Menachot 16 – Libations are Rejected because the Sacrifice is Rejected

Many sacrifices were accompanied by libations in the form of wine and flour. If the kohen had the wrong intent to eat the meat of the sacrifice beyond allotted time, then if the libations were already in a Temple vessel, they too became rejected – this is the opinion of Rabbi Meir. Once the libations are put in a vessel, they become an integral part of the sacrifice. The Sages, however, disagree, since libations for a sacrifice can be brought many days after the sacrifice itself is brought.

The flour sacrifice has a two-part “permitter”: the handful taken from it, and the frankincense. Both need to be burned on the Altar. If one intended to consume the flour at the wrong time when he was burning one of the permitters - either the handful or the frankincense – the whole offering becomes rejected, and one who eats it deserves to be cut off from the people. This is the opinion of Rabbi Meir, and it can be summarized as “there is rejection with half of the permitter.” But the Sages disagree and say that it is not rejected unless he had the wrong intent for both.

Unknown Painter - Man with a Glass of Wine, Portuguese 1450