daf bit: Zevachim 71

[cellio]

Once an animal (or produce) has been designated for an offering, it cannot be used for any other purpose. The mishna on today's daf discusses at some length the problems that arise if a designated animal is accidentally mixed up with other animals so it is no longer known which is which. One of the solutions offered: if two animals both designated for the same kind of offering, then both are offered with the designation "for the sake of its owner" -- God will know who owns the animal and credit him accordingly. Another: if a designated animal is mixed with ordinary unblemished animals (that is, ones that could be designated for that purpose), the ordinary animals must be sold to people who owe the same kind of offering so that all can be offered for that purpose. (71b)

I'm not certain how the second case works, given that you don't know that you aren't accidentally selling the animal that was already designated. Maybe it reduces to the first case: all of these animals have now been properly bought and designated, and we don't allocate them specifically among owners?

Comments

[zevabe.livejournal.com]

Indeed, the second problem reduces to the first. To avoid selling the one that was already designated, you sell the others as 'one of this flock'.

[cellio]

That makes sense. Thanks.