Menachot 90: When to Offer Libations

A new Mishna teaches us about the halacha regarding wine libations which accompanied many sacrifices.  Specifically, communal sacrifices and individual sacrifices are accompanied by these libations, with the exception of:

• bechor, a first-born animal
• ma'aser, an animal that is tithed and brought as a sacrifice
• pesach, the pascal sacrifice
• chatat, sin offerings
• asham, guilt offerings

The rabbis note that the sin and guilt offerings brought by a metzora, a leper's sacrifices are in a different category regarding libations.

Steinsaltz teaches Rabbi Ovadiah Seforno's suggestion: the sacrifice itself acts as the connector between G-d and the person/community who is offering.  Early stories of sacrifices (Chevel/Abel, Noah, Avraham) included no libations.  The sin of the Golden Calf and the following daily communal sacrifices included a meal offering and a libation.  After the Spies reports, meal offerings and libations followed even personal sacrifices.

The Rumba's Commentary speaks to the exception of the metzora's offering.  Usually we would not want sacrifices of atonement to be decorated or beautified.  Atonement is complete by the time a metzora brings offerings.  For a Nazir, however, the sin and guilt offerings are seen as a form of atonement for denying him/herself the pleasure that accompanies the mitzvah of drinking wine.