Mitzvah —
387
To bring two loaves to accompany the Shavuot offering sacrifice
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מִמּוֹשְׁבֹ֨תֵיכֶ֜ם תָּבִ֣יאּוּ ׀ לֶ֣חֶם תְּנוּפָ֗ה שְׁ֚תַּיִם שְׁנֵ֣י עֶשְׂרֹנִ֔ים סֹ֣לֶת תִּהְיֶ֔ינָה חָמֵ֖ץ תֵּאָפֶ֑ינָה בִּכּוּרִ֖ים לַֽיהֹוָֽה׃ וְהִקְרַבְתֶּ֣ם עַל־הַלֶּ֗חֶם שִׁבְעַ֨ת כְּבָשִׂ֤ים תְּמִימִם֙ בְּנֵ֣י שָׁנָ֔ה וּפַ֧ר בֶּן־בָּקָ֛ר אֶחָ֖ד וְאֵילִ֣ם שְׁנָ֑יִם יִהְי֤וּ עֹלָה֙ לַֽיהֹוָ֔ה וּמִנְחָתָם֙ וְנִסְכֵּיהֶ֔ם אִשֵּׁ֥ה רֵֽיחַ־נִיחֹ֖חַ לַיהֹוָֽה׃ וַעֲשִׂיתֶ֛ם שְׂעִיר־עִזִּ֥ים אֶחָ֖ד לְחַטָּ֑את וּשְׁנֵ֧י כְבָשִׂ֛ים בְּנֵ֥י שָׁנָ֖ה לְזֶ֥בַח שְׁלָמִֽים׃ וְהֵנִ֣יף הַכֹּהֵ֣ן ׀ אֹתָ֡ם עַל֩ לֶ֨חֶם הַבִּכֻּרִ֤ים תְּנוּפָה֙ לִפְנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֔ה עַל־שְׁנֵ֖י כְּבָשִׂ֑ים קֹ֛דֶשׁ יִהְי֥וּ לַיהֹוָ֖ה לַכֹּהֵֽן׃ - פָּרָשַׁת אֱמוֹר
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Leviticus 23:17-20 - "From your dwelling places, you shall bring bread, set aside, two [loaves] [made from] two tenths [of an ephah]; they shall be of fine flour, [and] they shall be baked leavened, the first offering to the Lord. And associated with the bread, you shall bring seven unblemished lambs in their [first] year, one young bull, and two rams these shall be a burnt offering to the Lord, [along with] their meal offering and libations a fire offering [with] a spirit of satisfaction to the Lord. And you shall offer up one he goat as a sin offering, and two lambs in their [first] year as a peace offering._ And the kohen shall wave them in conjunction with the first offering bread as a waving before the Lord, along with the two lambs. They shall be holy to the Lord, [and] belong to the kohen."
This Mitzvah's Summary
מִצְוָה עֲשֵׂה - Positive Commandment
מִצְוָה לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה - Negative Commandment
Holidays – חֲגִים
On Shavuot, Israel must bring two loaves of new wheat as a wave offering, baked with chametz, alongside animal sacrifices.
This mitzvah commands the offering of shtei halechem (two loaves) on Shavuot, the only communal offering of chametz permitted in the Temple. These loaves, made from the first wheat harvest, were waved with two lambs of shelamim and became sanctified for priestly consumption. Rambam (Hilchot Temidin uMusafin 8:2) codifies this mitzvah as central to Shavuot.
The Sefer HaChinuch (Mitzvah 308) explains the two loaves symbolize the perfection of Israel’s harvest and the completion of the journey from barley (Omer) to wheat (Torah). Talmud (Menachot 45b) teaches that just as Israel received Torah on Shavuot, the loaves reflected their spiritual readiness, elevated from animal fodder (barley) to human food (wheat). Ramban highlights that the two loaves paralleled the two tablets of the Torah, both received on Shavuot.
Commentary & Classical Explanation:
- Rambam (Hilchot Temidin uMusafin 8:2): Details the preparation, waving, and priestly consumption of the loaves.
- Sefer HaChinuch (Mitzvah 308): Teaches the loaves symbolize completion and elevation.
- Talmud (Menachot 45b): Describes the unique waving ritual with loaves and lambs.
- Rashi (Lev. 23:17): Notes they were the only communal chametz offering, showing uniqueness.
- Ramban: Compares the two loaves to the two tablets of Torah, both central to covenantal identity.
Contrast with the Omer Offering (Mitzvah 384):
- The Omer was barley, marking the start of harvest; the loaves were wheat, marking completion.
- The Omer permitted new grain for personal use; the loaves sanctified wheat for the Mikdash.
- Sefer HaChinuch highlights the Omer as humility, loaves as maturity.
Parallel to Lechem HaPanim (Showbread, Mitzvah 381):
- Both symbolized Israel’s sustenance tied to Hashem.
- The showbread was weekly, ongoing sanctity; the two loaves were annual, climactic sanctity.
- Ramban explains both tied bread to holiness, but the loaves linked specifically to Shavuot’s Torah.
Commentaries
(Source: Chabad.org)
Applying this Mitzvah Today
Notes on this Mitzvah's Fundamentals
Festivals – מוֹעֲדִים
- Rambam places shtei halechem alongside Shavuot musafim, showing its role in defining the moed. Sefer HaChinuch (308) highlights that without the loaves, Shavuot’s sanctity was incomplete.
Shavuot – שָׁבוּעוֹת
- Talmud (Menachot 45b) links the loaves to Israel’s Torah covenant. Ramban sees them as paralleling the two tablets received on this very festival.
Temple – בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ
- Only in the Mikdash could the loaves be sanctified and waved with lambs. Rashi (Lev. 23:17) underscores the unique chametz offering as a Temple-specific mitzvah.
Sacrifices – קָרְבָּנוֹת
- The loaves were waved with two lambs of shelamim, combining bread and animal offerings. Rambam explains this fusion symbolized physical and spiritual wholeness.
Mizbeach – מִזְבֵּחַ
- Ramban explains that burning the accompanying korbanot with the loaves bound human sustenance to Divine service. The Mizbeach became the altar of gratitude for Torah.
Torah – תּוֹרָה
- Ramban explicitly connects the two loaves to the two tablets, reflecting Torah’s centrality. Sefer HaChinuch adds that Israel’s anticipation for Torah is embodied in the loaves.
Gratitude – הוֹדָיָה
- Sefer HaChinuch (308) calls the loaves thanksgiving for Hashem’s bounty and Torah. Talmud emphasizes that Israel publicly thanked Hashem by waving them before all.
Faith – אֱמוּנָה
- Rambam codifies the loaves as acknowledgment that Hashem provides completion of harvest. Midrash connects this faith to Hashem’s gift of Torah, beyond food.
Holiness – קְדֻשָּׁה
- Rashi (Lev. 23:17) stresses the loaves’ unique chametz nature showed holiness in diversity. Ramban says their sanctity reflected covenantal completeness.
Bein Adam L’Makom – בֵּין אָדָם לְמָקוֹם
- Ramban: Just as the loaves were waved before Hashem alone, so too Torah belongs exclusively to Him. Sefer HaChinuch highlights that the mitzvah expressed Israel’s total devotion to G-d.
