Toseftá sobre Levítico 1:5

Rabbi Akiva expounded: From where is it derived that the blood can only be received by an unblemished priest, and with a service vessel? The verse states, "And the sons of Aaron [the priests] shall bring near the blood" (Lev. 1:5). You might think this (i.e., "bring near") refers to sprinkling. [However, only] when [Scripture] says "and he shall sprinkle it," that is "sprinkling." But this verse does not say "sprinkle"; rather, it says, "bring near," in order to juxtapose "bringing near" with "sprinkling." Just as sprinkling must be performed by an unblemished priest, and with a service vessel, so too bringing near must be performed by an unblemished priest, and with a service vessel. And elsewhere it says, "And you are to anoint them ... and they shall serve as priests for me" (Ex. 40:15). Just as the priest mentioned over there is an unblemished priest, and [the ritual is performed] with a service vessel, so too the priest mentioned here is an unblemished priest, and [the ritual is performed] with a service vessel. Rabbi Tarfon said to him, "Akiva! How long will you pile up words against us?! I will bury my sons if I did not hear [a teaching] distinguishing between 'receiving' and 'sprinkling,' yet you equate receiving with sprinkling!" He said to him, "Allow me to say one thing that you yourself have taught me." He said to him, "Speak." He said to him, "Receiving is not performed with intention-like-action, [but] the act of sprinkling is performed with intention-like-action. One who receives inside [the Temple] is fit, [and] one who sprinkles outside [the Temple] is disqualified. [If] those who are disqualified receive it, they are not liable on its account, [but] if those who are disqualified sprinkle it, they are liable on its account." He said to him, "[I swear] by the Holy Service that you have not deviated to the right or to the left that which I heard [from my teachers], yet I was not able to explain (lif'rosh) [their teachings]. And you have expounded it and reconciled [the exposition] with tradition. Therefore, anyone who separates (ha'poresh) from you is like one who separates from his own life."