What is the intent of "according to the count of souls"

Mekhilta DeRabbi Yishmael Mekhilta Tractate Pischa 3:18

Curated by The Jewish Mythology Team · Published January 3, 2025

What is the intent of "according to the count of souls"? From (Ibid.) "A man (according to his eating"), I might think only a man. Whence do I derive (the same for) a woman, a tumtum (one of indeterminate sex) and a hermaphrodite? It is, therefore, written "according to the count of souls." This would imply for inclusion even one who is sick and one who is old, who cannot eat an olive-size. It is, therefore, written "A man according to his eating," to exclude the above, in whose behalf the lamb is not slaughtered. ("Each according to his eating) tachosu (over) the lamb": Rebbi says: This ("tachosu") is Aramaic, as one would say to his neighbor "Kos (i.e., 'slaughter') this lamb for me." "over the lamb":

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Wisdom Soul Souls Humor Tragedy

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