Derasha 2 — Vayikra 4:22

אֲשֶׁ֥ר נָשִׂ֖יא יֶחֱטָ֑א וְעָשָׂ֡ה אַחַ֣ת מִכׇּל־מִצְוֺת֩ יְהֹוָ֨ה אֱלֹהָ֜יו אֲשֶׁ֧ר לֹא־תֵעָשֶׂ֛ינָה בִּשְׁגָגָ֖ה וְאָשֵֽׁם׃

Source Citation

Torah Temimah points to Horayos 10a (unit 2; single primary locus per emergency Core plan).

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text — Horayos 10a

תַּנְיָא: ״אֲשֶׁר נָשִׂיא יֶחֱטָא״ — יָכוֹל גְּזֵרָה? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר ״אִם הַכֹּהֵן הַמָּשִׁיחַ יֶחֱטָא״ — מַה לְּהַלָּן לְכְשֶׁיֶּחֱטָא אַף כָּאן לְכְשֶׁיֶּחֱטָא.

English: It was taught: “When a nasi sins” — might this be a decree [that he will sin]? The verse of the anointed kohen teaches: just as there it is when he sins, so here it is when he sins.

In the sugya: The parallel language with the mashiach’s verse is used to reject any implication that the nasi is destined to sin; the clause is purely conditional.

Type of Learning

Conditional, not inevitable, sin of the nasi — the verse does not decree that a nasi must sin; it addresses the case if he does.

What Is Learned

The opening “asher nasi yecheta” is not a prophetic decree that every nasi will sin. Comparison with the parallel language for the anointed kohen shows that both verses speak of the contingency “when/if he sins,” not of an inevitable outcome. The nasi remains free of predetermined guilt.

Derasha 2 on Vayikra 4:22

The Complete Passuk

Source Citation

Core Text of Chazal

Type of Learning

What Is Learned