Decent Despots and More Zevachim 112-113 |
Zevachim 112 — “The Firstborn Opportunity Cost”
Our Gemara on Amud Beis discusses that prior to the inauguration of the Mishkan, sacrificial service was performed by the firstborn. They lost this privilege due to the sin of the Golden Calf.
The Divrei Dovid (Toldos 25:31) asks how Yaakov could purchase the birthright from Esav. It is forbidden for a non-cohen to perform the sacrifices; likewise a non-firstborn should also be in violation. He answers that prior to the appointment of the Levites, anyone could serve; the firstborn merely had priority out of respect.
Related to the loss of first born privilege, the Seforno (Devarim 26:13) has a creative derash to explains why the declaration of having fulfilled all the tithing at the time of bringing the first fruits to the Temple is called viduy. Viduy classically means more than just a declaration; it means confession. What sin is being confessed? The phrase “I have cleared out........