Why the Festival Offerings Diminish Daily and Teach Hospitality

Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Pinchas 16:1

Curated by Arthur·Translated by Maggid (Beta)·

ON THE EIGHTH DAY (Numbers 29:35). What was the reason for the offerings being diminished on each day? Rather, the Torah is teaching you proper conduct (derekh eretz) from the offerings: that if a person goes to a lodging place and his fellow receives him, on the first day he receives him and feeds him fowl; and on the second he feeds him fish; [on the third he feeds him meat;] on the fourth he feeds him vegetables. So he keeps diminishing until he feeds him legumes.

Themes

HospitalityHolidaysSacrificeHeresyHumor

Biblical References

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