Rabbi Yudan, Rabbi Aivu, and Rabbi Mashyan ben Nagari said in the name of Rabbi Yoḥanan: [God told Jacob:] ‘Your descendants are destined to become a nation like the assembly of peoples;11Your descendants will act like the other nations. just as the assembly of peoples sacrifice [on private altars] at the time when the private altars are prohibited, so, your descendants will sacrifice at the time when the private altars are prohibited.’12It is permissible for other nations to sacrifice on private altars, even though they also have the ability to brings sacrifices to the Temple.
Similarly, there will be a time when Jacob’s descendants will sacrifice a permissible offering on a private altar at a time when the prohibition of sacrificing on a private altar was in effect. This alludes to the incident of Elijah on Mount Carmel (see I Kings chapter 18; Yefeh To’ar). Rabbi Ḥanina cites it from here: “Elijah took twelve stones [according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob,] to whom was the word of the Lord, saying: Israel will be your name” (I Kings 18:31) – from the moment that this name was given to him, it was stated to him: “A nation and an assembly of nations will be from you.”
Rabbi Simlai cites it from here: “They called the name of the city Dan, after the name of Dan their forefather, who was born to Israel” (Judges 18:29) – from the moment that this name was given to him, it was stated to him: “A nation and an assembly of nations will be from you.” Rabbi Yoḥanan cites it from here: “They will call peoples to the mountain; there they will slaughter offerings of righteousness” (Deuteronomy 33:19) – when your descendants will become like the peoples at Zebulun’s mountain,13When they come to Mount Carmel to sacrifice offerings to idols. “there they will slaughter offerings of righteousness.”
It is not written here: “There they will offer prohibited offerings on private altars,” but rather, “offerings of righteousness.” I will perform righteousness with them and accept their offering. But “a nation and an assembly of nations will be from you” – to obligate each and every tribe; this is the opinion of Rabbi Shimon.14Rabbi Shimon interprets the verse as stating that if one tribe sins unwittingly based on the ruling of the Sanhedrin, that tribe is obligated to collectively bring the bull offering for an unwitting communal sin (see Mishna Horayot 1:5).
Rabbi Yehuda says: To obligate each and every congregation.15Rabbi Yehuda says that even if one tribe sinned based on the ruling of its own court, that tribe is obligated to collective bring the bull offering (see Mishna Horayot 1:5).