefinite gender), a hermaphrodite, and a female. ... "one year old": This tells me only of a one-year-old. Whence do I derive (the same for) its entire first year? R. Yishmael was wont to say: If a burnt-offering, which is of a high order of sanctity, may be brought its entire year as at the one-year mark itself, how much more so the Paschal lamb, which is of a lower order of sanctity!
2
רַבִּי יוֹסֵה הַגָּלִילִי אוֹמֵר: מָה אַיִל, שֶׁתְּחִלָּתוֹ פָסוּל, סוֹפוֹ כָּשֵׁר,*תְּחִלָּתוֹ פָסוּל: איל הוא כבש זכר בשנתו השניה. אבל שלושים יום הראשונים של השנה השניה הוא פסול להקרבה ונקרא פלגס. שֶׂה, שֶׁתְּחִלָּתוֹ כָּשֵׁר, אֵינוֹ דִין שֶׁיְּהֵי סוֹפוֹ כָּשֵׁר?
R. Yossi Haglili said: If a ram, which is unfit (as an offering) in the beginning of its second year is kasher the entire second year, then a Pesach, which is kasher in the beginning (i.e., in the midst of its first year), how much more so is it kasher at the end! ...
"of the lambs and of the goats shall you take it": of each in itself. You say this, but perhaps both are required. It is, therefore, written (Leviticus 1:10) "And if from the sheep is his offering." Now does this not follow a fortiori, viz.: If a burnt-offering, of higher sanctity, is kasher (if brought) of one kind (only), a Pesach, of lower sanctity, how much more so! What, then, is the intent of "of the lambs and of the goats"? Of each in itself.
"shall you take": What is the intent of this? (i.e., it seems redundant.) It is written (Devarim 16:2) "And you shall slaughter the Pesach for the L–rd your G–d, sheep and cattle" — sheep for the Pesach (offering) and cattle for the chagigah (the festive offering.) You say this, but perhaps (the meaning is) both for the Pesach? And how would I understand (Exodus 12:5) "an unblemished lamb, a male"? As referring to the Pesach of Egypt, but Pesach for all the generations he could bring either (sheep or cattle). It is, therefore, written "Of the lambs or of the goats shall you take." Why (the redundant) shall you take?" That the Pesach for all the generations be brought only from the sheep or from the goats (but not from the cattle). These are the words of R. Yoshiyah.
R. Yonathan says: sheep for the Pesach and cattle for the chagigah. You say this, but perhaps (the meaning is) both for the Pesach? And how would I understand (Exodus 12:5) "an unblemished lamb, a male"? As referring to the Pesach of Egypt, but the Pesach for all the generations he could bring either (sheep or cattle). It is, therefore, written Ibid. 13:5) "then (in Canaan) you shall perform this service (of Pesach) on this month" — As the service that you performed in Egypt (i.e., from the sheep or from the goats), thus shall you perform in all the generations. These are the words of R. Yonathan.
R. Eliezer says: Sheep for the Pesach and cattle for the chagigah. You say this, but perhaps both are for the Pesach? And how would I understand "an unblemished lamb, etc."? As referring to the Pesach of Egypt, but for the Pesach of all the generations (I would say that he brings from both. It is, therefore, written (Ibid. 12:24) "And you shall keep this thing as a statute for you and for your children forever." This refers to the Pesach of all the generations. How, then, am I to understand "And you shall slaughter the Pesach to the L–rd your G–d, sheep and cattle"? Sheep for the Pesach and cattle for the chagigah.
R. Akiva says: One verse states "And you shall slaughter the Pesach to the L–rd your G–d, sheep and cattle," and another, "From the sheep and from the goats shall you take." How are these two verses to be reconciled? This is a (hermeneutical) rule, viz. If two verses in the Torah seem to be mutually contradictory, let them remain in their place until a third verse comes to decide between them. It is, therefore, written (Ibid. 12:21) "Draw forth and take unto yourselves sheep for your families and slaughter the Pesach."
R. Yishmael says: That verse (Devarim 16:2) ("sheep and cattle") speaks of the chagigah that is brought on Pesach. You say this, but perhaps it speaks of the Pesach itself? "An unblemished lamb, a male" speaks of the Pesach itself. How, then, am I to understand "And you shall slaughter the Pesach to your G–d (sheep and cattle)"? As referring to the chagigah that comes with the Pesach.
Rebbi says: That verse is speaking of an offering that comes from either sheep or cattle, i.e., peace-offerings (shelamim) — whence they ruled: A Pesach "surplus" is used for peace-offerings. (i.e., in the instance of an intended Pesach offering which was lost and replaced by another, and then found.)
(שמות יב,ה) "שֶׂה תָמִים זָכָר בֶּן שָׁנָה יִהְיֶה לָכֶם, מִן הַכְּבָשִׂים וּמִן הָעִזִּים תִּקָּחוּ." "שֶׂה", בִּכְלַל שֶׂה, גְּדִי וְטָלֶה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: (דברים יד,ד) "שֵׂה כְשָׂבִים וְשֵׂה עִזִּים". "תָמִים", לְהוֹצִיא בַּעַל מוּם. "זָכָר", לְהוֹצִיא טוּמְטוּם וְאַנְדְּרוֹגִינוֹס וּנְקֵבָה. "בֶּן שָׁנָה", אֵין לִי אֶלָּא בֶן שָׁנָה; כָּל שְׁנָתוֹ מְנַיִן?*כָּל שְׁנָתוֹ: כל השנה הראשונה של חייו. הָיָה רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל אוֹמֵר: קַל וָחֹמֶר: מָה אִם עוֹלָה חֲמוּרָה כְּשֵׁרָה לָבֹא כָּל שְׁנָתָהּ כְּבַת שְׁנָתָהּ, פֶּסַח, שֶׁהוּא קַל, אֵינוֹ דִין שֶׁיִּכְשַׁר לָבֹא כָּל שְׁנָתוֹ כְּבֶן שְׁנָתוֹ?
(Ibid. 5) "seh": Included in "seh" is a goat and a sheep, viz. (Devarim 14:4) "the seh of the sheep and the seh of the goats." "unblemished": to exclude a blemished animal. "male": to exclude a tumtum (one of indefinite gender), a hermaphrodite, and a female. ... "one year old": This tells me only of a one-year-old. Whence do I derive (the same for) its entire first year? R. Yishmael was wont to say: If a burnt-offering, which is of a high order of sanctity, may be brought its entire year as at the one-year mark itself, how much more so the Paschal lamb, which is of a lower order of sanctity!
רַבִּי יוֹסֵה הַגָּלִילִי אוֹמֵר: מָה אַיִל, שֶׁתְּחִלָּתוֹ פָסוּל, סוֹפוֹ כָּשֵׁר,*תְּחִלָּתוֹ פָסוּל: איל הוא כבש זכר בשנתו השניה. אבל שלושים יום הראשונים של השנה השניה הוא פסול להקרבה ונקרא פלגס. שֶׂה, שֶׁתְּחִלָּתוֹ כָּשֵׁר, אֵינוֹ דִין שֶׁיְּהֵי סוֹפוֹ כָּשֵׁר?
R. Yossi Haglili said: If a ram, which is unfit (as an offering) in the beginning of its second year is kasher the entire second year, then a Pesach, which is kasher in the beginning (i.e., in the midst of its first year), how much more so is it kasher at the end! ...
"מִן הַכְּבָשִׂים וּמִן הָעִזִּים", מִזֶּה בִּפְנֵי עַצְמוֹ, וּמִזֶּה בִּפְנֵי עַצְמוֹ. אַתָּה אוֹמֵר כֵּן, אוֹ אֵינוֹ אֶלָּא שֶׁיָּבִיא מִשְּׁנֵיהֶם כְּאַחַת? תִּלְמֹד לוֹמַר: (ויקרא א,י) "וְאִם מִן הַצֹּאן קָרְבָּנוֹ", מִזֶּה בִּפְנֵי עַצְמוֹ, וּמִזֶּה בִּפְנֵי עַצְמוֹ. וַהֲרֵי דְּבָרִים קַל וָחֹמֶר: וּמָה, אִם עוֹלָה חֲמוּרָה כְּשֵׁרָה לָבֹא מִין אֶחָד, פֶּסַח, שֶׁהוּא קַל, אֵינוֹ דִין שֶׁיִּכְשַׁר לָבֹא מִמִּין אֶחָד? הָא מַה תִּלְמֹד לוֹמַר "מִן הַכְּבָשִׂים וּמִן הָעִזִּים"? מִזֶּה בִּפְנֵי עַצְמוֹ, וּמִזֶּה בִּפְנֵי עַצְמוֹ.
"of the lambs and of the goats shall you take it": of each in itself. You say this, but perhaps both are required. It is, therefore, written (Leviticus 1:10) "And if from the sheep is his offering." Now does this not follow a fortiori, viz.: If a burnt-offering, of higher sanctity, is kasher (if brought) of one kind (only), a Pesach, of lower sanctity, how much more so! What, then, is the intent of "of the lambs and of the goats"? Of each in itself.
(שמות יב,ו) "וְהָיָה לָכֶם", לְהָבִיא פֶּסַח דּוֹרוֹת, שֶׁלֹּא יָבֹא אֶלָּא מִן הַכְּבָשִׂים וּמִן הָעִזִּים. דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר.
רַבִּי יֹאשִׁיָּה אוֹמֵר: "תִּקָּחוּ", לָמָּה נֶאֱמַר? לְפִי שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: (דברים טז,ב) "וְזָבַחְתָּ פֶּסַח לַיי אֱלֹהֶיךָ, צֹאן וּבָקָר", צֹאן לַפֶּסַח, וּבָקָר לַחֲגִיגָה. אַתָּה אוֹמֵר כֵּן, אוֹ אֵינוֹ אֶלָּא אֶחָד זֶה וְאֶחָד זֶה בַּפֶּסַח? וּמָה אֲנִי מְקַיֵּם "שֶׂה תָמִים זָכָר"? פֶּסַח מִצְרָיִם, אֲבָל פֶּסַח דּוֹרוֹת, יָבִיא מִזֶּה וּמִזֶּה! תִּלְמֹד לוֹמַר "מִן הַכְּבָשִׂים וּמִן הָעִזִּים תִּקָּחוּ", שֶׁאֵין תַּלְמוּד (לוֹמַר) "תִּקָּחוּ", אֶלָּא מַה תִּלְמֹד לוֹמַר "תִּקָּחוּ"? לְהָבִיא פֶּסַח דּוֹרוֹת, שֶׁלֹּא יָבִיא אֶלָּא מִן הַכְּבָשִׂים וּמִן הָעִזִּים. דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי יֹאשִׁיָּה.
"shall you take": What is the intent of this? (i.e., it seems redundant.) It is written (Devarim 16:2) "And you shall slaughter the Pesach for the L–rd your G–d, sheep and cattle" — sheep for the Pesach (offering) and cattle for the chagigah (the festive offering.) You say this, but perhaps (the meaning is) both for the Pesach? And how would I understand (Exodus 12:5) "an unblemished lamb, a male"? As referring to the Pesach of Egypt, but Pesach for all the generations he could bring either (sheep or cattle). It is, therefore, written "Of the lambs or of the goats shall you take." Why (the redundant) shall you take?" That the Pesach for all the generations be brought only from the sheep or from the goats (but not from the cattle). These are the words of R. Yoshiyah.
רַבִּי יוֹנָתָן אוֹמֵר: צֹאן לַפֶּסַח, וּבָקָר לַחֲגִיגָה. אַתָּה אוֹמֵר כֵּן, אוֹ אֵינוֹ אֶלָּא אֶחָד זֶה וְאֶחָד זֶה בַּפֶּסַח? וּמָה אֲנִי מְקַיֵּם "שֶׂה תָמִים זָכָר"? פֶּסַח מִצְרָיִם, אֲבָל פֶּסַח דּוֹרוֹת, יָבִיא מִזֶּה וּמִזֶּה! תִּלְמֹד לוֹמַר: (שמות יג,ה) "וְעָבַדְתָּ אֶת הָעֲבֹדָה הַזֹּאת בַּחֹדֶשׁ הַזֶּה", בָּעֲבֹדָה שֶׁעָבַדְתָּ בְּמִצְרַיִם, כָּךְ עֲשֵׂה לְפָנַי לַדּוֹרוֹת. דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי יוֹנָתָן.
R. Yonathan says: sheep for the Pesach and cattle for the chagigah. You say this, but perhaps (the meaning is) both for the Pesach? And how would I understand (Exodus 12:5) "an unblemished lamb, a male"? As referring to the Pesach of Egypt, but the Pesach for all the generations he could bring either (sheep or cattle). It is, therefore, written Ibid. 13:5) "then (in Canaan) you shall perform this service (of Pesach) on this month" — As the service that you performed in Egypt (i.e., from the sheep or from the goats), thus shall you perform in all the generations. These are the words of R. Yonathan.
רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר אוֹמֵר: צֹאן לַפֶּסַח, וּבָקָר לַחֲגִיגָה. אַתָּה אוֹמֵר כֵּן, אוֹ אֶחָד זֶה וְאֶחָד זֶה בַּפֶּסַח? וּמָה אֲנִי מְקַיֵּם "שֶׂה תָמִים זָכָר בֶּן שָׁנָה יִהְיֶה לָכֶם"? פֶּסַח מִצְרָיִם, אֲבָל פֶּסַח דּוֹרוֹת, יָבִיא מִזֶּה וּמִזֶּה! תִּלְמֹד לוֹמַר: (שמות יב,כד) "וּשְׁמַרְתֶּם אֶת הַדָּבָר הַזֶּה לְחָק לְךָ", הֲרֵי פֶּסַח דּוֹרוֹת אָמוּר. אִם כֵּן, מַה תִּלְמֹד לוֹמַר: (דברים טז,ב) "וְזָבַחְתָּ פֶּסַח לַיי אֱלֹהֶיךָ צֹאן וּבָקָר"? צֹאן לַפֶּסַח, וּבָקָר לַחֲגִיגָה.
R. Eliezer says: Sheep for the Pesach and cattle for the chagigah. You say this, but perhaps both are for the Pesach? And how would I understand "an unblemished lamb, etc."? As referring to the Pesach of Egypt, but for the Pesach of all the generations (I would say that he brings from both. It is, therefore, written (Ibid. 12:24) "And you shall keep this thing as a statute for you and for your children forever." This refers to the Pesach of all the generations. How, then, am I to understand "And you shall slaughter the Pesach to the L–rd your G–d, sheep and cattle"? Sheep for the Pesach and cattle for the chagigah.
רַבִּי עֲקִיבָה אוֹמֵר: כָּתוּב אֶחָד אוֹמֵר (דברים טז,ב) "וְזָבַחְתָּ פֶּסַח לַיי אֱלֹהֶיךָ צֹאן וּבָקָר", וְכָתוּב אֶחָד אוֹמֵר "מִן הַכְּבָשִׂים וּמִן הָעִזִּים תִּקָּחוּ". כֵּיצַד יִתְקַיְּמוּ שְׁנֵי כְתוּבִים הַלָּלוּ? אָמַרְתָּ, זוֹ מִדָּה בַּתּוֹרָה: שְׁנֵי כְתוּבִים זֶה כְּנֶגֶד זֶה וְסוֹתְרִין זֶה עַל יְדֵי זֶה, וּמִתְקַיְּמִין בִּמְקוֹמָן, עַד שֶׁיָּבֹא הַכָּתוּב הַשְּׁלִישִׁי וְיַכְרִיעַ בֵּינֵיהֶן. תִּלְמֹד לוֹמַר: (שמות יב,כא) "מִשְׁכוּ וּקְחוּ לָכֶם צֹאן לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתֵיכֶם, וְשַׁחֲטוּ הַפָּסַח", צֹאן לַפֶּסַח, וְלֹא בָקָר לַפֶּסַח.
R. Akiva says: One verse states "And you shall slaughter the Pesach to the L–rd your G–d, sheep and cattle," and another, "From the sheep and from the goats shall you take." How are these two verses to be reconciled? This is a (hermeneutical) rule, viz. If two verses in the Torah seem to be mutually contradictory, let them remain in their place until a third verse comes to decide between them. It is, therefore, written (Ibid. 12:21) "Draw forth and take unto yourselves sheep for your families and slaughter the Pesach."
רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל אוֹמֵר: בַּחֲגִיגָה הַבָּאָה בַּפֶּסַח הַכָּתוּב מְדַבֵּר. אַתָּה אוֹמֵר כֵּן, אוֹ אֵינוֹ מְדַבֵּר אֶלָּא בִפְנֵי עַצְמוֹ? כְּשֶׁהוּא אוֹמֵר "שֶׂה תָמִים זָכָר", הֲרֵי פֶּסַח עַצְמוֹ אָמוּר. וּמַה תִּלְמֹד לוֹמַר: (דברים טז,ב) "וְזָבַחְתָּ פֶּסַח לַיי אֱלֹהֶיךָ צֹאן וּבָקָר"? בַּחֲגִיגָה הַבָּאָה בַּפֶּסַח הַכָּתוּב מְדַבֵּר.
R. Yishmael says: That verse (Devarim 16:2) ("sheep and cattle") speaks of the chagigah that is brought on Pesach. You say this, but perhaps it speaks of the Pesach itself? "An unblemished lamb, a male" speaks of the Pesach itself. How, then, am I to understand "And you shall slaughter the Pesach to your G–d (sheep and cattle)"? As referring to the chagigah that comes with the Pesach.
רַבִּי אוֹמֵר: בַּזֶּבַח הַבָּא מִן הַבָּקָר כְּמִן הַצֹּאן הַכָּתוּב מְדַבֵּר, וְאֵי זֶה זֶה? זֶה שְׁלָמִים. מִכָּן אָמָרוּ: מוֹתַר שְׁלָמִים לִשְׁלָמִים, וּמוֹתַר פֶּסַח לִשְׁלָמִים.
Rebbi says: That verse is speaking of an offering that comes from either sheep or cattle, i.e., peace-offerings (shelamim) — whence they ruled: A Pesach "surplus" is used for peace-offerings. (i.e., in the instance of an intended Pesach offering which was lost and replaced by another, and then found.)