Reeh 12:08 · unit 1

TT #43 · Parashas Reeh · First Aliyah · Passuk 12:08

The Complete Passuk

לֹ֣א תַעֲשׂ֔וּן כְּ֠כֹ֠ל אֲשֶׁ֨ר אֲנַ֧חְנוּ עֹשִׂ֛ים פֹּ֖ה הַיּ֑וֹם אִ֖ישׁ כָּל־הַיָּשָׁ֥ר בְּעֵינָֽיו׃

You shall not do according to all that we do here today, every man whatever is right in his own eyes.

Chabad.org — 12:08

Source Citation

Torah Temimah points to Sifrei / Zevachim.

Sefaria — Sifrei Devarim

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
עֹשִׂים פֹּה הַיּוֹם – מְלַמֵּד שֶׁעַד שֶׁלֹּא הוּקַם הַמִּשְׁכָּן הָיוּ הַבָּמוֹת מֻתָּרוֹת, וּמָה הִקְרִיבוּ, יָחִיד רְשֻׁיּוֹת וְצִבּוּר חוֹבוֹת, דְּאָמַר קְרָא לֹא תַעֲשׂוּן כְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר אֲנַחְנוּ עֹשִׂים פֹּה הַיּוֹם אִישׁ כָּל הַיָּשָׁר בְּעֵינָיו, אִישׁ יְשָׁרוֹת וְצִבּוּר אֲפִלּוּ חוֹבוֹת.

English: “That we do here today” — This teaches that until the Mishkan was erected the private altars (bamot) were permitted. And what did they offer? An individual offered voluntary offerings and the community offered obligatory offerings, as the verse says “you shall not do according to all that we do here today, every man whatever is right in his own eyes” — an individual [offers] voluntary ones, and the community even obligatory ones.

On the daf / in context: Before the Mishkan, bamot were permitted; the verse distinguishes the scope of what could be offered on them.

Type of Learning

Derash on the verse (Sifrei) — the status of bamot before the Mishkan and the types of offerings allowed.

What Is Learned

Before the Mishkan was erected, bamot were permitted; individuals could offer voluntary sacrifices and the community could offer obligatory ones.