Rabbi Avin said in the name of Rabbi Yoḥanan: It is written: “But if her means do not suffice for a lamb” (Leviticus 12:8). What is written after that? “A man, if he will have on the skin of his flesh.” What does one have to do with the other?
The Holy One blessed be He said: ‘I said to you: Bring an offering for birth, but you did not do so. As you live, I will compel you to come to the priest,’ as it is stated: “He shall be brought to Aaron the priest.” Rabbi Yoḥanan said: Why is the passage of ḥalla juxtaposed to the passage of idol worship? It is to say to you that anyone who fulfills the mitzva of ḥalla, it is as though he abolished idol worship, and anyone who negates the mitzva of ḥalla it is as though he upheld idol worship.
Rabbi Elazar said: “For due to a licentious woman one is brought to a loaf of bread” (Proverbs 6:26). What caused him to sin with a licentious woman? It is because he partook of her loaf that was not tithed.17Ḥalla was not taken from the loaf, in which case it is forbidden for consumption. Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish said: It is written: “A man’s sacred items shall be his” (Numbers 5:10).
What is written after that? “If any man’s wife shall stray” (Numbers 5:12). What does one have to do with the other? The Holy One blessed be He said: ‘I said: Give your gift to the priest but you did not do so.
As you live, I will compel you to bring your wife to the priest,’ as it is stated: “The man shall bring his wife to the priest” (Numbers 5:15).