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12 [1] THEN HE SHALL OFFER ‘AL’ THE OFFERING OF THANKSGIVING. The commentators have explained the word *al* as meaning “with” — *with the offering of thanksgiving*. Similarly, *‘al’ the cakes of leavened bread* means “with them.” The correct interpretation appears to me that the word *al* is here to be understood in its ordinary sense [i.e., “upon”], meaning that he should add bread “upon” the offering. Similarly, *‘al’ the cakes of leavened bread he shall present his offering*, means that he is to bring cakes of leavened bread, and adding “upon” them he is to bring *his offering*, which is the unleavened bread mentioned [in Verse 12 before us] — all these breads [thirty unleavened cakes and ten leavened ones] he is to bring *upon the offering* [of thanksgiving]. Scripture thus made the leavened bread the chief part of the offering, “adding” upon it the rest of the bread [i.e., the unleavened bread, by stating “upon the cakes of leavened bread he shall present *his offering,”* which means “his unleavened bread”], because the unleavened breads are more than all the other kinds. Scripture changed the expression, stating, [*he shall present his offering*] *of his peace-offerings for thanksgiving* [while here in Verse 12 it merely says, *the offering of thanksgiving*], in order to allude to the Rabbis’ interpretation regarding it, namely that the bread does not become holy in itself [in the sense that it cannot be redeemed, or that it becomes invalid if carried outside the wall of the city, etc.] until the offering is slaughtered, and [also] that it should be slaughtered “upon” it [the bread], that is to say, with the intention that the bread should become holy with it [the offering].
Now Rashi wrote: “*Then he shall bring with the offering of thanksgiving* four sorts of bread: cakes, wafers, and cakes mingled with oil — these three kinds being of unleavened bread. And it further states, *with cakes of leavened bread*, [thus making four kinds], and each kind consisted of ten cakes. Thus it is explained in Tractate Menachoth. And their total measure was five Jerusalem seahs, which are six measures according to the Wilderness measure, or twenty tenths [of the ephah].” Now the Rabbi [Rashi] did not mention in connection with these twenty tenths [of flour] that ten of them were for the leavened cakes, a tenth for each one, and the other ten tenths for the unleavened ones, thus making three unleavened cakes to each tenth of flour. The Rabbis interpreted that this is so on the basis of the verse, *‘al’ cakes of leavened bread*, [which they explained as meaning]: “‘Corresponding to’ [the amount of flour used in the preparation of the ten] leavened cakes, use the same amount to bring therefrom [the thirty] unleavened cakes. Thus there were twenty tenths [of an ephah of flour], ten for the leavened cakes and ten for the unleavened. Ten tenths were used for the leavened ones, thus making one tenth of flour for each of [the ten] leavened cakes, and ten tenths for the unleavened ones, thus making three cakes to one tenth of flour. Thus there were forty cakes altogether.”
Version: Commentary on the Torah by Ramban (Nachmanides). Translated and annotated by Charles B. Chavel. New York, Shilo Pub. House, 1971-1976
Source: https://www.nli.org.il/he/books/NNL_ALEPH002108945/NLI
License: CC-BY