The public sacrifices brought during the festivals require strict precision, particularly regarding the exact measurements of the grain offerings that accompany the animal sacrifices. These offerings consist of fine flour mixed with oil [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Although the general rules for grain offerings are established elsewhere, they are repeated specifically for the festivals. While the measurements for wine libations remain constant and need no further elaboration, grain offerings occasionally have exceptions. For instance, the Omer offering brought on Passover requires double the usual amount of flour for a lamb. Because of such potential variations, the standard, fixed measurements required for this specific festival had to be explicitly defined [רש״ר הירש].
When detailing the quantities, the instruction mentions three tenths of a measure for the bull in the singular, despite the requirement to offer two bulls. This naturally means three tenths for each individual bull. The instruction is intentionally brief, relying on the logical assumption that it would be impossible to assign the entire grain offering to one bull while leaving the other with nothing [רמב״ן].
The directive concludes with a specific command to prepare these offerings. This preparation encompasses every action taken from the initial mixing until the offering reaches the altar. It emphasizes a special Commandment to prepare the public additional offerings with focused intention and reverence, reflecting the principle that public grain offerings hold a higher spiritual status than those brought by individuals [העמק דבר].
A subtle shift occurs in how this preparation is commanded, moving from a plural instruction regarding the ram to a singular instruction for the lambs. This change reflects both the practical procedures in the Temple and a deeper conceptual truth. On a practical level, the double measure of flour required for a ram is handed to two priests to carry to the altar, aligning with the plural form. In contrast, the single measure required for a lamb is carried by one priest, matching the singular form [העמק דבר].
On a historical and conceptual level, the sudden shift to the singular for the lambs captures the essence of Passover. The lambs, which are offered in groups of seven, symbolize the history of the nation and God's guiding providence. Passover and the Exodus represent the defining moment when the Israelites were redeemed and forged into a single, cohesive entity, much like an only child rescued from captivity by God. The singular phrasing used for the Passover lambs highlights this absolute national unity, born from a shared experience of redemption [רש״ר הירש].