Menachot 20b — the Talmud in English

And we raise an objection:

On the contrary, blood should have been included,

for it is similar to a meal-offering in this respect,

for

it:

a.

It renders

the offering fit to be eaten,

like it.

b.

It becomes disqualified at sunset, like it,

for at night they do not sprinkle the blood, and likewise, from a meal-offering they do not offer the handful at night, and consequently on the following day they become disqualified through overnight lodging. But limbs do not become disqualified at sunset, for it is possible to offer them throughout the entire night

.

And we answer: In any event,

those

matters in which limbs are similar to a meal-offering

are more numerous

than the two matters in which blood is similar to a meal-offering.

The Master said: I might hear that even wood and blood, which are called “korban,” [are included].

And we inquire about it:

Who is

the tanna from whom

you hear that he says: Wood is called a complete “korban,”

for he compared wood to blood

Rabbi!

And if so, why did you say that wood does not require salt?

According to Rabbi, does it not certainly require salt?

For it was taught:

It is written: “When a person brings an offering, a meal-offering,” and they expound the verse:

“An offering”—

this teaches that one may voluntarily offer wood

for the arrangement on the altar!

And how much? Two logs.

And so

we find that wood is called a “korban,” for

it says: “And we cast lots concerning the offering of the wood.”

Rabbi says: Wood is a complete korban

complete;

and requires

salt

and requires presentation

to the altar, like a meal-offering!

And Rava said: According to Rabbi, wood requires the taking of a handful

like a meal-offering, for he crushes the wood into thin splinters and takes a handful of them.

And Rav Pappa said: According to Rabbi,

those who voluntarily offer

wood require

to bring with them

wood

to burn it, just as they bring wood with the other offerings.

And we answer: Indeed so,

remove

and eliminate

wood from here!

And we do not read in the beraita that wood is excluded from requiring salt, for the beraita was stated according to Rabbi’s method, and according to his view wood does require salt.

And we raise an objection:

But then the verse

of “a meal-offering,” from which the beraita expounds to exclude everything for which others do not come as an obligation,

to exclude what? If it is to exclude blood

alone, there is no need to learn this from the fact that it is not similar to a meal-offering, for from the exposition

“upon your meal-offering”

and not upon your blood

does it not follow?