Kerisos 6:8-9

Krisos 6:8

If a person put aside money to buy a female sheep, he can use it to buy a female goat, and vice versa. If he put aside money to buy a female sheep or a female goat, he can use it to buy pigeons and doves. If he put aside money to buy pigeons and doves, he can use it to buy one-tenth of an ephah of flour, as follows: He put aside money for a female sheep or goat but he suffered a financial reversal. In such a case, he can use the money to buy a bird offering (which was brought by needier people). If his financial situation continued to deteriorate, he can use the money to buy one-tenth of an ephah (which was brought by the neediest people). If he put aside money to buy one-tenth of an ephah and his situation improved, he must bring a bird offering. If his financial situation continued to improve, he must bring a female sheep or goat. If he put aside a female sheep or goat and it became blemished, he has the option to use its proceeds to bring a bird instead. If he put aside a bird and it became blemished, he does not have the option to use its proceeds to bring one-tenth of an ephah because birds can’t be redeemed.

Krisos 6:9

Rabbi Shimon says that, in the Torah, lambs are always mentioned before goats. In order to keep people from thinking that this means sheep are preferable, Leviticus 4:32 tells us, “if he brings a lamb as a sin offering,” indicating that they are equal. Similarly, doves always come before pigeons, so one might think they’re preferable. Therefore, Leviticus 12:6 says, “a pigeon or a dove for a sin offering” to illustrate that they’re equal. Fathers are always mentioned before mothers in the Torah; this might cause one to think that fathers deserve more honor than mothers. Therefore, Leviticus 19:3 says, “every person must revere his mother and father,” illustrating that both are equal. The Sages say that father is always mentioned before mother because one’s mother is also obligated to honor his father. This is also the case with Torah study: one’s rebbe comes before one’s father because both he and his father are obligated to honor a Torah scholar.