Pisqa’ 166135H:197; JN2: 39-40 1. “The finest of your grain, your must, and your oil” (Dt.18:4). This teaches that one offers up Threshing-floor-offering only from the select produce.136// Sifre Num, 122. Cf. M. Ter.2:4. Just as we find that in the case of two kinds of fruit-trees, we do not offer up Threshing-floor-offering from the fruit of this tree on behalf of the fruit of that tree, so, too, if there are two species of grain or leafy-greens, we do not offer up Threshing-floor-offering from this type of produce [e.g., wheat or lettuce] on behalf of that type [barley or onions].137// M. Ter.2:4.
2
רֵאשִׁית הַגֵּז וְלֹא רֵאשִׁית שֶׁטֶף.
2. “The Finest-fleece” (Dt.18:4)— but not the finest of the loose fleece.
3
רֵאשִׁית הַגֵּז פְּרָט לַטְּרֵפָה.
“The Finest-Fleece” (Dt.18:4)— excluding wool from a mauled animal.138//T. Hul.10:1.
“Of your flocks” (Dt.18:4)— but not that of [gentile] others. On this basis they taught: One who purchases shorn fleece from the flock of a foreigner is exempt from offering the Finest-Fleece. If he purchased shorn fleece from the flock of his Israelite companion— if there is shorn fleece left over [in the seller’s possession], the seller is obliged [to offer the First-Fleece]. But if not, the purchaser is obliged.140=M. Hul. 1:2.
3. “The finest . . . shall you give to him” (Dt.18:4)— there should be enough for a [generous] gift.141=M .Hul.11:2. On this basis they taught: How much fleece should he give to him? A weight of five selas in Judea, equivalent to ten in the Galilee. And it should be white, not filthy, and enough to make a small garment, for it is said: “Shall you give to him” (Dt.18:4)— enough for a generous gift.142=M. Hul.11:2.
4. How many sheep comprise a flock under obligation for the Finest-Fleece offering? The circle of Shammai say: Two ewes, as it is said: “A man will possess a calf of the herd, and two from the flock” (Is.7:21).
R. Akiva says: [The verse states —] “You shall give him . . . the Finest-fleece” (Dt.18:4). [Finest144Heb: r’eishit. Also “first.” Cf. Pisqa’ 165.4. implies a second], yielding fleece shorn from a minimum of two sheep. “Of your flock” (Dt.18:4)— [since “flock”, as a plural noun, implies two more], this amounts to four. “Shall you give to him” (Dt.18:4)— this final gift yields fleece [from a total of five sheep!
(דברים יח ד) רֵאשִׁית דְּגָנְךָ תִּירוֹשְׁךָ וְיִצְהָרֶךָ, מְלַמֵּד שֶׁאֵין תּוֹרְמִים אוֹתוֹ אֶלָּא מִן הַמֻּבְחָר. מַה מָּצִינוּ בִּשְׁנֵי מִינִים שֶׁבָּאִילָן – אֵין תּוֹרְמִים מִזֶּה עַל זֶה, כָּךְ שְׁנֵי מִינִים שֶׁבַּתְּבוּאָה וְשֶׁבַּיָּרָק – אֵין תּוֹרְמִים מִזֶּה עַל זֶה.
Pisqa’ 166135H:197; JN2: 39-40
1. “The finest of your grain, your must, and your oil” (Dt.18:4).
This teaches that
one offers up Threshing-floor-offering
only from the select produce.136// Sifre Num, 122. Cf. M. Ter.2:4.
Just as we find that
in the case of two kinds of fruit-trees,
we do not offer up Threshing-floor-offering
from the fruit of this tree
on behalf of the fruit of that tree,
so, too, if there are two species of grain or leafy-greens,
we do not offer up Threshing-floor-offering
from this type of produce [e.g., wheat or lettuce]
on behalf of that type [barley or onions].137// M. Ter.2:4.
רֵאשִׁית הַגֵּז וְלֹא רֵאשִׁית שֶׁטֶף.
2. “The Finest-fleece” (Dt.18:4)—
but not the finest of the loose fleece.
רֵאשִׁית הַגֵּז פְּרָט לַטְּרֵפָה.
“The Finest-Fleece” (Dt.18:4)—
excluding wool from a mauled animal.138//T. Hul.10:1.
רֵאשִׁית הַגֵּז בֵּין בָּאָרֶץ בֵּין בְּחוּצָה לָאָרֶץ.
“The Finest-Fleece” (Dt.18:4)—
both in the Land and beyond the Land.139// M. Hul.11:1
צֹאנְךָ, וְלֹא שֶׁל אֲחֵרִים. מִכָּן אָמְרוּ (חולין פי״א מ״ב): הַלּוֹקֵחַ גֵּז צֹאנוֹ שֶׁל נָכְרִי – פָּטוּר מֵרֵאשִׁית הַגֵּז. לָקַח גֵּז צֹאנוֹ שֶׁל חֲבֵרוֹ, אִם שִׁיֵּר הַמּוֹכֵר – חַיָּב, וְאִם לָאו – הַלּוֹקֵחַ חַיָּב.
“Of your flocks” (Dt.18:4)—
but not that of [gentile] others.
On this basis they taught:
One who purchases shorn fleece
from the flock of a foreigner
is exempt from offering the Finest-Fleece.
If he purchased shorn fleece
from the flock of his Israelite companion—
if there is shorn fleece left over [in the seller’s possession],
the seller is obliged [to offer the First-Fleece].
But if not, the purchaser is obliged.140=M. Hul. 1:2.
תִּתֶּן לוֹ, שֶׁיְּהֵא בּוֹ כְּדֵי מַתָּנָה. מִיכָּן אָמְרוּ (שם): כַּמָּה נוֹתֵן לוֹ? מִשְׁקַל חָמֵשׁ סְלָעִים בִּיהוּדָה, שֶׁהֵם עֶשֶׂר בַּגָּלִיל, מְלֻבָּן וְלֹא צוֹיִ, כְּדֵי לַעֲשׂוֹת מִמֶּנּוּ בֶּגֶד קָטָן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: תִּתֶּן לוֹ שֶׁיְּהֵא בּוֹ כְּדֵי מַתָּנָה.
3. “The finest . . . shall you give to him” (Dt.18:4)—
there should be enough for a [generous] gift.141=M .Hul.11:2.
On this basis they taught:
How much fleece should he give to him?
A weight of five selas in Judea,
equivalent to ten in the Galilee.
And it should be white, not filthy,
and enough to make a small garment,
for it is said:
“Shall you give to him” (Dt.18:4)—
enough for a generous gift.142=M. Hul.11:2.
כַּמָּה צֹאן יִהְיֶה לוֹ, וִיהֵא חַיָּב בְּרֵאשִׁית הַגֵּז? בֵּית שַׁמַּי אוֹמְרִים: שְׁתֵּי רְחֵלוֹת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ישעיהו ז כא): ״וְהָיָה בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא יְחַיֶּה אִישׁ עֶגְלַת בָּקָר וּשְׁתֵּי צֹאן״.
4. How many sheep comprise a flock
under obligation for the Finest-Fleece offering?
The circle of Shammai say: Two ewes,
as it is said:
“A man will possess a calf of the herd,
and two from the flock” (Is.7:21).
וּבֵית הִלֵּל אוֹמְרִים: חָמֵשׁ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמואל א כה יח): ״וְחָמֵשׁ צֹאן עֲשׂוּיוֹת״.
But the circle of Hillel say: Five,
as it is said:
“And five prepared from the flock” (1Sam.25:18)143//M.Hul.11:2).
רַבִּי עֲקִיבָה אוֹמֵר: רֵאשִׁית הַגֵּז – שְׁתַּיִם, צֹאנְךָ – אַרְבַּע, תִּתֶּן לּוֹ – הֲרֵי חָמֵשׁ.
R. Akiva says:
[The verse states —]
“You shall give him . . . the Finest-fleece” (Dt.18:4).
[Finest144Heb: r’eishit. Also “first.” Cf. Pisqa’ 165.4. implies a second],
yielding fleece shorn from a minimum of two sheep.
“Of your flock” (Dt.18:4)—
[since “flock”, as a plural noun, implies two more],
this amounts to four.
“Shall you give to him” (Dt.18:4)—
this final gift yields fleece
[from a total of five sheep!