When Tribes Sin the Whole People Brings Bulls

"Which may not be done, and they become guilty" -- just as punishment is exacted from the individual, so it is exacted from the community. If they ruled and erred in what they ruled, one might think they are liable; the text says "and the sin becomes known" -- and not that the sinners become known. "Which they have sinned... and they shall bring" -- if two tribes sinned, they bring two bulls, and the rest who did not sin bring a bull on their behalf; for even these who did not sin bring on account of the sinners. Therefore it says "the assembly" -- to make liable for each and every assembly; these are the words of Rabbi Yehudah. Rabbi Shimon says: seven tribes that sinned bring seven bulls, and the court brings a bull on their behalf. It says above "assembly" and below "assembly" -- just as the assembly stated above is a court, so too the assembly stated below is a court, and not the community. Rabbi Shimon ben Elazar says in his name: if six tribes sinned and they are the majority, or seven tribes even though they are not the majority of the assembly, they bring a bull. The master said: "and the sin becomes known" -- and not that the sinners become known. Who is the Tanna? Rav Yehudah said in the name of Rav: not like Rabbi Eliezer, for it was taught, Rabbi Eliezer said: whichever way you turn -- he ate fat, he is liable; he ate remnant, he is liable. Rav Ashi said: you may even say it is Rabbi Eliezer; it is different here, for it is written "which they have sinned thereby." What is Rabbi Yehudah's reasoning? He holds four mentions of "assembly" are written -- assembly, the assembly, assembly, the assembly: one to make liable for each assembly, one for a ruling that depends on the court while the act depends on the assembly, one for drawing-along, and one for a tribe that acted on its court's ruling. And Rabbi Shimon: three verses are written -- the assembly, assembly, the assembly; "from the eyes of the assembly" is the manner of the verse, as people say "from the eyes of so-and-so." One for the court, one to make liable for each assembly, and one: it says "assembly" above and "assembly" below -- just as further on a court with the community, so too here a court with the community. And Rabbi Meir does not expound "assembly, the assembly"; therefore two mentions of assembly are written, one for itself and one for a verbal analogy. And what is Rabbi Shimon ben Elazar's reasoning? It is written "and it shall be if it is hidden from the eyes of the assembly," implying even a minority, since "from the eyes" is written; and it is written (verse 26) "for it was in error for all the people," to say a majority of the community yes, a minority no. How so? If six acted and they are its majority, or seven even though they are not the majority, they are liable. How do Rabbi Shimon and Rabbi Meir know that ruling depends on the court and the act on the assembly? Abaye said: the verse says "and it shall be if it is hidden from the eyes of the assembly, it was done in error" -- until error is done by means of others. Rava said: "for it was in error for all the people." And both are needed, for had the Merciful One written only "if it is hidden from the eyes of the assembly," I would say even a minority; the Merciful One wrote "for it was in error for all the people." And had it written only that, I would say a court along with the majority; the Merciful One wrote "if it is hidden from the eyes of the assembly." And though these verses are written regarding idolatry, one derives "from the eyes" from "from the eyes." If a court ruled inadvertently and the whole assembly acted inadvertently, they bring a bull. If the court ruled deliberately and the people acted inadvertently, they bring a ewe-lamb and a she-goat. If the court ruled inadvertently and the people acted deliberately, they are exempt. If a court ruled and the whole assembly or its majority acted on their word, they bring a bull, and for idolatry they bring a bull and a goat; these are the words of Rabbi Meir. Rabbi Yehudah says: twelve tribes bring twelve bulls, and for idolatry twelve bulls and twelve goats. Rabbi Shimon says: thirteen bulls and thirteen goats, a bull and a goat for the court. If a court ruled and seven tribes or their majority acted on their word, they bring a bull, and for idolatry a bull and a goat; these are the words of Rabbi Meir. Rabbi Yehudah says: seven tribes that sinned bring seven bulls, and the remaining tribes that did not sin bring a bull on their behalf, for even these who did not sin bring on account of the sinners. Rabbi Shimon says: they bring eight bulls, and for idolatry eight bulls and eight goats -- a bull and a goat for each and every tribe, and a bull and a goat for the court. If the court of one of the tribes ruled and that tribe acted on their word, that tribe is liable and all the rest of the tribes are exempt; and by ruling of the Great Court, even the rest of the tribes are liable; these are the words of Rabbi Yehudah. The Sages say: they are liable only for a ruling of the Great Court, as it says "the congregation of Israel" and not the congregation of that tribe. Who are the Sages? Rabbi Shimon, for if it were Rabbi Meir he requires a majority. And learn from this that a single tribe that acted on a ruling of the Great Court -- for Rabbi Shimon brings an offering. And how do Rabbi Yehudah and Rabbi Shimon know that a single tribe is called an assembly? Rav Acha bar Yaakov said: it is written (Genesis 48:4) "and He said to me, behold I will make you fruitful and multiply you and make you into a company of peoples" -- learn from it that the Merciful One said: now another company will be born to you, namely Benjamin. But perhaps the Merciful One said to him: when Benjamin is born to you, who will be the twelfth, that will be called an assembly? He said to him: now two tribes are called an assembly -- eleven, all the more so.