Comentário sobre Levítico 1:10

ואם מן הצאן AND IF [HIS OFFERING BE] OF THE SHEEP — The ו (of אם) adds something to the former subject (i. e. shows that this is a continuation of it). Why, then, is there a break between the two paragraphs (i. e. why does the following form a separate paragraph)? In order to give Moses an interval between the one section and the next section to reflect upon what has already been said (Sifra, Vayikra Dibbura d'Nedavah, Section 5 1).

AND IF HIS OFFERING BE OF THE FLOCK. This section deals with the burnt-offering of the flock, and the law thereof is in every detail like that of the burnt-offering of the herd. That is why He shortened here the command, and did not mention “and he shall lay his hands” [upon the offering], nor “and it will be acceptable” [as mentioned above]. He said here in addition, however, that it be slaughtered on the side of the altar, northward before the Eternal,¹⁵⁷Verse 11. in order to explain that the expression before the Eternal¹⁵⁸Above, Verse 5, when speaking of the burnt-offering of the herd. mentioned in connection with the bullock means the side of the altar northward. The meaning of yerech [of the altar] is “the side” of the altar, and in the northerly direction. The verse thus teaches that the ramp of the altar was on the south side, where the front of the altar was, concerning which it is said, before the Eternal, in front of the altar.¹⁵⁹Further, 6:7. I have already explained the reason why the slaughtering was to be done on the north side.¹⁶⁰See Exodus 32:1. Scripture states without specification, round about the altar,¹⁶¹Verse 11. For in view of the fact that there were two altars [[illegible]] one in the outside Court at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting, and one within the Sanctuary — it therefore should have specified which one is intended here. But, Ramban answers, the reference is to the altar mentioned in the preceding section. for the reference is to the altar mentioned above, that is at the door of the Tent of Meeting.¹⁶²Verse 5. It does not state [in this section] and he shall flay it, since it has already been mentioned [in the preceding section].¹⁶³Verse 6. It states and the priest shall set them in order,¹⁶⁴Verse 12. to teach us that it is sufficient if one priest attends [to all the acts of the offering of the burnt-offering brought by an individual] as I have explained,¹⁶³Verse 6. for the sections on the offerings complement each other, the points not mentioned in one being explained in the other.

ואם מן הצאן קרבנו, If his offering consists of the category of sheep or goats, etc. Torat Kohanim remarks cryptically that the word ואם, in this verse [actually I think it would be better to say "the letter ו in the word ואם," Ed.] informs us of something additional to what we have learned about the עולה. What the author of Torat Kohanim means is that all the details mentioned in connection with a burnt-offering consisting of cattle and not repeated in this paragraph are nonetheless also applicable when the burnt-offering consists of צאן. Examples are the need to perform סמיכה, etc. This word ואם is also used to deduce that rules which are mentioned here for the first time, such as that the sheep used as burnt-offering is to be slaughtered on the northern side of the altar, apply equally to burnt-offerings consisting of cattle. The basic exegetical approach of Torat Kohanim is to use all those words which appear to be repeated unnecessarily for a halachic דרוש.