First Fruits and other Gifts to Priests Outside the Sanctuary Chapter 9

מִצְוַת עֲשֵׂה לִתֵּן כָּל זוֹבֵחַ בְּהֵמָה טְהוֹרָה לַכֹּהֵן הַזְּרוֹעַ וְהַלְּחָיַיִם וְהַקֵּבָה. שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים יח ג) "וְזֶה יִהְיֶה מִשְׁפַּט הַכֹּהֲנִים". וְאֵלּוּ הֵם הַנִּקְרָאִים בְּכָל מָקוֹם מַתָּנוֹת. וּמִצְוָה זוֹ נוֹהֶגֶת תָּמִיד בֵּין בִּפְנֵי הַבַּיִת בֵּין שֶׁלֹּא בִּפְנֵי הַבַּיִת. וּבְכָל מָקוֹם בֵּין בָּאָרֶץ בֵּין בְּחוּצָה לָאָרֶץ. וּבְחֻלִּין אֲבָל לֹא בְּמֻקְדָּשִׁין:

It is a positive commandment for anyone who slaughters a kosher domesticated animal to give a priest the foreleg, the jaw, and the maw, as [Deuteronomy 18:50] states: "This is the judgment [due] the priests...." These are universally known as "presents." This mitzvah is practiced at all times, whether at the time the Temple is standing or not, whether in Eretz Yisrael or in the Diaspora, with regard to ordinary animals but not consecrated ones.

כָּל הַקָּדָשִׁים שֶׁקָּדַם מוּם קָבוּעַ לְהֶקְדֵּשָׁן וְנִפְדּוּ חַיָּבִין בְּמַתָּנוֹת. וְאִם קָדַם מוּם עוֹבֵר לְהֶקְדֵּשָׁן אוֹ שֶׁהִקְדִּישָׁן תְּמִימִים וְאַחַר כָּךְ נוֹלַד בָּהֶם מוּם וְנִפְדּוּ הֲרֵי אֵלּוּ פְּטוּרִין מִן הַמַּתָּנוֹת:

There is an obligation to separate the above-mentioned presents from all consecrated animals that had a permanent blemish before they were consecrated and were redeemed. If, by contrast, they had a temporary blemish before their consecration or they were consecrated when they were unblemished, but afterwards, they became blemished, and they were redeemed, they are exempt from these presents.

סְפֵק בְּכוֹר חַיָּב בְּמַתָּנוֹת מִכָּל צַד. שֶׁאִם בְּכוֹר הוּא כֻּלּוֹ לַכֹּהֵן וְאִם אֵינוֹ בְּכוֹר מַתְּנוֹתָיו לַכֹּהֵן. וְאִם נִסְתַּפֵּק בִּשְׁנַיִם וְלָקַח הַכֹּהֵן הָאֶחָד מִסָּפֵק הֲרֵי הַשֵּׁנִי פָּטוּר מִן הַמַּתָּנוֹת. עֲשָׂאוּהוּ כְּמִי שֶׁזָּכָה בּוֹ הַכֹּהֵן וּנְתָנוֹ בְּמוּמוֹ לִבְעָלָיו. אֲבָל סְפֵק מַעֲשֵׂר פָּטוּר מִכָּל מָקוֹם שֶׁהַמּוֹצִיא מֵחֲבֵרוֹ עָלָיו הָרְאָיָה:

If there is an unresolved doubt whether an animal is a firstborn, there is certainly an obligation to give the presents [from it to the priest]. [The rationale is:] If it is a firstborn, it must be given to a priest in its entirety. If it is not a firstborn, the presents must be given to a priest. If a question arises with regard to the status of two animals and a priest took one because of the doubt, the second one is exempt from the presents. [The rationale is that] it is considered as an animal which a priest acquired and then gave to its owners, because of its blemish. If, however, there is an unresolved doubt whether an animal is the tithes of the herd, it is exempt in all situations. [The rationale is that] when one desires to expropriate property from a colleague, the burden of proof is on him.

בֶּהֱמַת קָדָשִׁים שֶׁנִּפְסְלָה בְּמוּמָהּ וְאֵינָהּ חַיֶּבֶת בְּמַתָּנוֹת שֶׁנִּתְעָרְבָה בִּבְהֵמוֹת אֲחֵרוֹת אֲפִלּוּ אַחַת בְּמֵאָה בִּזְמַן שֶׁכָּל בְּהֵמָה מֵהֶן לְאַחֵר כֻּלָּן פְּטוּרִין. שֶׁכָּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד סָפֵק וְהַמּוֹצִיא מֵחֲבֵרוֹ עָלָיו הָרְאָיָה. הָיָה אֶחָד הוּא הַשּׁוֹחֵט אֶת כֻּלָּם פּוֹטֵר מַתְּנוֹת אַחַת מֵהֶן בִּלְבַד:

When an animal that was consecrated and then disqualified because of a blemish became mixed with other animals - even one with 100 - if one person owns all of them, they are all exempt [from the obligation of the presents]. [The rationale is that the status of] each one is doubtful and when one desires to expropriate property from a colleague, the burden of proof is on him. If one person was slaughtering all the animals, only one [set of] presents is exempt.

אֵין חַיָּב בְּמַתָּנוֹת אֶלָּא בְּהֵמָה טְהוֹרָה בִּלְבַד שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים יח ג) "אִם שׁוֹר אִם שֶׂה". כִּלְאַיִם הַבָּא מִכֶּבֶשׂ וְעֵז חַיָּב בְּמַתָּנוֹת. וְהַכְּוִי אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהוּא סָפֵק מַפְרִישִׁין מִמֶּנּוּ כָּל הַמַּתָּנוֹת. צְבִי הַבָּא עַל הָעֵז וְיָלְדָה הַוָּלָד חַיָּב בַּחֲצִי מַתָּנוֹת שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר אִם שֶׂה אֲפִלּוּ מִקְצָת שֶׂה. תַּיִשׁ הַבָּא עַל הַצְּבִיָּה הַוָּלָד פָּטוּר מִן הַמַּתָּנוֹת:

We are required to separate presents only from a kosher domesticated animal, [as indicated by Deuteronomy, loc. cit., which] states: "If it be an ox or a sheep." If a hybrid is born from a sheep and a goat, there is an obligation for presents to be given. We separate all the presents from a ko'i even though its status is undetermined. When a male deer mates with a goat and it gives birth, there is an obligation [to give] half the presents [to a priest]. [This is derived from the above prooftext]: "If it be... a sheep," i.e., even if it is only part sheep. [When, by contrast,] a male goat mates with a deer, the offspring is exempt from the presents.

אֶחָד הַשּׁוֹחֵט לַאֲכִילַת עַכּוּ"ם אוֹ לַאֲכִילַת כְּלָבִים אוֹ לִרְפוּאָה חַיָּב בְּמַתָּנוֹת:

Whether a person slaughters an animal for consumption by non-Jews, by animals, by dogs, or for medical purposes, there is an obligation [to give] the presents.

בֶּהֱמַת שֻׁתָּפִין חַיֶּבֶת שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים יח ג) "זֹבְחֵי הַזֶּבַח":

There is an obligation [to separate the presents from] an animal belonging to partners, as [the above prooftext] states: "those who slaughter the animal."

הַלּוֹקֵחַ בְּהֵמָה מִפֵּרוֹת שְׁבִיעִית חַיָּב בְּמַתָּנוֹת. כֹּהֲנִים וּלְוִיִּים פְּטוּרִים מִן הַמַּתָּנוֹת שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים יח ג) "מֵאֵת הָעָם" וְסָפֵק הֵם הַלְוִיִּים אִם הֵם בִּכְלַל הָעָם אוֹ לֹא. לְפִיכָךְ אֵין נוֹטְלִין מֵהֶם וְאִם נָטַל הַכֹּהֵן לֹא יַחְזִיר:

When a person purchases an animal with the produce of the Sabbatical year, he is obligated to [give] presents [to a priest]. Priests and Levites are exempt from the presents, as [the above prooftext] states: "from the people." It is questionable whether the Levites are considered as part of "the people" or not. Therefore [the presents] are not taken from them. If, however, a priest took them, he need not return them.

בַּמֶּה דְּבָרִים אֲמוּרִים בְּשׁוֹחֵט לְעַצְמוֹ. אֲבָל כֹּהֵן טַבָּח שֶׁשּׁוֹחֵט וּמוֹכֵר בַּשּׁוּק מַמְתִּינִין לוֹ שְׁתַּיִם וְשָׁלֹשׁ שַׁבָּתוֹת. מִיכַּן וְאֵילָךְ מוֹצִיאִין מִמֶּנּוּ מַתָּנוֹת וְנוֹתְנִין אוֹתָם לְכֹהֲנִים אֲחֵרִים. וְאִם קָבַע בֵּית מִטְבָּחַיִם לִמְכֹּר אֵין מַמְתִּינִין לוֹ אֶלָּא מוֹצִיאִין מִמֶּנּוּ מִיָּד. וְאִם נִמְנַע מִלִּתֵּן מְנַדִּין אוֹתוֹ עַד שֶׁיִּתֵּן:

When does the above apply? When one slaughters for his own sake. [Different laws apply to] a priest who is a butcher, who slaughters [animals] and sells them in the marketplace. We grant him two or three weeks. Afterwards, we expropriate the presents from him and grant them to other priests. If he established a butcher shop to sell meat, we do not wait at all. Instead, we expropriate the presents from him immediately. If he refrains from giving them, we place him under a ban of ostracism until he gives them.

הַשּׁוֹחֵט לְעַכּוּ"ם וּלְכֹהֵן פָּטוּר מִן הַמַּתָּנוֹת. וְהַמִּשְׁתַּתֵּף עִם הַכֹּהֵן צָרִיךְ שֶׁיִּרְשֹׁם חֶלְקוֹ כְּדֵי שֶׁיַּנִּיחַ הַמַּתָּנוֹת בְּחֵלֶק הַכֹּהֵן. שֶׁאִם לֹא צִיֵּן חֶלְקוֹ חַיָּב בְּמַתָּנוֹת מִפְּנֵי שֶׁאֵין הַכּל יוֹדְעִין שֶׁהַכֹּהֵן שֻׁתָּף לוֹ. לְפִיכָךְ אִם הָיָה הַכֹּהֵן עוֹמֵד עִמּוֹ בַּמִּטְבָּחַיִם וְנוֹשֵׂא וְנוֹתֵן עִמּוֹ אֵינוֹ צָרִיךְ לִרְשֹׁם. וְהַמִּשְׁתַּתֵּף עִם הָעַכּוּ"ם אֵינוֹ צָרִיךְ לִרְשֹׁם שֶׁסְּתָם עַכּוּ"ם מַרְבֶּה דְּבָרִים וּמוֹדִיעַ לַכּל שֶׁהוּא שֻׁתָּף וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאֵינוֹ עִמּוֹ בִּשְׁעַת מְכִירָה:

A person who slaughters an animal for the sake of a priest or a gentile is exempt from [the obligation to give presents]. A person who enters into a partnership with a priest [in the ownership of an animal] must mark his portion, so that he will leave the presents in the portion of the priest. If he does not mark his portion, he is obligated [to give] these presents, because the fact that the priest is his partner is not a matter of public knowledge. Accordingly, if the priest was standing with him in the butcher store and dealing and negotiating with him, he is not required to mark [his portion]. When a person enters a partnership with a gentile [in the ownership of an animal], he need not mark his portion. [The rationale is that] as a rule, a gentile will speak excessively and inform everyone that he is [the Jew's] partner, even if [the Jew] is not present at the time of the sale.

הִתְנָה הַכֹּהֵן עִמּוֹ שֶׁהוּא שֻׁתָּף חוּץ מִן הַמַּתָּנוֹת הֲרֵי הַמַּתָּנוֹת לַכֹּהֵן. כֵּיוָן שֶׁאָמַר לוֹ חוּץ הֲרֵי שִׁיֵּר לוֹ הַכֹּהֵן חֵלֶק בַּמַּתָּנוֹת וּלְפִיכָךְ הֵם שֶׁלּוֹ. אֲבָל אִם אָמַר לוֹ הַכֹּהֵן עַל מְנָת שֶׁהַמַּתָּנוֹת שֶׁלִּי הֲרֵי הַמַּתָּנוֹת שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל זֶה וְנוֹתְנָן לְכָל כֹּהֵן שֶׁיִּרְצֶה. אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהִתְנָה עִמּוֹ שֶׁהֵן שֶׁלּוֹ לֹא נִפְטַר מִן הַמַּתָּנוֹת. שֶׁהָאוֹמֵר עַל מְנָת לֹא שִׁיֵּר לוֹ בְּעַצְמָן שֶׁל מַתָּנוֹת כְּלוּם הוֹאִיל וְלֹא שִׁיֵּר לוֹ בָּהֶן שֻׁתָּפוּת לֹא קְנָאָן בִּתְנַאי זֶה:

[If, when negotiating a partnership agreement regarding the ownership of an animal,] a priest stipulates to [his partner, an Israelite,] that they are partners with the exception of the presents, the presents belong to the priest. Since the priest stipulated "with the exception of...," he left himself the portion of [the animal containing] the presents. Hence, they are his. If, however, the priest told the Israelite: "...on the condition that the presents are mine," the presents belong to the Israelite and he may give them to any priest he desires. Even though [the priest] stipulated that they were his, [the animal] is not exempt from [the obligation to give] the presents. For by saying "on the condition that...," he did not leave himself [the ownership of] the presents. Since he did not leave himself a share in their ownership, he did not acquire them through this stipulation.

הָיָה הַכֹּהֵן שֻׁתָּף בָּרֹאשׁ פָּטוּר מִן הַלְּחִי. שֻׁתָּף בַּיָּד פָּטוּר מִן הַזְּרוֹעַ. שֻׁתָּף בִּבְנֵי מֵעַיִם פָּטוּר מִן הַקֵּבָה. אָמַר לוֹ הַכֹּהֵן הֲרֵי הַבְּהֵמָה כֻּלָּהּ שֶׁלִּי וְהָרֹאשׁ שֶׁלְּךָ חַיָּב בִּלְחִי. שֶׁהַדָּבָר הַחַיָּב הֲרֵי הוּא שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל:

If a priest was a partner in [the ownership of] the head, he is exempt from [giving] the jaw. If he is a partner in the front leg, he is exempt from the fore leg. If he is a partner in the digestive organs, he is exempt from the maw. If the priest told [the Israelite]: "The entire animal is mine, but the head is yours," he is obligated to give the jaw, for the portion that must be given belongs to the Israelite.

גֵּר שֶׁנִּתְגַּיֵּר וְהָיְתָה לוֹ בְּהֵמָה שְׁחוּטָה. אִם נִשְׁחֲטָה עַד שֶׁלֹּא נִתְגַּיֵּר פָּטוּר. וְאִם אַחַר שֶׁנִּתְגַּיֵּר חַיָּב. וְאִם סָפֵק פָּטוּר וְהַמּוֹצִיא מֵחֲבֵרוֹ עָלָיו הָרְאָיָה:

[The following laws apply when] a gentile converts and he is in the process of having an animal slaughtered. If it was slaughtered before he converted, he is exempt. If [it was slaughtered] after he converted, he is obligated. If there is a doubt concerning the matter, [we follow the principle]: When one desires to expropriate property from a colleague, the burden of proof is on him.

בְּהֵמָה שֶׁלֹּא הוּרְמוּ מַתְּנוֹתֶיהָ מֻתָּר לֶאֱכוֹל מִמֶּנָּה שֶׁאֵינָהּ דּוֹמָה לְטֶבֶל שֶׁהֲרֵי מַתְּנוֹת כְּהֻנָּה מֻבְדָּלִין וְהַמַּתָּנוֹת עַצְמָן אָסוּר לְיִשְׂרָאֵל לְאָכְלָן אֶלָּא בִּרְשׁוּת כֹּהֵן. עָבַר וַאֲכָלָן אוֹ הִזִּיקָן אוֹ מְכָרָן אֵינוֹ חַיָּב לְשַׁלֵּם. מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהוּא מָמוֹן שֶׁאֵין לוֹ תּוֹבֵעַ יָדוּעַ. וְהַקּוֹנֶה אוֹתָם אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאֵינוֹ רַשַּׁאי הֲרֵי זֶה מֻתָּר לְאָכְלָן מִפְּנֵי שֶׁמַּתְּנוֹת כְּהֻנָּה נִגְזָלוֹת:

It is permitted to partake [of the meat] of an animal from which the presents were not separated. [The situation] is not analogous to tevel [The rationale is that] the presents due to be given the priests are separate and distinct. It is forbidden for an Israelite to partake of the presents themselves without the permission of a priest. If he transgresses and partakes of them, damages them, or sells them, he is not liable to make financial restitution. [The rationale is that] this is money that has no known plaintiff. A person who purchases them - even though he is forbidden to do so - is permitted to partake of them, because when the presents to the priests are stolen, the theft effect a change in ownership.

אָמַר לַטַּבָּח מְכֹר לִי בְּנֵי מֵעֶיהָ שֶׁל פָּרָה וְהָיוּ בָּהּ מַתָּנוֹת נוֹתְנָן לַכֹּהֵן וְאֵינוֹ מְנַכֶּה לוֹ מִן הַדָּמִים. לְקָחָם מִמֶּנּוּ בְּמִשְׁקָל נוֹתְנָם לַכֹּהֵן וּמְנַכֶּה לַטַּבָּח מִן הַדָּמִים:

If one tells a butcher: "Sell me the digestive organs of a cow," and there were presents among them, [the purchaser] should give them to a priest, but [the seller] need not decrease the price [accordingly]. If [the purchaser] bought [the organs] by weight, he should give them to the priest and deduct their value from the butcher's [due].

הַמְשַׁלֵּחַ בָּשָׂר לַחֲבֵרוֹ וְהָיוּ בָּהּ מַתָּנוֹת אֵינוֹ חוֹשֵׁשׁ שֶׁמָּא עָבַר זֶה וּגְזָלָן. מָקוֹם שֶׁאֵין בּוֹ כֹּהֵן מַעֲלֶה הַמַּתָּנוֹת בְּדָמִים וְאוֹכְלָן מִפְּנֵי הֶפְסֵד כֹּהֵן וְיִתֵּן הַדָּמִים לְכָל כֹּהֵן שֶׁיִּרְצֶה:

When a person sends meat to a friend and there were presents in [the parcel], the recipient need not be concerned that [the sender] transgressed and stole them. In a place where there are no priests, one should determine their financial value and partake of them, [so as not to cause] a priest a loss. He should then give the money to any priest he desires.

הָרוֹצֶה לִתֵּן הַמַּתָּנוֹת לְכֹהֵן אֶחָד נוֹתֵן. וְאִם רָצָה לַחְלֹק אוֹתָן לֹא יִתֵּן חֲצִי קֵבָה לָאֶחָד אוֹ חֲצִי זְרוֹעַ אֶלָּא זְרוֹעַ לָאֶחָד וְקֵבָה לָאֶחָד וּלְחָיַיִם לִשְׁנַיִם שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים יח ד) "תִּתֶּן לּוֹ" שֶׁיִּהְיֶה בָּהּ כְּדֵי מַתָּנָה. וְאִם הָיוּ שֶׁל שׁוֹר חוֹלֵק אוֹתָן חֲתִיכוֹת וְהוּא שֶׁיִּהְיֶה בְּכָל חֲתִיכָה כְּדֵי מַתָּנָה:

If a person wants to give the presents to only one priest, he may do so. If he wants to divide them [and give them to several], he should not give half the maw or half the foreleg to one [priest]. Instead, he should give the foreleg to one, the maw to another, and the jaw to two others. [This is inferred from Deuteronomy 18:4]: "And you shall give it to him," i.e., give him a portion that is a significant present. If [he is giving presents] from an ox, he may divide them into portions, provided each portion is a significant present.

אֵי זֶהוּ הַזְּרוֹעַ. זְרוֹעַ שֶׁל יָמִין מִן הַפֶּרֶק שֶׁל אַרְכֻּבָּה עַד כַּף שֶׁל יָדוֹ שֶׁהֵן שְׁנֵי אֵיבָרִים זֶה מְעֹרֶה בָּזֶה. וְהַלְּחָיַיִם מִן הַפֶּרֶק שֶׁל לְחִי וְעַד פִּיקָה שֶׁל גַּרְגֶּרֶת טַבַּעַת גְּדוֹלָה עִם הַלָּשׁוֹן שֶׁבֵּינֵיהֶן הַכּל לַכֹּהֵן:

What is meant by the foreleg? The right foreleg, The portion from the upper-joint until the ankle joint; two limbs, one connected with the other. The jaw refers to the jaw bones until the large ring of the protrusion of the gullet with the tongue between the bones. All of this is given to the priest.

אֵין מוֹלְגִין אוֹתָן וְאֵין מַפְשִׁיטִין אוֹתָן אֶלָּא יִתְּנוּ לוֹ בְּעוֹרָן וּבְצִמְרָן. וְהַקֵּבָה בַּחֵלֶב שֶׁעָלֶיהָ וּבַחֵלֶב שֶׁבְּתוֹכָהּ. וּכְבָר נָהֲגוּ הַכֹּהֲנִים לְהַנִּיחַ חֵלֶב הַקֵּבָה לַבְּעָלִים:

[When giving the jaw and the foreleg to the priest,] we do not pour boiling water on the hide [to remove the hair], nor do we skin it. Instead, we give it to [the priest] with its skin and wool. [We give a priest] the maw with the fat upon it and the fat within it. The priests have already accepted the custom of leaving the fat of the maw for the owner.

הַכֹּהֶנֶת אוֹכֶלֶת הַמַּתָּנוֹת אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהִיא נְשׂוּאָה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל מִפְּנֵי שֶׁאֵין בָּהֶן קְדֻשָּׁה. וְלֹא עוֹד אֶלָּא הַבַּעַל אוֹכֵל מַתָּנוֹת בִּגְלַל אִשְׁתּוֹ. אֲבָל חֲלָלָה אֵינָהּ אוֹכֶלֶת. שֶׁאֵין חֲלָלִים בִּכְלַל כֹּהֲנִים. וְאִם רָצָה הַכֹּהֵן לִמְכֹּר הַמַּתָּנוֹת אוֹ לִתְּנָן בְּמַתָּנָה אֲפִלּוּ לְעַכּוּ"ם אוֹ לְהַאֲכִילָם לִכְלָבִים מַאֲכִילָם שֶׁאֵין בָּהֶן קְדֻשָּׁה כְּלָל:

A women of the priestly family may partake of the presents even if she is married to an Israelite, because they are not consecrated. Moreover, her husband may partake of the presents for her sake. A challalah, by contrast, may not partake of the presents, because challalim are not in the category of priests. If a priest desires to sell the presents, to give them as gifts, even to a gentile, or to feed them to the dogs, he may, for they are not consecrated at all.

כֹּהֵן שֶׁהָיוּ לוֹ חֲבֵרִים שֶׁנּוֹתְנִים לוֹ הַמַּתָּנוֹת אִם רָצָה לְזַכּוֹת בָּהֶן לְיִשְׂרָאֵל חֲבֵרוֹ הֲרֵי זֶה מְזַכֶּה לוֹ. וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁלֹּא בָּאוּ לְיָדוֹ. וְיִהְיוּ אוֹתָם הַחֲבֵרִים זוֹבְחִים וְנוֹתְנִין הַמַּתָּנוֹת לְזֶה הַיִּשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁזָּכָה בָּהֶן. וְהוּא שֶׁיִּהְיֶה הַיִּשְׂרָאֵל זֶה בְּדֹחַק וְאֵין לוֹ לִקְנוֹת בָּשָׂר. וְיִהְיֶה הַכֹּהֵן שֶׁזָּכָה לוֹ חֲבֵרוֹ. אֲבָל אִם הָיָה הַכֹּהֵן שַׁמָּשׁוֹ שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל זֶה אוֹ שְׂכִירוֹ אוֹ לְקִיטוֹ אֵינוֹ מְזַכֶּה לוֹ עַד שֶׁיָּבוֹאוּ לְיָדוֹ שֶׁמָּא יְזַכֶּה בְּעַל כָּרְחוֹ:

[The following rules apply when there is] a priest whose friends [continually] give him presents. If he desires to transfer ownership of them to a friend who is an Israelite, he may, even though they did not enter [the priest's] domain. Thus [the priest's] friends may slaughter [their animals] and give the presents to the Israelite who acquired them. [This applies] provided the Israelite is in difficult straits and does not have the means to buy meat and the priest who transfers the meat to him is his friend. If, however, the priest is the Israelite's attendant or his hired worker or employee, he may not transfer ownership [of the presents] until they enter his domain. [This is a safeguard,] lest he compel him to do so.

לֹא יַחְטֹף הַכֹּהֵן הַמַּתָּנוֹת וְלֹא יִשְׁאַל בְּפִיו אֶלָּא אִם כֵּן נוֹתְנִין לוֹ בְּכָבוֹד נוֹטֵל. וּבִזְמַן שֶׁהֵם רַבִּים בְּבֵית הַמִּטְבָּחַיִם הַצְּנוּעִים מוֹשְׁכִין יְדֵיהֶם וְהַגַּרְגְּרָנִים נוֹטְלִין. וְאִם הָיָה כֹּהֵן צָנוּעַ וְאֵין מַכִּירִין אוֹתוֹ שֶׁהוּא כֹּהֵן הֲרֵי זֶה נוֹטֵל כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּוָּדַע לַכּל שֶׁהוּא כֹּהֵן. וְאֵין הַכֹּהֲנִים אוֹכְלִין הַמַּתָּנוֹת אֶלָּא צָלִי בְּחַרְדָּל שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות כט כט) "לְמָשְׁחָה" כְּדֶרֶךְ שֶׁאוֹכְלִים הַמְּלָכִים:

A priest should not grab the presents, nor should he even request them verbally. Instead, if he is given them in a respectful manner, he may take them. When there are many priests at the slaughter house, the modest ones withdraw and the gluttons take them. [Even though] a priest is modest, [if] it is not known that he is a priest, he should take [the presents] to let it be known to everyone that he is a priest. The priests should only eat the presents as they are roasted, with mustard on them, for [Numbers 18:8] states [that the gifts to the priests were given them]: "for distinction." Hence, [they should] be eaten in a manner befitting a king.