Vayikra 5:18 · unit 3

Parashas Vayikra · Passuk 5:18 · Unit 3 of 3

Complete Passuk

וְהֵבִיא אַיִל תָּמִים מִן־הַצֹּאן בְּעֶרְכְּךָ לְאָשָׁם אֶל־הַכֹּהֵן וְכִפֶּר עָלָיו הַכֹּהֵן עַל שִׁגְגָתוֹ אֲשֶׁר־שָׁגָג וְהוּא לֹא־יָדַע וְנִסְלַח לוֹ׃

Chabad / Judaica Press

Source Citation

Torah Temimah cites Keritot.

Core Text
וְהוּא לֹא יָדַע וְנִסְלַח לוֹ — הַמֵּבִיא אָשָׁם תָּלוּי וְנוֹדַע לוֹ שֶׁלֹּא חָטָא, אִם נִזְרַק הַדָּם הַבָּשָׂר יֵאָכֵל.

“And he did not know and it shall be forgiven him” — one who brings an asham talui and then learns that he never sinned: if the blood has already been thrown, the meat is still eaten.

In the sugya: Once the blood has been sprinkled, the asham talui has completed its role. Even if the doubt later resolves toward innocence, the offering remains valid and the meat may be eaten.

Type of Learning

Diyuk of “lo yada” at the time of selichah — zerikah locks the status.

What Is Learned

Once the blood is thrown, the asham talui has completed its role even if the doubt resolves toward innocence. Forgiveness is fixed at the moment of the blood service; later knowledge that no sin occurred does not invalidate the offering.