The Seven Sprinklings That Cannot Be Skipped

"And he shall do to the bull as he did to the bull" and so forth, "the first bull": that it should be first to the bull of the congregation in all its rites. The bull of the anointed priest and the bull of the congregation stand together: the bull of the anointed priest takes precedence over the bull of the congregation in all its rites. Since the anointed one atones and the congregation is atoned for, it is fitting that the one who atones precede the one atoned for. And so Scripture says, "And he shall make atonement for himself and for his household and for all the assembly of Israel" (Leviticus 16:17). "And he shall do to the bull as he did"—what does Scripture teach? To repeat regarding the sprinklings, to teach that if he omitted one of the applications he has accomplished nothing. And I know only of the application of seven, which is indispensable everywhere; from where the application of four? Scripture says "so shall he do." "To the bull"—this is the bull of the Day of Atonement. "As he did to the bull"—this is the bull of the anointed priest. "The sin-offering"—these are the idolatry goats. One might think I should include even the festival goats and the new-moon goats; Scripture says "the sin-offering, so shall he do to it." And what did you see to include these and exclude those? After Scripture both included and excluded, I include these, which atone for a transgression of a known commandment, and I exclude those, which do not atone for a transgression of a known commandment. "And he shall make atonement"—even though he did not lay on hands. "And it shall be forgiven"—even though he did not pour out the remnants. And what did you see to invalidate regarding the sprinklings and to permit regarding the laying-on of hands and the remnants? You say: I invalidate regarding the sprinklings, which are indispensable everywhere, and I permit regarding the remnants and the laying-on of hands, which are not indispensable everywhere. Where is the application of seven that is indispensable everywhere? Rav Pappa said: by the [red] heifer and by the leprous marks. From where the application of four? Scripture says "so shall he do." What is the difference that the application of seven is written and repeated—the application of four is also written and repeated! Rabbi Yirmiyah said: it is needed only according to Rabbi Shimon, as it was taught: above it says "horn, horns," two; below it says "horn, horns" (above, verse 18), four, the words of Rabbi Shimon. Rabbi Yehudah says: it is not needed, for behold it says "upon the horns of the altar... which is in the tent of meeting," to include all the horns that are in the tent of meeting. And Rabbi Yehudah, this "so shall he do," what does he do with it? For what was taught: since we have not learned regarding the bull of the Day of Atonement the laying-on of hands and the remnants of blood, from where are they derived? Scripture says "so shall he do." And have we not learned about the bull of the Day of Atonement? You said: "to the bull"—this is the bull of the Day of Atonement. It was necessary, for it might enter your mind to say these matters apply only to a rite that is indispensable for atonement, but a rite that is not indispensable for atonement, say not; it teaches us otherwise. And Rabbi Shimon, this "in the tent of meeting," what does he do with it? He needs it to teach that if the ceiling of the sanctuary were broken open, one would not sprinkle. And the other derives it from "which," and the other does not expound "which." Abaye said: according to Rabbi Yehudah too it is necessary; for it might enter your mind to say, just as with the laying-on of hands and the remnants of blood, which though written and repeated are not indispensable, so too the application of four should not be indispensable; it teaches us otherwise.