4,061. Underage Animals

Hilchos Issurei Mizbeiach 3:7

The Rambam opines that even though all of the preceding animals are unsuitable for use as offerings, if a person violated the law and did offer one of them, he is not subject to the penalty of lashes under Biblical law because the use of such animals is not specifically prohibited in the Torah (the prohibition is inferred). An animal given in payment to a prostitute or exchanged for a dog may not be brought on the altar and one who offers such an animal – or both – is subject to a single set of lashes, as per Deuteronomy 23:19: “Do not bring the wages of a prostitute or the exchange of a dog….” One would be subject to only one set of lashes because they are the subject of a single prohibition.

Hilchos Issurei Mizbeiach 3:8

There is a Torah obligation to bring all offerings from the eighth day of the animal’s life and on, as per Leviticus 22:27: “It will be remain alongside its mother for seven days; from the eighth day and on, it will be desirable.” For these first seven days, it is considered underage. Although an underage animal is unfit for use as an offering, if someone violated the law and offered it, he is not subject to lashes. This is because the prohibition is derived from the obligation. Even though he’s not subject to lashes, the sacrifice is not accepted.

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