Derasha 4 — Vayikra 2:4

וְכִ֥י תַקְרִ֛ב קָרְבַּ֥ן מִנְחָ֖ה מַאֲפֵ֣ה תַנּ֑וּר סֹ֣לֶת חַלּ֤וֹת מַצֹּת֙ בְּלוּלֹ֣ת בַּשֶּׁ֔מֶן וּרְקִיקֵ֥י מַצּ֖וֹת מְשֻׁחִ֥ים בַּשָּֽׁמֶן׃

Source Citation

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text — Menachos 78a

חַלּוֹת מַצּוֹת בְּלוּלוֹת בַּשֶּׁמֶן וּרְקִיקֵי מַצּוֹת מְשֻׁחִים בַּשָּׁמֶן — חַלּוֹת בְּלוּלוֹת וְלֹא רְקִיקִין בְּלוּלִים, וּרְקִיקִין מְשֻׁחִים וְלֹא חַלּוֹת מְשֻׁחוֹת.

English: Unleavened loaves mixed with oil and unleavened wafers smeared with oil — loaves are mixed and not wafers mixed; wafers are smeared and not loaves smeared.

In the sugya: The two parallel phrases of the verse assign distinct methods of applying oil to each type of product.

Type of Learning

Diyuk of belulot vs meshuchim — loaves receive oil by mixing; wafers receive oil by smearing.

What Is Learned

Challos receive oil by mixing into the dough; rekikin receive oil by smearing after baking. The Torah’s distinct language for each form (“mixed with oil” for the loaves, “smeared with oil” for the wafers) teaches two different procedures for incorporating the oil into the oven-baked minchah.

Derasha 4 on Vayikra 2:4

The Complete Passuk

Source Citation

Core Text of Chazal

Type of Learning

What Is Learned