47. Holy Things that Become Unfit – Pesulei ha-Mukdashin

If a sacrifice acquires a blemish or becomes invalid on account of improper sacrificial procedures it is forbidden to eat it, as it says “You shall not eat any abomination”¹; and there is a special prohibition in certain cases where there was improper intent, as it says “And if it is [with intent of being] eaten… on the third day (i.e., after the time when eating it is permitted)… it shall be unfit (pigul) and the person who eats of it shall bear his sin”.^2,a

Peace-offerings (but not thank-offerings), firstborn and tithes can be eaten on the day they are offered, the following night, and the following day until sunset²; all other sacrifices that are eaten can be eaten only on the day they are offered and the following night³ (rabbinically, only until midnight). It is forbidden to leave anything over beyond this time or to eat of it if it is left over, as it says “You shall not leave any of it over until morning”,³ and it says “And he who eats it shall bear his sin”,⁴ and it says “[And if any is left over… until morning you shall burn the excess in the fire], it shall not be eaten for it is holy”.⁵ If anything is left over we are commanded to burn it, as it says “[You shall not leave any of it over until morning] and what is left over of it until morning you shall burn in the fire”⁶; and it says “And what is left over of the flesh of the sacrifice on the third day shall be burned in the fire”.² Similarly, we are commanded to burn all invalid sacrifices.^b

It is forbidden to eat from a sacrifice that has become impure; we are commanded to burn it, as it says “And the flesh that touches any impure thing shall not be eaten; it shall be burned in the fire”.⁷ It is forbidden for a person who has become impure to eat from a sacrifice, as it says “And a person who shall eat flesh from the peace-offering sacrifice that is Ha-Shem‘s with his impurity upon him, that person shall be cut off from his people…”⁸; and it says (regarding a woman who has given birth, who is impure) “She shall touch no holy thing”.^9,c