 | VaYikra |  |
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| | 2:1 |
If an individual presents a meal offering to God, his offering must consist of the best grade of wheat meal. On it, he shall pour olive oil and place frankincense.
Venefesh ki-takriv korban minchah l'Adonay solet yihyeh korbano veyatsak aleyha shemen venatan aleyha levonah. |
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Commentary:
meal offering
Minchah in Hebrew. See Genesis 4:3. Some say that it comes from the root nachah denoting lowness, and thus translating it 'homage gift' (Hirsch; HaKethav VeHaKabbalah; cf. Genesis 32:14). It can also be related to the word nicho'ach, see Leviticus 1:9. Or, it can come from the root nachah in the sense that it denotes rest; hence a minchah can denote an 'inanimate offering,' an offering taken from the vegetable kingdom.
| wheat meal
Soleth in Hebrew. This was wheat meal (Sifra; Rashi; from Exodus 29:2). It was the best grade of meal, perfectly clean of all bran (Saadia; Ibn Ezra; cf. Kiddushin 69b). The soleth used for meal offerings was a coarsely ground meal (Rashi, Menachoth 66a, s.v. Shel Gerosoth; Radak, Sherashim, from Avoth 5:15, cf. Meiri ad loc.) It had to be carefully sifted to remove all the fine flour (Menachoth 85a; Yad, Issurey HaMizbeach 6:12).The amount of such an offering was 1/10 ephah or around 2 quarts (Rashi; Yad, Maaseh HaKorbanoth 13:3).
| olive oil
At least 1 log (300 cc. or 10 fl. oz.) (Menachoth 51a, 88a; Yad, Maaseh HaKorbanoth 13:7, Ralbag).
| frankincense
Levonah in Hebrew. See Exodus 30:34. The amount of frankincense placed on the offering was one handful (Sifra; Yad, Maaseh HaKorbanoth 13:7).
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