מנחות טו

The תורה directs that the oil for a poor מצורע be brought על מקום דם האשם. The oil for a wealthy מצורע, however, is offered על דם האשם. When asked to explain the reason for the difference, a poor תלמיד חכם explained that it was because of people like him. While the הלכה is that one may bring the קרבן האשם one day and the לוג of oil up to ten days later, today’s דף teaches that לכתחילה the מצוה is to bring it בו ביום. Therefore, a wealthy person, having the means to do so, brings the לוג השמן on the same day that he brings the קרבן אשם. Thus, when the כהן places the oil upon it, the דם is still קיים and the תורה therefore states על דם האשם. But a poor מצורע who can’t afford to bring both the קרבן and the oil on the same day, brings the oil after the blood of the קרבן is no longer במקומו. Therefore, it states על מקום דם האשם, rather than על דם האשם.

06/10/2021