(Devarim 12:17) "and all your vows": This refers to burnt-offerings. What does Scripture come to teach us? If (that it is forbidden) to eat of a burnt-offering outside of the wall, this can be derived a fortiori from ma'aser. If (that it is forbidden) to eat of it before the sprinkling of blood, this can be derived a fortiori from sin and peace-offerings. If (that it is forbidden to eat of it) after the sprinkling of its blood, this can be derived a fortiori from bechor. (If that it is forbidden to eat of it) outside the curtains, this can be derived from sin and guilt-offerings, viz.: If sin and guilt-offerings, which are permitted to be eaten — if one eats of them outside the curtains, he transgresses a positive commandment, then a burnt-offering, which is forbidden to be eaten — if one eats of it outside of the curtains, how much more so does he transgress a positive commandment! The purpose of the verse, then, must be to teach us that if a Cohein eats of a burnt-offering, whether before or after the sprinkling of its blood, whether within or outside the curtains, he transgresses a negative commandment (for the burnt-offering must be completely burned).
"and the Levite who is in your gates": Wherever you find a Levite, give him his portion (first-tithe). If he has no portion, he gives him poor-tithe. If he has no poor-tithe, he gives him peace-offerings.
6
(דברים יב יט) הִשָּׁמֶר – בְּלֹא תַעֲשֶׂה.
(Ibid. 19) "Take heed unto yourself": a negative commandment;
נְדָרֶיךָ – זוֹ עוֹלָה. וְכִי מָה בָּא הַכָּתוּב לְלַמְּדֵנוּ? אִם לְאוֹכֵל עוֹלָה חוּץ לַחוֹמָה – קַל וָחוֹמֶר מִמַּעֲשֵׂר; לִפְנֵי זְרִיקַת דָּמִים – קַל וָחוֹמֶר מִתּוֹדָה וּשְׁלָמִים; לְאַחַר זְרִיקַת דָּמִים – קַל וָחוֹמֶר מִן הַבְּכוֹר; חוּץ לַקְּלָעִים – קַל וָחוֹמֶר מֵחַטָּאת וְאָשָׁם: מָה חַטָּאת וְאָשָׁם, שֶׁמּוּתָּרִים בַּאֲכִילָה, הָאוֹכֵל מֵהֶם חוּץ לַקְּלָעִים עוֹבֵר בְּלֹא תַעֲשֶׂה, עוֹלָה, שֶׁהִיא אֲסוּרָה בַּאֲכִילָה, הָאוֹכֵל מִמֶּנָּה חוּץ לַקְּלָעִים אֵינוֹ דִין שֶׁיְּהֵא עוֹבֵר בְּלֹא תַעֲשֶׂה? הָא לֹא בָּא הַכָּתוּב לְלַמֶּדְךָ אֶלָּא לְאוֹכֵל עוֹלָה בֵּין לִפְנֵי זְרִיקַת דָּמִים בֵּין לְאַחַר זְרִיקַת דָּמִים, בֵּין לִפְנִים מִן הַקְּלָעִים בֵּין חוּץ לַקְּלָעִים שֶׁעוֹבֵר בְּלֹא תַעֲשֶׂה.
(Devarim 12:17) "and all your vows": This refers to burnt-offerings. What does Scripture come to teach us? If (that it is forbidden) to eat of a burnt-offering outside of the wall, this can be derived a fortiori from ma'aser. If (that it is forbidden) to eat of it before the sprinkling of blood, this can be derived a fortiori from sin and peace-offerings. If (that it is forbidden to eat of it) after the sprinkling of its blood, this can be derived a fortiori from bechor. (If that it is forbidden to eat of it) outside the curtains, this can be derived from sin and guilt-offerings, viz.: If sin and guilt-offerings, which are permitted to be eaten — if one eats of them outside the curtains, he transgresses a positive commandment, then a burnt-offering, which is forbidden to be eaten — if one eats of it outside of the curtains, how much more so does he transgress a positive commandment! The purpose of the verse, then, must be to teach us that if a Cohein eats of a burnt-offering, whether before or after the sprinkling of its blood, whether within or outside the curtains, he transgresses a negative commandment (for the burnt-offering must be completely burned).
(דברים יב יח) כִּי אִם לִפְנֵי ה׳ אֱלֹהֶיךָ – זוֹ שִׁילֹה.
(Ibid. 18) "But only before the L-rd your G-d shall you eat it": This is (the sanctuary of) Shiloh.
תֹּאכְלֶנּוּ בַּמָּקוֹם אֲשֶׁר יִבְחַר ה׳ אֱלֹהֶיךָ בּוֹ – זוֹ יְרוּשָׁלִַם.
"in the place that the L-rd your G-d chooses": This is Jerusalem.
אַתָּה וּבִנְךָ וּבִתֶּךָ וְעַבְדְּךָ וַאֲמָתֶךָ, חָבִיב חָבִיב קוֹדֵם.
"you, your son, your daughter, your man-servant, your maid-servant": in order of affection.
וְהַלֵּוִי אֲשֶׁר בִּשְׁעָרֶיךָ, כָּל מָקוֹם אַתָּה מוֹצֵא הַלֵּוִי הַזֶּה, לוֹמַר תֵּן לוֹ מֵחֶלְקוֹ! אֵין לוֹ חֵלֶק – תֵּן לוֹ מַעְשַׂר עָנִי! אֵין לוֹ מַעְשַׂר עָנִי – תֵּן לוֹ שְׁלָמִים!
"and the Levite who is in your gates": Wherever you find a Levite, give him his portion (first-tithe). If he has no portion, he gives him poor-tithe. If he has no poor-tithe, he gives him peace-offerings.
(דברים יב יט) הִשָּׁמֶר – בְּלֹא תַעֲשֶׂה.
(Ibid. 19) "Take heed unto yourself": a negative commandment;
פֶּן – בְּלֹא תַעֲשֶׂה.
"lest": a negative commandment;
פֶּן תַּעֲזֹב אֶת הַלֵּוִי כָּל יָמֶיךָ – אֲפִלּוּ שְׁמִטִּים וַאֲפִלּוּ יוֹבְלוֹת.
"all of your days": even shemitah and yovel years;
עַל אַדְמָתֶךָ – וְלֹא בַגּוֹלָה.
"upon your land": and not in the exile.