Who May Tell the Ruler He Has Sinned

(Leviticus 4:23) "If his sin be made known to him" implies that he himself came to know, and not that others informed him. I would know this only when a maidservant told him. From where do I learn that it applies even if a woman told him? I might exclude the case where a woman told him, since a woman is not fit to give testimony. From where do I learn even if relatives told him? I might exclude the case where relatives told him, since they are not fit to testify. From where even if a single witness told him? I might exclude the case where a single witness told him, since he can impose only an oath and not a monetary obligation. From where even if two told him? Therefore Scripture teaches "if it be made known to him," and not that others make it known to him. Or perhaps he is liable even when he does not contradict them? Therefore Scripture teaches "or if his sin be made known to him, then he shall bring." I would include the case where two told him, since they can subject him to death; and from where even if a single witness told him, since he can subject him to an oath; and from where even if relatives told him, since they are fit to testify elsewhere; and from where even if a woman told him, even a maidservant? Therefore Scripture teaches "or if his sin be made known to him, the sin he has committed, then he shall bring his offering." Rabbi Meir said: If two witnesses could bring him to the severe penalty of death, shall they not bring him to the lighter penalty of an offering? Rabbi Yehuda said to him: But how can one say to him, "Stand and confess," while he himself says, "I did not sin"? Rabbi Shimon said: And if he says "I acted deliberately," he is exempt. Rabbi Meir says: If he said from the start "I acted deliberately," we listen to him; but if he argued with them the whole day and only at the end said "I acted deliberately," we do not listen to him. Similarly Rabbi Meir said: If they said to a man, "You are a nazirite," and he said, "There was a condition in my heart," we listen to him; but if he denied it all day and only at the last said, "There was a condition in my heart," we do not listen to him.