Erchin 8:6-7

Erchin 8:6

Property dedicated to the kohanim cannot be redeemed, it can only be given to the kohanim. Rabbi Yehuda ben Beseira says that things that are dedicated without specifying their purpose are assigned to the upkeep of the Temple based on Leviticus 27:28, “every dedicated thing is most holy to God.” The Sages say that things that are dedicated without specifying their purpose are assigned to the kohanim based on Leviticus 27:21, “like a dedicated field, it will be a possession for the kohein.” So how are we to understand verse 28? That teaches us that the laws of dedicated property apply to items of greater sanctity and items of lesser sanctity (explained in the next mishna).

Erchin 8:7

A person can dedicate sacrifices, both those of greater sanctity and those of lesser sanctity. If it’s a vow, he pays the value of the item; if it’s a gift, he gives what it’s worth to him. For example, if he dedicated a particular ox as a burnt offering, they calculate what a person would pay to offer that ox as a non-obligatory burnt offering. A firstborn animal can be dedicated whether it has a blemish or not. It is redeemed by calculating how much a person would pay to give that firstborn animal to their son, daughter or nephew. Rabbi Yishmael points out that, regarding firstborn animals, Deuteronomy 15:19 says “you shall sanctify” while Leviticus 27:26 says “do not sanctify.” We can’t say to sanctify firstborn animals because of “do not sanctify,” but we can’t say not to sanctify them because of “you shall sanctify.” The resolution is that the value of firstborn animals is sanctified but they themselves are not sanctified as sacrifices.