Vayikra 5:13 · unit 2

Parashas Vayikra · Aliyah 7 · Passuk 5:13 · Unit 2 of 2

Complete Passuk

וְכִפֶּר עָלָיו הַכֹּהֵן עַל־חַטָּאתוֹ אֲשֶׁר־חָטָא מֵאַחַת מֵאֵלֶּה וְנִסְלַח לוֹ וְהָיְתָה לַכֹּהֵן כַּמִּנְחָה׃

Chabad / Judaica Press

Source Citation

Torah Temimah cites Toras Kohanim.

Core Text
וְהָיְתָה לַכֹּהֵן כַּמִּנְחָה — שֶׁתְּהֵא עֲבוֹדָתָהּ כְּשֵׁרָה בּוֹ.

“And it shall be for the kohen like the minchah” — so that its service shall be valid when performed by him. A kohen who is the sinner may carry out the avodah of his own flour-chatas.

In the midrash: The same phrase that treats the flour as a kohen’s minchah also authorizes the owner-kohen to perform the avodah himself. He is not barred from kemitzah and the subsequent steps merely because the offering is his own obligation.

Type of Learning

Diyuk allowing the owner-kohen to officiate — “la-kohen ka-minchah” authorizes the kohen-owner to perform kemitzah and the rest of the service.

What Is Learned

A kohen who brings this chatas flour may kemetz and offer it himself. He is not barred from the avodah merely because the offering is his own obligation. The Torah’s language treats the service as valid in his hands.