Vayikra 5:19 · unit 2

Parashas Vayikra · Passuk 5:19 · Unit 2 of 2

Complete Passuk

אָשָׁם הוּא אָשֹׁם אָשַׁם לַיהוָה׃

Chabad / Judaica Press

Source Citation

Torah Temimah cites Toras Kohanim.

Core Text
אָשָׁם אָשֹׁם לַה׳ — זֶה מִדְרָשׁ דָּרַשׁ יְהוֹיָדָע הַכֹּהֵן: כָּל שֶׁבָּא מִשּׁוּם חַטָּאת וּמִשּׁוּם אָשָׁם יִלָּקַח בָּהֶם עוֹלוֹת.

“Asham asham to Hashem” — this is the midrash that Yehoiada the Kohen expounded: whatever comes on account of chatas or asham, olot are purchased with it.

In the midrash: Surplus money that remains after chatas or asham dedications is not left idle or returned. Yehoiada’s reading of the doubled language directs those funds toward public olot — meat for the altar, hide for the kohanim.

Type of Learning

Diyuk of doubled “asham asham” — surplus funds become public olot.

What Is Learned

Leftover asham funds become public olot rather than remaining private asham animals. The doubled language is the scriptural basis for Yehoiada’s ruling that surplus from chatas and asham dedications is used to purchase burnt offerings for the public altar.