What is the "Minchas Bikurim"? From what is it brought?
Rashi: The Minchas Bikurim, which is synonymous with the Minchas ha'Omer, is brought from the first of the ripening crop of barley.
How do we know that the "Minchas Bikurim" comprises barley and not wheat?
Rashi: We learn it from the Gezeirah Shavah "Aviv" "Aviv" in Va'eira, Sh'mos 9:31 - in connection with the plague of Barad..
Moshav Zekenim (citing the Sifra): It cannot be wheat, because then the Sh'tei ha'Lechem (which are brought on Shavu'os) would not be Bikurim.
Seeing as the Minchas ha'Omer is obligatory, why does the Torah write "ve?Im Takriv Mincahs Bikurim"?
Rashi: This is one of three locations where the Torah writes "Im", even though it is obligatory. 1
Ramban #1 and Moshav Zekenim #1: Since Hashem did not command to offer the Minchas ha'Omer now (in the Midbar), the Torah follows from the previous Pesukim - 'If you want to bring a Minchah al ha'Machavas, do it like this ... a Minchas Marcheshes, do it like this ... and if you bring a Minchas Bikurim, do it like this'.
Ramban #2 and Moshav Zekenim #2: "Im" is indeed conditional, seeing as Eretz Yisrael is given to Yisrael on condition that they keep the Mitzvos. 2 What the Torah is therefore saying is that if Hashem brings Yisrael to Eretz Yisrael and they bring the Minchas Bikurim, this is how they should bring it. 3
Moshav Zekenim #3 (citing R. Yehudah in the Sifra): Because in the future, it is destined to cease, and to be reinstated later . 4
Rashbam: It means 'When you will bring the Minchas Bikurim'. 5
Oznayim la'Torah: With reference to the continuation of the Pasuk, the Torah is saying that if Yisrael will bring the Minchah for the sake of Hashem to thank Him for the rains in their time and for the dew - then they will merit to bring it with all the advantages of "Kaluy ba'Eish, Geres, Carmel and "Reishis Ketzirchem". Implying that if they bring it merely to permit Chadash, then they will lose out on all the above advantages. 6
Refer to Sh'mos, 20:22:1:1**.
See Devarim 11:22 & 23 (Ramban).
The fact that the Torah inserts "Im" by virtually every Korban that it discusses throughout the Parshah seems to support the Ramban's two explanations.
Moshav Zekenim (Ibid.): The Torah writes "ve'Im Yih'yeh ha'Yovel" (in Mas'ei Bamidbar, 36:4) for the same reason.
See Rashi in Sh?mos, 23:33, citing the Beraisa of R.Yishmel, which implies that this answer is synonymous with answer #1.
Oznayim la'Torah: And be forced to bring it, not from standing corn, but from sheaves, from dry corn, reaped in the day and from the attic - which are all Kasher only Bedi'eved. See Oznayim la'Torah, DH 've'Im Takrim Minchas Bikurim' #2.
Why does the Torah insert the Minchas ha'Omer in the middle of the Korb'nos Nedavah?
Oznayim la'Torah: Seeing as it had to cite the Sh'tei ha'Lechem and Bikurim ? the only exceptions to the Din of Se'or and D'vash, it makes sense to insert Minchas ha'Omer 1 after them.
Particularly since it belongs to the same group of Korbanos as the Sh'tei ha'Lechem, and is also called 'Bikurim'. See also Oznayim la'Torah DH 've'Im Takri ... ' #1, citing the Ibn Ezra.
What is the meaning of "Aviv Kaluy ba'Eish"? Why was it done?
Rashi: It means that the barley was roasted on a fire in a perforated pan 1 for roasting kernels, to dry them before they are ground ? in order to enable the grinding.
Rashi on Menachos, 66b: 'Ibuv' is the name of a K'li with holes that is used by sellers of roasted grains.
What are the connotations of "Geres Carmel"?
Rashi #1, Rashbam, Targum Onkelos and Targum Yonasan: "Geres" means 'ground 1 (in a grain-grinder - Rashbam [whilst it is still fresh (and moist) - Rashi])'.
Rashi #2: It implies that the barley is to be ground in a grits-grinder's mill ('Rechayim shel G'rusos') which grinds grain coarsely - each grain into two or four.
Rashi #3 (in Sotah, 14a): "Geres" means choice quality barley that has been sifted in thirteen sieves. 2 .
Rashi #4: It is the acronym of "Car Malei" - meaning that the barley is still moist and full inside its husk. 3
As in Eichah, 3:16 (Rashi and Rashbam).
Like the fine flour of wheat (Rashi).
Menachos (Ibid.): It basically means 'Rach u'Mal' - 'soft (fresh) and full'.
What are the implications of the fact that the Torah juxtaposes "Takriv" to "Carmel"?
Menachos, 84a: It implies that the grains must still be soft when they are brought to the Beis-Hamikdash ? and not just when they are reaped. Consequently, one may not use barley from the previous year. 1
See Torah Temimah, note 89.
Why does the Pasuk repeat the word "Takriv"?
Why do the Kohanim eat [the Shirayim after taking the Kemitzah from] the Omer, which is not brought to atone for a sin but to permit Chadash, in which case "ve'Achlu Osam asher Kupar bahem" (Tetzaveh Sh'mos, 29:37) does not apply?
Moshav Zekenim: Because "le'Chol Minchasam" (Bamidbar 18:9) includes the Omer. 1
As well as the Minchas Sotah, which is to clarify sin, and not to atone.
