📜Daily Chumash & Rashi Parshas Vayikra – Shevi: The Karban Asham (Shabbos, 3rd Nissan)

📘 Rashi Q&A — Vayikra 5:11–26

5:11 — Grain‑Offering for Extreme Poverty

Q1. What offering is brought if one cannot afford birds?

A: One‑tenth of an ephah of fine flour as a sin‑offering.

Q2. Why may no oil or frankincense be added?

A: Because it is a sin‑offering, and it is not fitting to embellish a sinner’s offering.

5:12 — Burning the Memorial Portion

Q3. What is burned from this grain‑offering?

A: A fistful as its memorial portion.

Q4. What does the repetition “חַטָּאת הִוא” teach?

A: If the fistful is burned with proper intent (as a sin‑offering), it is valid; otherwise, it is invalid.

5:13 — Atonement and Remainder

Q5. What happens after the priest completes this rite?

A: The sinner achieves atonement and is forgiven.

Q6. Who receives the remainder of the flour?

A: The priest, like a regular grain‑offering.

Q7. Why does Scripture say “עַל חַטָּאתוֹ” here instead of “מֵחַטָּאתוֹ”?

A: To teach laws about changes in financial status after setting aside an offering.

Q8. What is learned from the wording “מֵחַטָּאתוֹ” in other cases?

A: If one became poorer, he may bring part of the money already set aside for a costlier offering.

Q9. What is learned from “עַל חַטָּאתוֹ” here?

A: If one became wealthier, he must add and bring the richer offering.

Q10. What does “מֵאַחַת מֵאֵלֶּה” teach?

A: Atonement is achieved through any one of the three forms: wealthy, poor, or extremely poor.

Q11. Why was this clarification necessary?

A: To teach that severity of sin does not determine the offering type—ability does.

Q12. What additional teaching is derived from “וְהָיְתָה לַכֹּהֵן כַּמִּנְחָה”?

A: If the sinner is a priest, his grain sin‑offering is entirely burned, like a priest’s voluntary grain‑offering.

5:15 — Misappropriation of Sacred Property (Me’ilah)

Q13. What does “מְעִילָה” mean?

A: Change or betrayal, misusing what is sacred.

Q14. What act constitutes this sin?

A: Unintentional personal use of property designated exclusively for God.

Q15. How do we know this applies to all forms of misuse, not only eating?

A: From the double expression “תִמְעֹל מַעַל”, which includes all misuse.

Q16. What is excluded by “מִקָּדְשֵׁי ה‘”?

A: Offerings of lesser holiness (קָדָשִׁים קַלִּים).

Q17. What animal is brought for this guilt‑offering?

A: An unblemished ram.

Q18. What does “אַיִל” indicate about the ram?

A: It must be robust, i.e., in its second year.

Q19. What does “בְּעֶרְכְּךָ כֶּסֶף שְׁקָלִים” mean?

A: The ram must be worth two sela’im.

5:16 — Restitution and Atonement

Q20. What must be paid in addition to the principal?

A: An additional one‑fifth.

Q21. To whom is the payment made?

A: To the Temple treasury, via the priest.

Q22. What completes the atonement?

A: Bringing the ram guilt‑offering.

5:17 — Doubtful Transgression

Q23. What case is described here?

A: One who may have committed a sin punishable by excision, but is uncertain.

Q24. What example does Rashi give?

A: Eating one of two fats, one forbidden and one permitted, without knowing which.

Q25. What offering is brought in this case?

A: A suspensive guilt‑offering (אָשָׁם תָּלוּי).

Q26. What does this offering accomplish?

A: It protects him until he knows for sure whether he sinned.

Q27. What if he later discovers that he definitely sinned?

A: He must bring a sin‑offering.

5:18 — Ram for Doubtful Guilt

Q28. What offering is brought for a doubtful transgression?

A: An unblemished ram of the prescribed value.

Q29. Does this offering fully atone if he later learns he sinned?

A: No; it atones only for uncertainty, not for certain sin.

Q30. What is this compared to?

A: The decapitated calf for an unsolved murder—later discovery requires further action.

5:19 — Double Expression of Guilt

Q31. Why does the verse say “אָשָׁם הוּא אָשֹׁם אָשַׁם”?

A: To include the guilt‑offering of a betrothed bondwoman.

Q32. Why are other guilt‑offerings excluded?

A: Because Scripture says “הוּא”, limiting the inclusion.

5:21 — Denying a Monetary Claim

Q33. Why is denying a deposit called acting unfaithfully to God?

A: Because God is the unseen third party when a deposit is entrusted privately.

Q34. What does “בִּתְשׂוּמֶת יָד” mean?

A: Money placed in another’s hand for business or a loan.

Q35. What does “עָשַׁק” refer to?

A: Withholding a worker’s wages.

5:22–23 — False Denial and Admission

Q36. What is meant by “וְכִחֶשׁ בָּהּ”?

A: False denial of a monetary claim accompanied by an oath.

Q37. When does liability begin?

A: When the sinner admits and repents.

5:24 — Restitution with Fifths

Q38. What does “בְּרֹאשׁוֹ” mean?

A: The principal amount.

Q39. Why does the Torah say “חֲמִשִׁתָיו” (plural)?

A: Because multiple fifths may be added if one denies and swears again.

Q40. To whom must restitution be paid?

A: Only to the rightful owner, not his agent or heir.

5:25–26 — Final Atonement

Q41. What offering must be brought after restitution?

A: An unblemished ram guilt‑offering.

Q42. What is the result of bringing it?

A: The priest makes atonement, and the sinner is forgiven.