The Lambs That Launder the Sins of Israel

"Lambs [kevasim]" (Numbers 28:3). The House of Shammai and the House of Hillel. The House of Shammai says: "kevasim" [reading as kovshim], because they suppress [kovshim] the sins of Israel, as it is said, "He will again have compassion on us, He will suppress our iniquities" (Micah 7:19). And the House of Hillel says: "kevasim" [reading as kovsim], because they launder [kovsin] the sins of Israel, as it is said, "Though your sins be like scarlet, they shall be white as snow" (Isaiah 1:18). Ben Azzai says: "lambs in their first year" (Numbers 28:3), because they launder the sins of Israel and make them like an infant in its first year. "Two each day" (ibid.) on account of the day. "Two each day" an advocate for that day, "And they shall be Mine, says the LORD of hosts, on the day that I make My treasured possession" (Malachi 3:17). "Two each day" (Numbers ibid.), that they should be slaughtered facing the day. "Two each day" (ibid.), that one should know which is slaughtered in the morning and which is slaughtered at twilight. "A continual burnt offering" (Numbers 28:6). Rabbi Yudah son of Rabbi Simon said: Never did a person spend the night in Jerusalem with sin in his hand. How so? The morning daily offering would atone for transgressions committed during the night, and the twilight offering would atone for transgressions committed during the day. In any case no person would spend the night in Jerusalem with sin in his hand. And what is the reason? "Righteousness lodged in her" (Isaiah 1:21). Rabbi Yudah son of Rabbi Simon in the name of Rabbi Yohanan: Three things Moses heard from the mouth of the Almighty and was alarmed and recoiled backward. When He said, "Let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them" (Exodus 25:8), Moses said before the Holy One, blessed be He: Master of the worlds, it is written, "Behold, the heavens and the highest heavens cannot contain You" (1 Kings 8:27), and You say, "Let them make Me a sanctuary" (Exodus ibid.)? The Holy One, blessed be He, said to him: Not as you think [text uncertain]. The end of the matter, as it is set down in the portion of Ki Tissa, that there "each shall give a ransom for his soul to the LORD" (Exodus 30:12) is the consequence, and here, second, "My pleasing aroma" is the consequence here. End of the chapter.