What is the meaning of "v'Im Yim'at ha'Bayis mi'Heyos mi'Seh..."?
Rashi: #1: If the household is too small 1 to finish eating the lamb at night, it must join with another household, lest some become Nosar, which must be burned.
Rashi #2 (citing Pesachim 89a): The Pasuk means that, if one wants to lessen the numbers in the group (by withdrawing), one must do so while it is a Seh (i.e. still alive), 2 but not after it has been slaughtered. 3
Moshav Zekenim: If one was Makdish his Pesach, and has no money for needs of Pesach or essentials, he may sell part to a neighbor. Even if the neighbor's coins were Hukdash for Pesach, and the Seh is Hekdesh, the coins become Chulin, for Yisrael are Mekadesh their Pesachim and coins for Pesachim with this intent.
Pesachim 99a: This teaches us that the original members of the group are permitted to withdraw provided at least one of the original members remains. 4
Pesachim 90a: Refer to 12:4:1:2* and 12:4:1:3 - This teaches us that one may accept payment for a portion in one's Korban Pesach in order to obtain wood - to roast it, or Matzah and Maror - with which to eat it, but not a shirt or a coat.
Targum Yonasan: The Korban Pesach requires at least ten people to eat it as a group. This seems to follow the opinion of Rebbi Yehudah in Pesachim (91a), who rules that the Pesach cannot be slaughtered for an individual (See Na'ar Yonasan).
Pesachim (loc. cit.): We expound "mi'Heyos mi'Seh - 'mi'Chiyuseih Shel Seh.' See Torah Temimah, note 26.
Moshav Zekenim: Another opinion there permits withdrawing even after Shechitah, but before Zerikas ha'Dam.
See Tosfos Yom-Tov to Pesachim 9:11.
In the event that there were not enough family members, why did the Torah require joining with the neighbors?
Maharal (Gevuros Hashem): Refer to 12:3:6.1:2 and its note.
Why does the Torah add the words "ha'Karov El Beiso"?
Mechilta: To teach us that "Shecheino" is not confined to someone who actually lives in his house, but incorporates a neighbor who lives on the roof - which is a different domain than his.
What does the Torah mean when it writes, "Ish L'fi Ochlo Tachosu... "?
Rashi: It means that only a person who is able to eat a k'Zayis 1 can participate in the Korban Pesach, to preclude 2 someone who is sick or elderly. 3
Pesachim 61a: The Torah compares 'Ochelin' to 'Menuyin;' to render the Pesach Pasul if it is slaughtered exclusively on behalf of people who cannot eat it, 4 just like it is Pasul if none of the ultimate participants were designated on it. 5
Pesachim 91a: "Ish" implies that one may perform Shechitah on the Korban Pesach even if there is only one person eating it.
See Ba'al ha'Turim.
Moshav Zekenim citing R. Yeshayah: Even though eating it is not Me'akev the Mitzvah, if he is not eligible to eat from it, it is Me'akev. The question arises however, how can all of Yisrael be Yotzei on one Pesach (Kidushin 41b), seeing as one lamb is not sufficiently large for everyone to receive a k'Zayis! Refer to 12:6:3:2*.
The Korban Pesach is the only Korban which is brought principally to eat.
See Torah Temimah, note 33.
Refer to 12:4:151:2*.
What is the meaning of "Tachosu"?
Rashi: It means "You shall be counted (on a Korban Pesach - to own a part of it)." 1
Rashi #2 (Pesachim 61a) and Targum Yonasan: "You shall perform Shechitah!" 2
What is the meaning of, "b'Michsas Nefashos"? What Halachos do we learn from this term? "
Rashi #1, Rashbam, Targum Onkelos and Targum Yonasan: It means 'according to the number 1 of people;' one must make a calculation [of how many people will partake of it].
Rashi #2 (to Pesachim 61a), Moshav Zekenim: It means 'according to those who have been appointed;' only one who was previously designated on (i.e. who partially owned) the Pesach may eat from it. 2
Pesachim 89a: "B'Michsas" means designated, and "Tachosu" (at the end of the Pasuk) means "Perform Shechitah!" This teaches us that one can only book a portion in a Korban Pesach until the moment of its Shechitah.
Pesachim 91b: "Nefashos" comes to include women in the Mitzvah of Korban Pesach. 3
Mechilta: "Nefashos" comes to include a Tumtum or Androginus in the Mitzvah of Korban Pesach. 4
Rashi: As in Vayikra 27:23, and Bamidbar 31:37.
Moshav Zekenim: In the Hagadah, we invite [at night] one who needs to eat the Pesach (even if he was not counted on it when it was offered during the day)! Perhaps Shechitah was with intent for people who will want to eat from it later. However, this is unlike Pesachim 89a (which implies that this is only if Yesh Bereirah. We hold that Ein Bereirah for Torah laws - PF). Lack of designation disqualifies a person from partaking of the Korban Pesach even B'Di'eved - because the Torah repeats the term - "b'Michsas" and "Tachosu" (Pesachim 81a); refer to 12:5:151:1*. (Perhaps this invitation is only recited nowadays, in the absence of a Beis Hamikdash. Indeed, the next sentence says, "This year we are here; next year [may we be] in Eretz Yisrael!") (CS)
See Torah Temimah, note 30.
See Torah Temimah, note 31.
QUESTIONS ON RASHI
Rashi writes: "'V'Im Yim'at ha'Bayis' - If there are too few people to eat it.... There is also a Midrash, ... if they wish to pull out and diminish (the number signed up) ... [they must do so] while the Seh is still alive, not after it has been slaughtered." Why does Rashi have to add the Midrashic interpretation?
Gur Aryeh: To the simple explanation, the verse should have said, 'v'Im Me'at ha'Bayis.' But it says "Yim'at ha'Bayis" in future tense, which implies a change (i.e., there had been many members in the household, but now they became few, because some withdrew from the Chaburah).
Rashi writes: "'L'fi Ochlo' - [Membership in a Chaburah is restricted to those] who are capable of eating; this excludes the sick, the elderly, and [others] who cannot eat a k'Zayis." But perhaps it means simply to estimate how much meat each member of the Chaburah will eat?
Gur Aryeh: The Korban Pesach is eaten 'Al ha'Sova,' when already satiated (Pesachim 70a). (Because a person does not fill his appetite with the Korban Pesach, there will not be so much variation in the amounts eaten by each person).
Rashi writes: "Tachosu - [As Targum translates,] 'Tismenun.'" What is Rashi clarifying to us by citing the Targum?
Gur Aryeh: "Tachosu" does not mean 'to sign up others' for the Korban Pesach; but rather, "you should sign yourselves up."
Rashi writes: "Tachosu - 'Tismenun' (you should sign yourselves up)." Why is Korban Pesach the only Korban that requires registration beforehand?
Refer to 12:3:6.3:2, section A.
