The juxtaposition of the laws of a robber to the continued enumeration of the laws of the offerings led the Sages to underscore the significance of honesty and refraining from engaging in robbery as a fundamental prerequisite for the Temple service and the offerings.

“Command Aaron and his sons, saying: This is the law of the burnt offering” (Leviticus 6:2). The Holy One, blessed be He, said: Fulfill what is written just before this matter, [the prohibition against robbery], and then: “This is the law of the burnt offering.” Why? “For I am the Lord, who loves justice, hates robbery with iniquity [be’ola]” (Isaiah 61:8) – I hate robbery even if one steals in order to bring a burnt offering [be’ola]. What is written just before this matter? “It shall be when he shall sin and is guilty, he shall restore the robbed item that he robbed” (Leviticus 5:23); and thereafter the verse states: “This is the law of the burnt offering.” When do you offer a burnt offering that I accept? When you cleanse your hands from robbery…. And you learn this idea from the beginning of the commands concerning the offerings. The verse states: “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: When any man [(Tanĥuma, Tzav)