Leviticus 4:22

22 si peccaverit princeps et fecerit unum e pluribus per ignorantiam quod Domini lege prohibetur

Leviticus 4:22 Meaning and Commentary

Leviticus 4:22

When a ruler hath sinned
Or "prince", the "nasi", one that is lifted up above others in honour, power, and authority, or that bears the weight of government: the word comes from one which signifies to lift up, or to bear; it may be understood of a governor of a family, or of a tribe, as Aben Ezra observes; and so in the Talmud

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FOOTNOTES:

F11 it is said, it means the prince of a tribe, such as Nachson the son of Amminadab, prince of the tribe of Judah. Maimonides ^F12 says a king is designed, over whom none has power; and so Gersom on the place, who observes, that David the king is called a prince, ( Ezekiel 34:24 ) ( 46:2 )

and done [somewhat] through ignorance [against] any of the
commandments of the Lord his God;
the phrase, "his God", is here added, and is not used neither of the anointed priest, nor of the congregation, nor of one of the common people; only of the prince, to show, that though he is above others, God is above him, and he is accountable to him; he is his God, of whom he is, and by whom he rules; wherefore if he breaks any of his commandments, though ignorantly, he must bring a sacrifice for it:

[concerning things] which should not be done, and is guilty;
of transgressing negative precepts, which are as binding on him as others.

F11 T. Bab. Horayot, fol. 11. 1.
F12 Hilchot Shegagot, c. 15. sect. 6.

Leviticus 4:22 In-Context

20 sic faciens et de hoc vitulo quomodo fecit et prius et rogante pro eis sacerdote propitius erit Dominus

21 ipsum autem vitulum efferet extra castra atque conburet sicut et priorem vitulum quia pro peccato est multitudinis

22 si peccaverit princeps et fecerit unum e pluribus per ignorantiam quod Domini lege prohibetur

23 et postea intellexerit peccatum suum offeret hostiam Domino hircum de capris inmaculatum

24 ponetque manum suam super caput eius cumque immolaverit eum in loco ubi solet mactari holocaustum coram Domino quia pro peccato est