53. Errors - Shegagos
One who in error transgresses a negative commandment
that carries the punishment of "cutting off" is commanded
to bring an animal sin-offering. The high priest brings
a bull; the king, a he-goat; all others bring a female
sheep; but for idolatry they all bring a kid [as it says
"If a person sins in error..."].1,a
If a person is not certain whether or not he has
transgressed such a commandment he brings a guilt-offering, as
it says "[And if a person sins]... and does not know and
is guilty and bears his sin, he brings an unblemished ram
of the flocks as a guilt-offering".2 A guilt-offering is
also brought by one who has had sexual relations with a
betrothed maidservant3 or who has committed robbery4 or
who has committed sacrilege in error,5 as well as by a
nazirite who became impure6 and by a purified leper.7,b
A purified leper also brings two sheep as a sin-offering and a
burnt-offering; but if he cannot afford them
he brings two birds.8 A woman who has given birth brings
a lamb burnt-offering (as well as a bird sin-offering);
but if she cannot afford it she brings a bird instead.9
A person who has violated an oath
in error or who has entered the Temple or eaten sacred
things in error while impure brings a sheep as a sin-offering;
but if he cannot afford it he brings two birds
(a sin-offering and a burnt-offering), and if he cannot
afford even that he brings a flour-offering.10,c
If the Sanhedrin ruled in error regarding a commandment
for which a sin-offering is required and a majority
of the people followed their ruling, each tribe brings a
bull sin-offering, as it says "And if all the congregation
of Israel err...".11 If the error involved idolatry each
tribe also brings a he-goat sin-offering, as it says "If
it was done in error by oversight of the congregation...".12
All these offerings are burned.d
Sources: |
| 1. Lev. 4:2ff; Num. 15:27ff |
a. 1:1,4; see 15:1 |
| 2. Lev. 5:17-18 |
b. 8:1; 9:1 |
| 3. Lev. 19:20-22 |
c. 10:1-5; see 1:3-4 |
| 4. Lev. 5:2lff |
d. 12:1 |
| 5. Lev. 5:15-16 |
|
| 6. Num. 6:12 |
|
| 7. Lev. 14:12 |
|
| 8. Lev. 14:10,19,2lff |
|
| 9. Lev. 12:6-8 |
|
| 10. Lev. 5:1-13 |
|
| 11. Lev. 4:l3ff |
|
| 12. Num. 15:24ff |
|
