Loaves Are Blended With Oil and Wafers Anointed Like a Greek Letter Kaf

Yalkut Shimoni on Torah 449:8

Rav Huna said: an oven-baked offering that one baked as a single loaf is valid; what is the reason? "unleavened" is written. Rav Pappa objected: is the reason that "unleavened" is written in singular form, so that the plural "unleavened breads" would not be valid? But concerning the loaves of the thanksgiving-offering, where "unleavened breads" is written (Leviticus 7:12), Rav Tuvyah bar Kisma said in the name of Shmuel: thanksgiving loaves that one baked as four loaves are valid; that case differs. "Fine flour blended" (Leviticus 2:5) teaches that the fine flour is blended. Rabbi said: the loaves are blended. They said to him: but is it not said of the thanksgiving loaves "loaves," and it is impossible to blend them except as fine flour? How then does one do it? He puts oil in a vessel before they are made, and places the flour in and pours oil upon it and blends it, kneads it and bakes it and breaks it into pieces and puts oil upon it and takes a handful. Rabbi said: the loaves are blended, as it is said "loaves blended"; how does one do it? He puts a measure of oil in a vessel before they are made and places the flour in and kneads it and bakes it and breaks it and puts oil upon it and blends it, and again puts oil upon it and takes a handful. As to the impossibility the Sages spoke of, what is it? Rabbi Shmuel bar Nachman said: a quarter-log of oil, how is it divided among so many loaves? "Loaves blended" and not wafers blended, for one might think, does it not follow by reasoning? If loaves, which do not require anointing, require blending, then wafers, which require anointing, is it not right that they require blending? Therefore Scripture says "loaves blended," and not wafers blended; wafers are anointed and not loaves anointed. For one might think, does it not follow? If wafers, which do not require blending, require anointing, then loaves, which require blending, is it not right that they require anointing? Therefore Scripture says wafers anointed and not loaves anointed. What is the textual proof? Rava said: let it not deviate and write "loaves anointed and wafers blended." The Sages taught: a meal-offering brought half loaves and half wafers, he brings a log of oil and divides half for the loaves and half for the wafers; the loaves he blends, the wafers he anoints, and he anoints the wafer over its whole surface, and the remaining oil he returns to the loaves. Rabbi Shimon ben Yehudah said in the name of Rabbi Shimon: he anoints it like the shape of a Greek letter kaf, and the rest is eaten by the priests. Another teaching: wafers brought by themselves, he brings a log of oil and anoints them and anoints them again until all the oil in the log is used up. Rabbi Shimon ben Yehudah said in the name of Rabbi Shimon: he anoints them like the shape of a Greek letter kaf, and the rest of the oil is eaten by the priests.

Themes