Derasha 3 on Vayikra 1:15
Parashas Vayikra · Aliyah 2 · Passuk 15
The Complete Passuk
וְהִקְרִיב֤וֹ הַכֹּהֵן֙ אֶל־הַמִּזְבֵּ֔חַ וּמָלַק֙ אֶת־רֹאשׁ֔וֹ וְהִקְטִ֖יר הַמִּזְבֵּ֑חָה וְנִמְצָ֣ה דָמ֔וֹ עַ֖ל קִ֥יר הַמִּזְבֵּֽחַ׃
Chabad.org — English translation + Rashi
Source Citation
Torah Temima points to Zevachim 65a (verified; melikah at the top of the altar, like hakatarah).
E-Daf — Tsurras Hadaf
Core Text of Chazal
Core Text
וּמָלַק — וְסָמִיךְ לֵיהּ וְהִקְטִיר; אִיתַּקַּשׁ מְלִיקָה לְהַקְטָרָה: מַה הַקְטָרָה בְּרֹאשׁ הַמִּזְבֵּחַ, אַף מְלִיקָה בְּרֹאשׁ הַמִּזְבֵּחַ.
English: “And he shall pinch” — adjacent to “and he shall cause to smoke”; melikah is juxtaposed with burning: just as burning is at the top of the altar, so melikah is at the top of the altar.
Type of Learning
Custom (juxtaposition of location).
What Is Learned
The kohen performs melikah while standing so that the act is at the upper surface of the altar.