Sefer HaChinuch ספר החינוך

To give the first shearing to the priest: That we were commanded to give the first shearing of the flock to the priests. And about this is it stated (Deuteronomy 18:4), “and the first shearing of your flock shall you give him.” And the matter of the commandment is that anyone who has a flock of five — whether they are males or females, whether they are lambs or grown sheep, and even if he has sheared them several times — is obligated to give a present from the wool to the priest each time. And there is no measure of this gift from the Torah, but Rav, Shmuel and Rabbi Yochanan said in Tractate Chullin 137b, “The first shearing is in sixty” — meaning to say that he gives him one portion out of sixty. And since Scripture mentioned the expression of giving about this — as it stated, “shall you give him” — the Sages said (Chullin 135a) that one who has many shearings and wants to distribute them to many priests, give no less than the weight of five sela when it is cleaned, so that it be fit to make a small garment with it. [It is] not that the Israelite would clean it and afterwards give it to him, but rather that it be fit to make so much [finished] wool after the priest has cleaned it, so that it be a useful gift. And so too did they, may their memory be blessed, say (Chullin 137b) that the obligation of this commandment is only when there is a flock of [at least] five, such that the shearing amount to sixty sela, and that each one be no less than twelve sela.

And from the roots of the commandment is like the matter that I wrote about the tithe given to the Levites in the Order of Vayikach Korach (Sefer HaChinukh 395); and the priests are the same. Since they constantly serve in front of God and have no inheritance in the lands nor in the shearings, God, may He be blessed, acquired for them all the needs of their livelihood through their brothers. And behold, He gave them the priestly tithe and the tithe of the tithe, which are their bread and their wine; the gifts of the beast, which is the foreleg, the jaw and the maw and their portion in the consecrated [animals] of the Temple, such that there will be enough meat for their satisfaction. And [since what is] still lacking is shearing for their clothing, He also acquired the first of the shearing for their clothing. And for the rest of their expenses and needs, He also acquired for them the field of possession, the [recovered] theft from a convert [that has died], expropriations and the redemption [money] of firstborn [sons].

From the laws of the commandment is that which they, may their memory be blessed, said (Chullin 137a) that the obligation of this commandment is only with the shearing of sheep, the wool of which is soft and fit to wear. But if the wool was hard and not fit to wear, he is exempt from the first shearing, from the reason that I said — as the priests acquired this for the [purpose] of clothing. But if the wool was red, black or brown, he is [still] obligated in the first shearing, since it is fit for wearing. And the rest of its details are elucidated in the eleventh chapter of Chullin.

And this commandment is practiced by males and females, Israelites and Levites, whether in front of the [Temple] or not in front of the [Temple]. But [it is practiced] only in the Land of Israel, and not outside of the Land; and like Rav Nachman bar Yitschak said in Chullin 136b in the chapter [entitled] Reishit HaGez, “The world acts like the three elders: Like Rabbi Eelayai in the first shearing, etc.” — meaning to say that he exempted outside the Land, as it is found there. And one who transgresses it and did not give his first shearing to the priest — when he has shearing that is fit, according to the matter that we wrote — has nullified this positive commandment.