Why the Ox Was Set First Among All the Offerings

Pesikta DeRav Kahana 9:7

Curated by Arthur·Told by Maggid·

"In their evil they make a king glad, and in their lies, princes" (Hosea 7:3). And why did He see fit in the ox to make it head of all the offerings? Rabbi Levi said: This is like a noblewoman against whom an evil report went out, accusing her with one of the great men of the kingdom. The king investigated the matter and found no substance in it. What did he do? He made a great feast and seated that man at the head of the reclining guests. Why all this? To make known that the king had investigated the matter and found no substance in it. So too, because the nations of the world were taunting Israel and saying to them, "You made the calf," and the Holy One, blessed be He, investigated the matter and found no substance in it, therefore the ox was made head of all the offerings: "an ox or a sheep or a goat" (Leviticus 22:27).

Themes

SacrificeIsraelDivine Justice

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