Derasha 6 on Shoftim 17:01

TT #25 · Parashas Shoftim · First Aliyah · Passuk 1

The Complete Passuk

לֹא־תִזְבַּח֩ לַיהֹוָ֨ה אֱלֹהֶ֜יךָ שׁ֣וֹר וָשֶׂ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר יִהְיֶ֥ה בוֹ֙ מ֔וּם כֹּ֖ל דָּבָ֣ר רָ֑ע כִּ֧י תוֹעֲבַ֛ת יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ הֽוּא׃

You shall not sacrifice to the Eternal your God an ox or a sheep that has any defect of a serious kind, for that is abhorrent to the Eternal your God.

Chabad / Judaica Press

Source Citation

Torah Temimah points to Sifrei Devarim (same as previous unit).

Sefaria · Sifrei Devarim

Core Text of Chazal

תניא, רבי שמעון אומר, יכול כשם שרובע ונרבע פסולין בקרבן כך פסולים בכהן, ת״ל כי תועבת ה׳ אלהיך הוא, בזבח דברתי ולא בזובח.

English: It was taught: Rabbi Shimon says, One might think that just as an animal used for bestiality is disqualified as an offering, so too a kohen who engaged in bestiality is disqualified. Therefore the verse states “for it is an abomination to the Eternal your God” — I spoke of the sacrifice, not of the one who offers it.

On the daf / in context

The verse is limited to the animal being offered; it does not disqualify a kohen who has committed the same act from performing the Temple service (though other considerations may apply).

Type of Learning

Derash on the verse (Sifrei) — not a formal named middah of the 13. The pronoun “hu” is read as restricting the disqualification to the sacrifice itself.

What Is Learned

An animal involved in bestiality is forbidden as an offering, but a kohen who committed the same act is not thereby disqualified from the service on the basis of this verse.