The Torah in Parashat Pinhas (Bamidbar 28:1-4) commands that a sacrifice be offered each and every day in the Bet Ha’mikdash, once in the morning and once in the afternoon. This daily sacrifice is known as the “Korban Tamid” (literally, “the ‘constant’ sacrifice”).
The Sefer Ha’hinuch explains that the Torah commands offering this sacrifice so that we see ourselves as G-d’s servants. Just as a servant cannot tend to his own needs without filling his master’s needs, similarly, we must serve G-d by bringing Him His “food,” so-to-speak, when we ourselves eat. People would usually eat two meals each day, one in the morning and one in the late afternoon, and so the Torah commanded offering sacrifices each day at those times. This will lead us to reflect on our obligations to our Master, which will, in turn, motivate us to scrupulously follow His laws, through which we will be deserving of blessing. The Torah speaks of this sacrifice as a “Re’ah Nihoah…L’Hashem” – “a pleasing fragrance…for G-d” (28:6). The Rabbis explained this to mean that G-d receives gratification from the fact that we have fulfilled His will. Quite obviously, He does not benefit from the fragrance of a sacrifice, and so this description must be understood metaphorically, as referring to the satisfaction we bring G-d by faithfully observing His commands. Recognizing this satisfaction will motivate us to fulfill all our other obligations, as well, such that we become worthy of G-d’s blessings.
The earliest time for the slaughtering of the morning Tamid sacrifice is shortly after Olat Ha’shahar (daybreak). The afternoon Tamid may be brought from 6.5 Halachic hours after the beginning of the day, until sundown. Normally, the sacrifice was offered late in the afternoon, for the simple reason that no sacrifices may be offered on the altar once the afternoon Tamid has been offered. (This Halacha is known as “Aleh Hashlem Kol Ha’korbanot Kulam,” as we mention in the Korbanot section of the daily prayer service.) Only in exceptional circumstances was the afternoon Tamid brought earlier in the afternoon.
The morning Tamid was slaughtered in the northwestern section of the area of the Temple courtyard where the sacrifices were prepared, whereas the afternoon Tamid was slaughtered in the northeastern section. The reason is that the slaughtering was to be done in the sunlight, and thus in the morning, it took place in the west, opposite the sunrise, and in the afternoon, it occurred in the east, opposite the sunset.
This Misva, quite obviously, applies only in the times of the Bet Ha’mikdash. The Sefer Ha’hinuch writes that although the sacrifice was offered by the Kohanim, it is, fundamentally, assigned to the entire nation. If the sacrifice was not offered, then those who were in a position to influence the Kohanim and ensure that the Misva was fulfilled, but failed to do so, are in violation of this affirmative command.
Whereas the Sefer Ha’hinuch lists the offering of the Tamid sacrifice as just a single Misva, the Ramban lists two separate Misvot – one to bring the morning Tamid, and another Misva to bring the afternoon Tamid. These two sacrifices are, of course, brought at different times, and, additionally, they are not dependent on one another – meaning, if one was not offered, the other can still be offered. Therefore, in the Ramban’s view, they should be listed as two separate Misvot.
Nowadays, in the absence of the Bet Ha’mikdash, we are unable to offer Korbanot, but the prophet says, “U’neshalema Farim Sefatenu” (Hoshe’a 14:3) – our sincere, heartfelt prayers take the place of sacrifices, and it is through them that we find favor in Hashem’s eyes.